IRCC Sets New Work Permit Rules for RCIP and FCIP Applicants

Canada’s immigration department has clarified how it will issue special work permits to people who apply for permanent residence through the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP) and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot (FCIP).

Applicants who submit a complete permanent residence file under either pilot may qualify for a work permit valid for up to two years. This permit allows them to work while officials process their permanent residence application.

Who Qualifies for the Two-Year Permit

To receive this work permit, applicants must meet two main conditions. They must hold a valid job offer from an eligible employer, and immigration officials must confirm that their permanent residence application passed the completeness check.

The department will not require a labour market impact assessment (LMIA) for these permits. This step removes a major hurdle that employers often face when hiring foreign workers.

Family members included in the permanent residence application may also qualify for LMIA-exempt work permits.

New Instructions to Immigration Officers

On February 24, 2026, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) posted updated instructions for officers who process these work permit applications.

Officers must review several key documents before making a decision. These include:

• The acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) for the permanent residence application
  
• A recommendation from the designated local economic development organization
  
• An LMIA-exempt job offer submitted through the Employer Portal
  
• Proof that the applicant meets the job requirements
  

The job details listed in the work permit application must match the information provided in the permanent residence file.

The department also clarified an important detail about the community recommendation form, known as IMM 0247 or IMM 0251. Although this form normally remains valid for six months from the date of issue, officers do not require it to remain valid at the time of the work permit application, as long as authorities have not revoked it.

How Applicants Should Apply

Officials now advise applicants to submit their work permit applications online using administrative code C15. Visa-exempt foreign nationals may still apply at a port of entry, but the department encourages online submissions.

This work permit ties directly to the employer and job offer listed in the permanent residence application. Applicants under RCIP and FCIP cannot apply for a bridging open work permit. If the initial permit expires before they receive permanent residence, they may request an extension.

Family members who receive work permits under this program will obtain open work permits. However, their work must remain within the principal applicant’s region of employment. Officers will issue these permits under administrative code C17.

Faster Processing Under Federal Pilots

LMIA-exempt permits fall under Canada’s International Mobility Program. These permits generally move faster and involve fewer steps than permits issued under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, which require an LMIA.

RCIP and FCIP operate as employer-driven federal pilot programs. Eligible foreign nationals can apply directly for permanent residence if they secure a qualifying job offer from a designated employer in a participating community. The local economic development organization must approve both the employer and the job offer.

The federal government launched both pilots in 2025 and plans to run them until 2030.