The town of Claresholm, located in southern Alberta, has announced its list of priority sectors and occupations under Canada’s new Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP). This new pathway offers eligible foreign nationals a chance to become permanent residents by securing employment with designated local employers.
Claresholm’s RCIP catchment area extends 25 kilometres beyond its core, covering the hamlet of Granum and the town of Stavely.
How the RCIP Works
The RCIP is an employer-driven immigration program, meaning foreign nationals must first secure a valid job offer from a designated employer within the participating community. They also require an official endorsement from the community itself to proceed with a permanent residence (PR) application.
Each participating RCIP community can nominate five priority sectors, from which eligible occupations are selected. Only employers operating in these sectors can apply for designation under the pilot.
Claresholm’s 2025 Priority Sectors and Occupations
Claresholm has identified the following sectors and corresponding occupations for the 2025 RCIP allocation:
Agriculture
- Specialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators – NOC 84120
Health Care
- Cooks – NOC 63200
- Licensed Practical Nurses – NOC 32101
- Nurse Aides, Orderlies and Patient Service Associates – NOC 33102
- Registered Nurses and Psychiatric Nurses – NOC 31301
Law & Education
- Administrative Officers – NOC 13100
- Early Childhood Educators and Assistants – NOC 42202
- Elementary and Secondary School Teacher Assistants – NOC 43100
- Air Pilots, Flight Engineers, Flying Instructors – NOC 72600
Manufacturing & Utilities
- Administrative Assistants – NOC 13110
- Aerospace Engineers – NOC 21390
- Aircraft Assemblers and Inspectors – NOC 93200
- Aircraft Avionics Technicians and Inspectors – NOC 22313
- Aircraft Mechanics and Inspectors – NOC 72404
- Carpenters – NOC 72310
- Concrete Finishers – NOC 73100
- Construction Trades Helpers and Labourers – NOC 75110
- Crane Operators – NOC 72500
- Engineering Managers – NOC 20010
- Ironworkers – NOC 72105
- Labourers in Food and Beverage Processing – NOC 95106
- Food and Beverage Process Machine Operators – NOC 94140
- Meat Cutters and Fishmongers (Retail & Wholesale) – NOC 65202
Sales & Services
- Chefs – NOC 62200
- Food Service Supervisors – NOC 62020
Allocation Details for 2025
Claresholm has been granted 30 PR slots for the year 2025. To manage application flow:
- Three slots will be issued per month.
- Any unused slots will be distributed at the end of the year.
- A cap of five slots has been set for the Sales and Service sector.
What This Means for Applicants
Foreign nationals aiming to apply under Claresholm’s RCIP must secure a job offer within the listed occupations and sectors from a designated employer. It’s important to note that:
- Only employers in designated priority sectors can become eligible under RCIP.
- Job offers must align with one of the specified NOC codes.
- Candidates must also meet additional requirements related to work experience, education, language skills, and settlement funds.
About the RCIP
Launched in 2025, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a five-year federal initiative designed to support labor market needs in smaller, rural Canadian communities. By linking foreign workers directly with local employers, the pilot aims to address regional shortages and promote sustainable population and economic growth.
Canada has a strong track record of piloting regional immigration programs. If successful, RCIP could become a permanent stream in the future.
Currently, 14 communities are participating in RCIP. Several others — including Timmins, Brandon, Sault Ste. Marie, Thunder Bay, North Bay, and North Okanagan-Shuswap — have already released their priority sectors, with more expected to follow.
At Skynet Immigration, we help eligible candidates understand and navigate employer-driven programs like the RCIP. Under the expertise of RCIC Salekur Rahman (RCIC# R514379), we offer personalized support, including:
- Job offer guidance and employer verification
- Document and eligibility assessments
- Application preparation for RCIP, PNPs, and other PR pathways
Contact us for a free consultation to explore your eligibility for Claresholm or other RCIP-designated communities.
