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).
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.
