Sudbury has just announced its priority sectors and occupations for the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP).

Under these pilot programs, designated employers in the priority sectors will be able to support their foreign workers in eligible occupations to apply for permanent residence (PR).

Assess your eligibility for the RCIP

These pilot programs apply to Greater Sudbury, a city in Northeastern Ontario and the largest city in Ontario by land area, which includes both the urban centre and surrounding rural communities like Killarney, St.-Charles, and Noelville.

Sudbury is one of a few communities participating in both the pilots. According to reports, the city of Greater Sudbury received 525 nomination slots for the RCIP and 45 slots for the FCIP in 2025.

To support a permanent residence application under either pilot, an employer in one of the eligible sectors must be designated by a local economic development organization.

RCIP Sectors and Occupations

Sudbury’s RCIP has chosen the following priority sectors:

• Natural and applied sciences.
• Health.
• Education, social, community and government services.
• Trades and transport.
• Natural resources and agriculture.

Only employers within these priority sectors can become designated and apply to hire foreign workers through the immigration pilot.

Apart from being a designated employer, a job offer must also be within a priority occupation for a foreign national to be eligible.

Sudbury’s RCIP has prioritized the following occupations:

Occupation name	National Occupation Code
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers	12200
Administrative assistants	13110
Automotive service technicians, truck and bus mechanics, and mechanical repairers	72410
Civil engineering technologists and technicians	22300
Construction millwrights and industrial mechanics	72400
Construction trades helpers and labourers	75110
Dental assistants and dental laboratory assistants	33100
Early childhood educators and assistants	42202
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians	22310
Geological engineers	21331
Heavy-duty equipment mechanics	72401
Heavy equipment operators	73400
Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations	44101
Labourers in mineral and metal processing	95100
Licensed practical nurses	32101
Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians	22301
Mechanical engineers	21301
Mining engineers	21330
Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates	33102
Other technical occupations in therapy and assessment	32109
Physiotherapists	31202
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses	31301
Social and community service workers	42201
Transport truck drivers	73300
Welders and related machine operators	72106

The RCIP is a pathway for foreign nationals who can help fill labour shortages in designated rural communities in Canada (outside Quebec). There are 14 communities that have been chosen to participate in the RCIP in 2025.

Apart from having a job offer, foreign nationals have to meet criteria regarding work experience, language proficiency, education, and settlement funds.

Each participating community has been allowed to choose five sectors to be eligible for RCIP.

FCIP Sectors and Occupations

Sudbury has chosen the following sectors for the FCIP.

• Business, finance and administration.
• Health.
• Education, social, community and government services.
• Arts, culture, recreation, and sport.
• Trades and transport.

Sudbury’s FCIP has identified the following as priority occupations:

Occupation Name	NOC Code
Accounting and related clerks	14200
Accounting technicians and bookkeepers	12200
Administrative assistants	13110
Business development officers and market researchers and analysts	41402
Cashiers	65100
College and other vocational instructors	41210
Customer services representatives – financial institutions	64400
Early childhood educators and assistants	42202
Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians	22310
Elementary school and kindergarten teachers	41221
Financial advisors	11102
Graphic designers and illustrators	52120
Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations	44101
Instructors of persons with disabilities	42203
Insurance agents and brokers	63100
Licensed practical nurses	32101
Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates	33102
Pharmacists	31120
Pharmacy technical assistants and pharmacy assistants	33103
Professional occupations in advertising, marketing, and public relations	11202
Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses	31301
Secondary school teachers	41220
Social and community service workers	42201
Transport truck drivers	73300
Welders and related machine operators	72106

The FCIP is a pathway for foreign nationals with an intermediate level of French ability and an offer of employment in priority occupations.

To be eligible, foreign nationals must meet other criteria regarding work experience, language proficiency, education, and settlement funds (apart from also having a job offer from a designated employer, which is also within a priority occupation).

Employers must submit an application on behalf of the foreign national they are seeking to hire. The first intake period for applications for both the RCIP and FCIP is June 23rd to June 27th (employers must have submitted a complete Employer Designation Application by June 12 to be eligible for this intake slot).

Once an application has been selected, the recommendation form can be used to apply for PR with the federal government. Optionally, a foreign national is also eligible for a temporary work permit while their PR application is processed.

Only one other participating community – Timmins, also in Ontario – has announced its priority sectors and occupations for the FCIP. There are six communities participating in the pilot.

Assess your eligibility for the RCIP