RCIP in Thunder Bay, Ontario: How the Community Recommendation Works

Thunder Bay is the biggest RCIP community in Ontario by designated employers — over 500 businesses — and it issued 338 recommendation certificates in 2026, the most of any community in this series. Its 2026 intake is closed (the final candidate packages were due at noon on October 15), but employer designation is still open, and the remaining 2026 certificates are being issued in November. This post explains the whole process as the Thunder Bay Community Economic Development Commission (CEDC) publishes it.

Sources: Thunder Bay RCIP — official site · RCIP FAQ · Scoring grid (PDF, July 2026) · Designated employer list (PDF, Sept 25, 2026)

The community and the program

The program is delivered by the Thunder Bay CEDC. Contact: immigration@thunderbay.ca. The CEDC reviews employer applications and provides designation, reviews candidate applications put forward by designated employers, issues recommendation certificates, delivers presentations to employers, and conducts reviews of designated employers. It does not provide guidance or advice to RCIP candidates on their application, does not match employers with employees, does not provide immigration advice, does not communicate with IRCC on behalf of candidates, and does not make any decisions regarding permanent residence.

2026 results (August 2026 update): over 500 businesses have Designated Employer status. For 2026, the Thunder Bay CMA issued recommendation certificates to 338 candidates. The highest score was 116, with an average score of 89.34.

Priority sectors — six for 2026

Excluded business types: gas stations, convenience stores, fast food establishments, and counter service restaurants are excluded.

Priority occupations — all 25 NOCs with points and limits

Per-occupation caps: only 64100 and 64410 have a stated 2026 cap (24 recommendations each). The 64100 cap was met in June 2026 and no further applications are accepted for it.

NOCs not on the list: NOCs within the priority sectors that are not included on the priority list may, at the discretion of the CEDC and validation of demand in the sector, be considered for selection (upon validation by the CEDC) for the 2026 pilot year.

Scoring — minimum 50 points, maximum 125

Minimum overall: 50 points, with a minimum of 10 points from each category. If no, the candidate does not meet the minimum eligibility criteria. The five categories are each capped at 25 points: Job Offer, Work Experience, Language, Education, and Intent to Reside.

• Job offer, 10–25 points — sector points plus occupation points (per the tables above), with a maximum of 25 for the category. The offer must be in a priority sector/occupation, full-time, non-seasonal, indeterminate, genuine and valid.
• Work experience, 10–25 points — 1 year of full-time (or part-time equivalent) work experience in the past 3 years, or an international graduate who qualifies for the work-experience exemption = 10 (minimum); 2 years = 15; 3 years = 20; 4 or more years = 25. Minimum work experience is 1 year (1,560 hours) of related experience in the past 3 years: TEER 0/1 offer — experience in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3; TEER 2/3 — TEER 1, 2, 3 or 4; TEER 4 — TEER 2, 3 or 4; TEER 5 — same 5-digit NOC. Healthcare exception: work experience in NOC 31301 (Registered Nurses, TEER 1) can support a job offer in NOC 33102 (TEER 3) Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates.
• Language, 10–25 points — must meet the benchmark in all four categories through an IRCC-approved test. RCIP — TEER 4/5: CLB/NCLC 4 = 10 (minimum), 5 = 15, 6 = 20, 7+ = 25; TEER 2/3: CLB 5 = 10, 6 = 15, 7 = 20, 8+ = 25; TEER 0/1: CLB 6 = 10, 7 = 15, 8 = 20, 9+ = 25. FCIP: NCLC 5 = 10, 6 = 15, 7 = 20, 8+ = 25.
• Education, 10–25 points — secondary (high school diploma) = 10 (minimum); post-secondary diploma of at least 1 year = 15; bachelor’s degree of at least 3 years = 20; Master’s or PhD = 25.
• Intent to reside, 10–25 points — 10 points (minimum) for a mandatory written statement, where the Economic Development Officer must be satisfied the candidate has a genuine intent to reside in the Thunder Bay CMA, plus optional bonus points up to 15 additional: previous work or education in the community — 1 year = 2, 2 years = 4, 3 years = 6; close family member(s) who are permanent residents or citizens living in the community for at least 12 months = 2; volunteering with a local community organization or sports team for at least 3 months = 2 (signed reference letter required); proof of rental or property ownership = 2; spouse or common-law partner with work or study experience (6-month minimum) in the community = 3.

How competitive is it? The highest 2026 score was 116, and the average was 89.34. The minimum of 50 gets you into the pool; the average successful score was around 89.

Ranking: minimum 50 points to enter the Candidate Pool; draws take place each month. All applications processed by the last day of the month are placed in the Candidate Pool. Those who score highest are further assessed and may be invited for an interview. Candidates who satisfy the Ministerial Instructions and score the highest are issued a Recommendation Certificate. Tie-break: if more than one application has the lowest score, the cut-off is based on the date and time applications were submitted, with those submitted first considered first. Applications not selected remain in the pool for up to six months and may be selected in future draws.

How the process works

Preliminary assessment. Confirm your business fits the eligible employer, priority-sector and priority-occupation requirements before starting. Employers are encouraged to review the information and the FAQ before proceeding.

Step 1 — Employer eligibility. The business must be active and genuine, operating continuously under the same management for at least 2 years within the Thunder Bay CMA; do business in at least one priority occupation; have at least 75% of the business’s work inside the Thunder Bay CMA; complete the free RCIP Onboarding Training (specific to Thunder Bay) and the free Intercultural Competence Training (online); agree to support settlement of the recommended applicant and their family, facilitating access to settlement and social service support; agree to be publicly listed on the CEDC website as a Designated Employer; not be in violation of the employer compliance regime under IRPA and IRPR; be in good standing and comply with the Ontario Employment Standards Act, 2000 and Occupational Health and Safety Act; have no outstanding penalties or charges with any Thunder Bay CMA municipal office, including property taxes and water/sewer charges; and not have misrepresented or withheld a fact.

Ineligible employers: a consulate; a staffing or employment agency; a business owned by an authorized immigration representative; a business the applicant (or their spouse or common-law partner) owns or controls; an employer referred to in 200(3)(g.1) and (h) of the IRPR; a business owned by a representative referred to in s.91(2) of the IRPA.

Step 2 — Apply for designation. There is no cost to becoming a designated employer. Designated Employer application packages are accepted on an ongoing basis — there is no specific intake window. Apply in advance of hiring a foreign national (existing employee or new recruit, in Canada or abroad). Contact immigration@thunderbay.ca with name, title, business name and contact information to discuss and confirm eligibility and labour needs and to receive links to the mandatory online training and the RCIP Employer Designation Application form. Once eligibility is confirmed and the forms and links are provided, and the employer meets federal criteria and provides proof of training, the CEDC will issue a Designation and list the employer on its website. Employers are only required to be designated once. De-designation can occur if priority sectors or occupations change and the employer no longer falls within the priorities, if the employer voluntarily requests withdrawal, if the CEDC becomes aware the employer no longer meets the criteria, or for any of the reasons set out in section (4) of the Ministerial Instructions respecting the Rural Community Immigration Pilot. Incomplete applications are not reviewed.

Step 3 — Retain or hire a candidate. Employers retain or hire a qualified foreign national for a position in a priority sector/occupation, following the IRCC job-offer and candidate requirements.

Step 4 — Apply for a recommendation. Candidate applications are assessed on an ongoing basis. Submit one Recommendation Application Form per candidate and upload all required documentation using the portal provided in the confirmation email. The form confirms: the employer has not been able to fill the job with a Canadian citizen or permanent resident; the job offer meets the pilot requirements; the candidate meets the pilot requirements; and the employer commits to connecting the candidate with immigrant settlement services.

Step 5 — CEDC review and scoring pool. As described above — minimum 50 points, monthly draws, tie-break by submission date and time, pool retention up to six months.

Step 6 — Support your candidate. Implement the commitments to settlement supports outlined in the Designation agreement. Note: receiving a Recommendation Certificate does not guarantee Permanent Residency. It is up to the IRCC processing officer’s discretion.

Step 7 — (Optional) temporary work permit. If the candidate requires a temporary work permit while the PR application is processed, the page links to IRCC’s “Get a work permit” page.

Wage rule

The candidate’s wage must continue to meet the applicable “low” wage threshold for Northwestern Ontario throughout the full PR processing period (IMM0247 form).

Intake status — 2026 closed for candidates, designation still open

Following the CEDC update issued on Friday, October 2, 2026, the final intake of RCIP candidate application packages was due by noon on October 15, 2026. All candidate applications had to be submitted by designated employers no later than 12 noon ET on Thursday, October 15 to ensure sufficient processing time; the application portal closed at 12 noon. All remaining 2026 recommendation certificates will be issued in November.

Employers interested in becoming Designated Employers are still welcome to submit DE application packages to the CEDC using the 2026 criteria and process. There is no guarantee that current priority sectors and/or job-specific NOCs will be supported for the 2027 RCIP — as per IRCC guidelines, each year the CEDC may have new sector and NOC priorities, caps and exclusions. Employers may wait until the 2027 RCIP is launched with its updated priority sectors and NOC codes.

Designated employers

The list is published as a 17-page PDF, “Thunder Bay CMA RCIP Designated Employer List — as of September 25, 2026”, with business name and Thunder Bay address per entry. Businesses listed in red are currently not hiring. The list is updated on an ongoing basis — check back regularly for the latest updates.

Fees

No CEDC fee for designation — there is no cost to becoming a designated employer, and both required trainings are free. IRCC permanent-residence and work-permit fees are not stated on these pages.

Fraud alert

The page carries a fraud alert warning employers approached to become a Designated Employer for immigration programs for temporary foreign workers to be cautious. De-designation, fines and being blacklisted can be the result when found engaging in dishonest practices.

What to do next

• There is no 2026 candidate intake left — the final packages were due October 15, and the remaining certificates are being issued in November.
• Employers can still apply for designation now, under the 2026 criteria — or wait for the 2027 launch with its updated sectors and NOCs. There is no guarantee the current priorities carry over.
• Score your file honestly against the grid. The minimum is 50, but the average successful score in 2026 was 89.34.
• Check the per-occupation limits before filing: the retail salesperson cap (24) was met in June 2026 and no further applications are accepted for that occupation; cooks are limited to one per employer and to dine-in, full-service restaurants and hotels; truck drivers must be short-haul local, with six months of electronic log books and CLB 5 in all four categories.
• Keep the wage at or above the applicable “low” wage threshold for Northwestern Ontario throughout the full PR processing period.

Frequently asked questions

What score do I need in Thunder Bay? At least 50 points, with at least 10 in each of the five categories, to enter the pool. The average successful score in 2026 was 89.34 — plan for that, not the minimum.

Can I apply for 2026? No. The final candidate packages were due at noon on October 15, 2026. Employer designation is still open.

Is there a community fee? No. There is no cost to become a designated employer, and both trainings are free.

Does a recommendation guarantee permanent residence? No. It is up to the IRCC processing officer’s discretion.

How VG Immigration Services can help

If Thunder Bay is your community — or you are deciding between communities — book a consultation at vgis.ca or WhatsApp 416-578-9269. We score your file against the published grid before an intake, confirm the employer’s designation and the limits that apply to your occupation, and prepare the PR application once a recommendation is in hand.