RCIP in West Kootenay, British Columbia: How the Community Recommendation Works
West Kootenay is done for 2026: its September intake was the final one of the year, 200 recommendations in total, and the September cut-off was 93 — the highest real cut-off of any community in this series. The next intake is in 2027, and its date, priorities, selection criteria and allocation have not been confirmed yet. This post explains the whole process as Community Futures Central Kootenay publishes it, so you can prepare now for 2027.
Sources: West Kootenay RCIP — official site · Priority occupations · Scoring grid (PDF) · Designated employers
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The program is delivered by Community Futures Central Kootenay (CFCK), which launched the West Kootenay Rural Community Immigration Pilot on June 9, 2025. There are 330 designated employers on the list, last updated September 16, 2026.
Priority sectors — six for 2026
- Business, Finance & Administration (new in 2026)
- Health
- Education, Law and Social, Community and Government Services
- Sales & Service — fast-food businesses and gas stations are not eligible
- Trades, Transport, and Equipment Operator
- Manufacturing and Utilities
Natural Resources and Agriculture was not selected for 2026. At least 75% of job duties must be carried out within the West Kootenay RCIP region.
Priority occupations — all 25 NOCs
| NOC | Occupation | TEER | CLB |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11100 | Accountants (new) | 1 | 6 |
| 12200 | Accounting Technicians & Bookkeepers | 2 | 5 |
| 13110 | Administrative Assistant (new) | 3 | 5 |
| 31301 | Registered Nurse | 1 | 6 |
| 32101 | Licensed Practical Nurse | 2 | 5 |
| 33102 | Health Care Aides (no employer cap) | 3 | 5 |
| 42201 | Social & Community Service Workers | 2 | 5 |
| 42202 | Early Childhood Educators & ECE-Assistants (no employer cap) | 2 | 5 |
| 44101 | Home Support Worker (new; private households are not eligible designated employers) | 4 | 4 |
| 60020 | Retail & Wholesale Trade Manager (new) | 0 | 6 |
| 60030 | Restaurant & Food Service Manager (new; IRCC 5% cap) | 0 | 6 |
| 62200 | Chef (new) | 2 | 5 |
| 63100 | Insurance Broker (new) | 3 | 5 |
| 63200 | Cook | 3 | 5 |
| 63202 | Baker | 3 | 5 |
| 64314 | Front Desk Agent | 4 | 4 |
| 65200 | Food & Beverage Server (work experience must be in same NOC; IRCC 5% cap) | 5 | 4 |
| 72400 | Construction Millwright & Industrial Mechanic (new) | 2 | 5 |
| 72410 | Commercial Vehicle / Automotive Service Technician (new) | 2 | 5 |
| 73112 | Painters | 3 | 5 |
| 73300 | Transport Truck Drivers (75% or more of driving/job duties within the region) | 3 | 5 |
| 75101 | Material Handlers (work experience must be in same NOC; accepted titles: Forklift Operator, Forklift Truck Operator, Labourer-Material Handling, Material Handler-Manufacturing & Warehousing) | 5 | 5 |
| 75110 | Construction trades helpers and labourers (new; work experience must be in same NOC) | 5 | 4 |
| 94140 | Operators, Food & Beverage Processing (new) | 4 | 4 |
| 95109 | Other Labourers, Processing, Manufacturing & Utilities (accepted title: General Labourer – Manufacturing; work experience must be in same NOC) | 5 | 4 |
Removed for 2026 (still possible under Secondary NOC, but must be highly competitive): 14100 General Office Worker; 41321 Career Development Practitioners & Career Counsellors; 65201 Food counter attendants, kitchen helpers and related support occupations; 65310 Light duty cleaner; 72310 Carpenters; 72401 Heavy duty equipment mechanics; 75119 Other trades helpers & labourers. Fast-food franchises, gas stations and law firms are not eligible.
Scoring — minimum 50 points, but the real cut-off was 93
Five factors: job offer, work experience, language, education, intent to reside. Candidates must receive at least 10 points in each of the five factors to meet the minimum score. The minimum eligible total score is 50 points. The maximum is 25 points per factor, for a total possible maximum of 125 points. If any factor is below 10, the application is not eligible to proceed, regardless of total score.
- Job offer, maximum 25 points — priority sector plus NOC points. Sector points: Sales & Service 10; Business, Finance & Administration 15; Manufacturing & Utilities 15; Health 20; Education, law and social, community and government services 20; Trades & Transport 20. NOC points: +10 for 11100 only; +5 for 12200, 13110, 31301, 32101, 33102, 42201, 42202, 60020, 60030, 62200, 63100, 72400, 72410, 73300 and 94140; 0 for 44101, 63200, 63202, 64314, 65200, 73112, 75101, 75110, 95109 and Secondary NOC.
- Work experience, 10–25 points — 1 year in the past 3 years, or the international-graduate exemption = 10 (minimum); 2 years = 15; 3 years = 20; 4 or more years = 25. One year full-time = 1,560 hours; round down.
- Language, 10–25 points — overall level, all four skills, by the TEER of the job offer (e.g. TEER 4/5: CLB 4 = 10, 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).
- Education, 10–25 points — high school diploma or foreign equivalent (ECA) = 10 (minimum); post-secondary credential, minimum 1-year program = 15; bachelor’s degree, minimum 3-year program = 20; master’s degree or PhD = 25.
- Intent to reside, 10–25 points — a written statement is mandatory = 10 (minimum), plus up to 15 additional points: previous work or education in the community 1 year = 2, 2 years = 4, 3 years = 6; close family in the community at least 12 months (PR or citizen) = 2; volunteering or professional networks = 2; rental or property ownership proof = 2; spouse or common-law partner work or study experience (6-month minimum) in the community = 3.
How competitive is it? The September 2026 intake in practice reviewed applications with preliminary scores of 93 or higher (also checking 91–92 in case verification raised them to 93). The minimum of 50 gets you eligible; the actual cut-off was 93. In 2025, West Kootenay issued 148 recommendations.
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How the process works
West Kootenay received 200 Community Recommendations for 2026 from IRCC. By September 9, 2026, 123 had been issued; the remaining 77 were used in the September intake. The September intake received 259 new applications plus 108 remaining from June — 367 eligible for consideration. Staff reviewed applications with preliminary scores of 93 or higher, and the Steering Committee reviewed the 100 highest-scoring applications for the 77 remaining recommendations. Applications below 91 will not move forward and will not be carried to 2027.
The job offer must be at least 30 hours per week, full-time, non-seasonal and permanent.
Wage rules
Two rules apply, and the higher one wins:
- Federal: the wage must be above or within the range of wages for that occupation in Job Bank, by NOC and region. For example, transport truck drivers in the Kootenay Region have a minimum Job Bank wage of $27.00 an hour (as of August 2026) and must be offered at least $27.00 an hour.
- West Kootenay RCIP: at least $21.00 per hour. If the Job Bank range indicates a higher minimum wage than $21.00 per hour, the employer must offer the higher wage.
Fees
No RCIP fee for a job offer or community recommendation. The FAQ is explicit: no one may charge a candidate for a job offer or community recommendation, or recover recruitment or immigration costs through wage deductions, repayment agreements or another arrangement. A paid authorized representative may charge for legitimate immigration advice or representation, but not for the job offer or community recommendation itself. The only fee on the site is IRCC’s, for the optional 2-year work permit: the employer must submit a job offer via the IRCC Employer Portal and pay the $230 employer compliance fee.
Intake status — 2026 intake is closed
“2026 Intake Closed — West Kootenay RCIP’s September intake was our final intake for 2026. No further recommendations will be issued in 2026.” Employer designation is also closed. The next intake is in 2027; its date, priorities, selection criteria and IRCC allocation have not yet been confirmed and may be different from 2026.
Designated employers
The list is published on the official site, organized by sector with collapsible lists, last updated September 16, 2026. The homepage reports 330 designated employers.
What to do next
- There is no 2026 intake left — prepare for 2027 instead. Its date, priorities, selection criteria and allocation are not yet confirmed and may differ from 2026.
- Score your file honestly against the grid. The minimum is 50, but the September cut-off was 93 — and any factor below 10 makes the application ineligible regardless of total.
- Check the sector first, then the occupation. Natural Resources and Agriculture was not a priority sector in 2026, and fast-food franchises, gas stations and law firms are not eligible employers.
- Check the wage: at least $21 an hour, and the higher Job Bank minimum where it applies.
- Never pay for a job offer or a community recommendation — no one may charge for either.
Frequently asked questions
What score do I need in West Kootenay? At least 50 points, with at least 10 in each of the five factors. But the September 2026 intake reviewed applications at 93 or higher — plan for the cut-off, not the minimum.
Can I apply for 2026? No. The September intake was the final intake for 2026. The next intake is in 2027, with details to be confirmed.
Is there a community fee? No. There is no RCIP fee for a job offer or community recommendation.
Does a recommendation guarantee permanent residence? No. It unlocks the PR application; IRCC makes the final decision.
How VG Immigration Services can help
If West Kootenay 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 wage that applies to your occupation, and prepare the PR application once a recommendation is in hand.
