Canada launches two new pathways for foreign skilled workers to gain permanent residency

Canada has launched two new pathways for foreign nationals to become permanent residents of the country. The two new Canada PR pathways are the Rural Community Immigration Pilot and the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. The Rural and Francophone Community Immigration Pilots are pathways to permanent residence for skilled workers who want to work and live in one of 18 rural and smaller communities in Canada. The fees to apply for both these programs start from $1,525.

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot ensures that rural communities have access to programs that address labour shortages and help local businesses find the workers they need. The Rural Community Immigration Pilot offers permanent residence (PR) to skilled workers who want to work and settle in rural and more remote communities.
Under this program, 14 communities showed they can support and benefit from skilled migrants.

The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot focuses on increasing the number of French-speaking newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec. The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot offers permanent residence (PR) to skilled workers who want to work and settle in rural and more remote Francophone-minority communities. Under this program, 6 communities showed they can support and benefit from skilled migrants.

You can apply for permanent residence through these pilots if you are a skilled worker and get a qualifying job offer from a designated employer. You can be living abroad or already be in Canada as a temporary resident. To be eligible, you do not need skilled work experience if you recently graduated from a public post-secondary school in the community.

Once you apply for permanent residence, you might be eligible to get a work permit while you wait for the processing of your application. However, you must have a job offer from a designated employer and a referral letter from your participating community.

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot ensures that rural communities have access to programs that address labour shortages and help local businesses find the workers they need. The Francophone Community Immigration Pilot focuses on increasing the number of French-speaking newcomers settling in Francophone minority communities outside of Quebec.