Breaking immigration news from Canada: The Town of Claresholm, Alberta has officially launched its Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) for 2025—an employer-driven program offering foreign skilled workers a direct and simplified pathway to Permanent Residency (PR). If you’re a qualified worker in one of Claresholm’s priority industries and looking to move to Canada with long-term settlement in mind, this may be your golden ticket!
What Is RCIP Claresholm 2025?
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) is a community-specific economic immigration program approved by the Canadian federal government and administered in partnership with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The RCIP aims to attract foreign workers to rural areas that face acute labor shortages, giving them a chance to work, settle, and eventually obtain PR.
Launched officially on April 29, 2025, the Claresholm RCIP is currently in its employer designation phase. Foreign worker applications will be accepted once the list of designated employers is published in late May 2025.
Why Claresholm?
Situated in southern Alberta, Claresholm is a growing rural community with strategic importance in agriculture, health services, and manufacturing. The RCIP covers a 25 km radius around Claresholm—including Granum and Stavely—making this a unique opportunity for skilled workers to enjoy peaceful living and long-term settlement in Canada’s heartland.
RCIP 2025 Program Details
| Category | Details |
| Program Name | Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) – Claresholm |
| Launch Date | April 29, 2025 |
| PR Allocations for 2025 | 30 total |
| Application Status | Employer applications open now; Candidate applications opening soon |
| Geographic Coverage | Claresholm + 25 km radius (Granum, Stavely) |
| Job Offer Requirement | Mandatory from designated employer |
| Work Permit | LMIA-exempt; PR pathway included |
Priority Sectors & Eligible Occupations
RCIP Claresholm targets five major sectors. Each sector has specific National Occupation Classification (NOC) codes that are eligible:
1. Health Care
- Cook – NOC 63200
- Nurse Aides, Orderlies, Patient Service Associates – NOC 33102
- Licensed Practical Nurses – NOC 32101
- Registered Nurses & Psychiatric Nurses – NOC 31301
2. Manufacturing & Utilities
- Administrative Assistant – 13110
- Concrete Finisher – 73100
- Carpenter – 72310
- Construction Trade Helpers – 75110
- Ironworker – 72105
- Crane Operator – 72500
- Aerospace Engineer – 21390
- Aircraft Mechanic – 72404
- Aircraft Assemblers – 93200
- Avionics Technicians & Inspectors – 22313
- Engineering Manager – 20010
- Food & Beverage Machine Operators – 94140
- Food & Beverage Labourers – 95106
- Meat Cutter – 65202
3. Law & Education
- Administrative Officer – 13100
- Early Childhood Educator – 42202
- Educational Assistant – 43100
- Flight Instructor – 72600
4. Agriculture
- Specialized Livestock Workers & Farm Machinery Operators – 84120
5. Sales & Services (Capped: 6 total, Max 2 for fast food subsector)
- Chef – 62200
- Food Service Supervisor – 62020
Note: Occupations must align with the industry listed. You cannot switch or mix NOC codes across sectors.
Who Can Apply? — Candidate Eligibility Criteria
Foreign workers must meet the following requirements (applications not open yet):
- A valid job offer from a designated employer in one of the priority NOC codes
- Minimum 1 year (1,560 hours) of work experience in the past 3 years in a relevant occupation
- Language proficiency: TEER 4/5 jobs: CLB 4+, and TEER 2/3 jobs: CLB 5–6+
- Education:
- Canadian high school diploma or foreign credential + ECA (Educational Credential Assessment)
- Settlement funds, unless already working legally in Canada
- Clear intention to live in Claresholm long-term
For Employers: How to Get Designated
The RCIP is employer-led. Employers in Claresholm, Granum, or Stavely must:
- Operate within the community’s 25 km boundary
- Belong to a priority sector
- Be hiring for a listed NOC occupation
- Request the designation package via: eda@claresholm.ca
Employers found eligible will be listed on the Claresholm RCIP website around late May 2025, and will be able to extend offers to skilled foreign workers.
How Is RCIP Different From Express Entry?
| Criteria | Claresholm RCIP | Express Entry |
| Job Offer | Mandatory | Optional (adds CRS points) |
| CRS Score | Not required | Required |
| Application Cap | 30 PR spots for 2025 | No community-specific limit |
| Location | Claresholm only | Any province (except Quebec) |
| Language Level | CLB 4–6 (lower) | CLB 7+ (higher) |
| Timeline | 6–12 months | 6–8 months |
| Best For | Those with job offers in small towns | High-skilled applicants with strong profiles |
RCIP Application Portal: https://claresholm-rcip.ca/.
Other Immigration Pathways
If you don’t qualify for Claresholm’s RCIP, consider:
- AAIP (Alberta Advantage Immigration Program)
→ Provincial nominee program for Alberta
https://www.alberta.ca/alberta-advantage-immigration-program - IRCC Programs
→ Federal Express Entry, Atlantic Immigration Program, RNIP, etc.
https://www.canada.ca/en/services/immigration-citizenship.html.
RCIP Timeline Overview (2025)
| Phase | Date |
| Program Launch | April 29, 2025 |
| Employer Applications Open | Ongoing |
| Designated Employer List Release | ~Last Week of May 2025 |
| Candidate Applications Open | TBD (After employer list is published) |
| Allocation Limit | 30 total PR slots for 2025 |
Final Thoughts
The Claresholm RCIP is a once-a-year, community-focused opportunity to gain PR in Canada without battling the high CRS cutoffs of Express Entry. If you’re a skilled worker looking for stability, family life, and a permanent home in a welcoming Canadian town—start contacting Claresholm employers in the approved sectors now.
Stay tuned for the release of the designated employer list in late May. That’s your key to starting the process!
DATE . May/9/2025