RCIP

Step 2

Apply for designation

There is no cost to becoming a designated employer. You can apply for designation in advance of hiring a foreign national or when you find someone you wish to hire. Designation applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Contact Michelle Bezditny, Director of Economic Development, by email  Michelle@SteinbachEDC.com or by phone (431) 441-3388 to:

• Discuss:
  • Your business/organization’s eligibility for the pilot;
  • Your prospective job offer; and/or
  • Your candidate’s eligibility (if applicable);
• Links to mandatory online training:
  • Employer Onboarding Training– download your certificate once complete.
  • Building Welcoming Workplaces
• RCIP Employer Designation Guidelines
• Steinbach – EN RCIP Employer Designation Application Form – Fillable
• Upload Employer Onboarding Training Certificate, Intercultural Competency Training Certificate, and Employer Designation Application Form in the SED portal, click here. – EMPLOYER PORTAL ONLY.

NOTE: Employers are only required to be designated once in order to participate in the pilot. However, an employer’s designation status may be revoked for any of the following reasons:

• Pilot priority sectors and/or occupations change and the employer no longer falls within priorities;
• The designated employer voluntarily requests withdrawal from the pilot;
• SED becomes aware that the employer no longer meets the employer designation criteria; or
• Any of the reasons set out in section (4) of the Ministerial Instructions with respect to the Rural Community Immigration Pilot.

Step 3

Hire a candidate

Once you’re designated, you can offer jobs to eligible candidates.

NOTE: RCIP – Steinbach does not match candidates with employment. You may find a candidate on your own or a candidate may approach you.

Click here to ensure your job offer meets the requirements of the Pilot.

Click the link below to ensure your candidate meets the candidate requirements:

• Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) – Candidate Requirements

If the job and candidate meet the requirements of the Pilot, provide the candidate with a completed Offer of Employer Form:

• Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) – Offer of Employment to a Foreign National

Encourage your candidate to get their documents ready to submit with their recommendation application.

NOTE: If a candidate is not currently working with you, the employer will have to demonstrate that they have made efforts to recruit a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident prior to providing the offer of employment to the candidate.

Step 4

Apply for recommendation

When you are ready, contact Gwen Reimer, RCIP Program Manager, by email Gwen@SteinbachEDC.com or by phone (431) 444-8825 to obtain a Recommendation Application Form.

The Recommendation Application Form confirms:

• That you haven’t been able to fill the job with someone locally;
• That the job offer meets the pilot requirements;
• That the candidate meets all of the requirements for the pilot;
• That you commit to connecting your candidate with immigrant settlement services in your community.

Once you complete the Recommendation Application Form and have gathered all the required documents from the candidate, submit your application for recommendation through our online portal.

NOTE: Recommendation applications can only be submitted during one of the monthly intake periods listed below.

Click here for a checklist of all the documents required for a complete application. 

Steinbach-EN-RCIP Recommendation Application Form – Fillable

Community Immigration Pilots – Intent to Reside Form – Fillable

Submit your Recommendation Application Form along with ALL supporting documents in the SED portal, click here.

NOTE: Steinbach Economic Development is here to support employers throughout the process and answer any questions you may have.

2025 Intake Periods:

• June 1-15
• July 1-15
• August 1-15
• September 1-15
• October 1-15
• November 1-15
• December 1-15

*The intake period will open the 1st of every month and will close as late as the 15th of each month or when 7 applications are received, whichever comes first.  Only 5 recommendations will be processed per month.

Step 5

How applications are processed

SED RCIP applications are based on a pass/fail model.

• The intake period will open at 9:00am on the 1^st of every month and will close as late as the 5:00pm on the 15^th of each month or when 7 applications are received, whichever comes first.  The review period will be the 16th-last day of the month.
• Per intake period, SED will issue up to 5 recommendations on a first come, first served basis.
• A maximum of 1 recommendation per NOC code will be approved each month, for a maximum of 2 recommendations per calendar year per NOC code.
  • NOC codes excluded from the above criteria are 31102, 31301, 32101, and 33102 whereby, no limitations apply.
• Food Service Supervisors, NOC 62020, will exclude fast food restaurants.
  • Designated employers using this NOC code will be limited to 1 recommendation per calendar year.
• Employer designation is open with the first intake starting June 1, 2025.

Candidates may be requested to participate in a formal interview to further assess their application. Candidates deemed to satisfy the requirements of the Ministerial Instructions  may be issued a recommendation certificate.

Applications will not be considered if they are incomplete or do not meet federal eligibility requirements.

It is up to employers to ensure they meet the program requirements and their application is complete.

Step 6

Support your candidate

If your recommendation application is approved, your candidate will receive a recommendation certificate from SED, that will allow them to apply to IRCC for permanent residence. The candidate is responsible to make application to IRCC directly.

Continue to support and welcome your candidate in the community by implementing the commitments to settlement support outlined in the Recommendation Application Form.

NOTE: Receiving a recommendation certificate from SED does not guarantee that your candidate will receive permanent residence. It is up to IRCC’s discretion as they are the ultimate decision maker.

Step 7

Optional: Work permit

If your candidate requires a temporary work permit while their permanent residence application is being processed at the IRCC, click here to learn about the steps involved.

FAQ

Are there any expenses for employers to participate in this program?

RCIP is free for employers. There is no application fee. Employers do not cover travel or settlement costs for foreign workers. An optional $230 work permit compliance fee may be paid to IRCC if a work permit is needed for the skilled worker.

Can I use RCIP for a person that already works for me?

Yes, you can use RCIP for current employees as long as your business, the position and the employee meet the program requirements.

Our business has been in Steinbach and area for less than two years. Is there any exemption to the two-year operation requirement?

IRCC requires businesses to have operated under the same management for the previous two years within program boundaries. The only exemption is for businesses relocating to the Steinbach RCIP boundaries if they show continuous and active operation in another location for at least two years under the same management. They must also prove that the relocation significantly contributes to Steinbach and areas economy. This exemption is evaluated on case-by-case basis. If your business is not eligible for RCIP, we recommend you consider other immigration pathways available:

• MPNP Employer Services
• Economic Mobility Pathway Pilot (EMPP)
• Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
• Francophone Mobility Work Permit

Links

• Employer Onboarding Training
• Building Welcoming Workplaces
• Steinbach – EN-RCIP Employer Designation Application Form – Fillable
• Steinbach – EN-RCIP Recommendation Application Form – Fillable
• Job Offer Requirements
• Candidate Requirements
• Offer of Employment to a Foreign National
• Document Check List
• Optional: Work Permit