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North Bay & Area RCIP 2026 Priority Occupation List & Intake Periods

February 3, 2026

As we enter the second year of the North Bay & Area Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), we are writing to share updates regarding our application process, upcoming Intake Periods, and, more broadly, how the program will evolve in 2026.

Over the past year, our team has collected feedback from our 170+ Designated Employers, successful candidates, and those who have not been eligible. In collaboration with community partners and workforce planning, we have reviewed labour market statistics and trends for our catchment area. This data has highlighted ways we can strengthen our priority occupations list, support even more skilled workers in our communities, and better align the North Bay & Area RCIP with the shifting economic landscape of our region.

Application System Reset

To facilitate the coming changes and provide a fresh start for 2026, all unsuccessful applications submitted in 2025 (including those from the January 2026 intake) will be removed from the candidate pool effective February 3, 2026.

New Priority Sector

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has allowed our team to add a sixth priority sector for 2026. We have decided to include Sector 2 (Natural and applied sciences and related occupations). It covers roles in engineering, architecture, IT, and physical/life sciences, focusing on technical and professional positions requiring post-secondary education.

Updated Priority Occupation List

Based on objective labour statistics and the evolving needs of our local businesses, the North Bay & Area RCIP Priority Occupation List is changing effective February 3, 2026. All changes reflect the goal of the RCIP program across Canada – to help address labour market needs in priority sectors, such as healthcare, construction, manufacturing, mining, and education. The official 2026 Priority Occupation List is as follows:

  • 11100 – Financial Auditors and Accountants
  • 11102 – Financial Advisors
  • 12200 – Accounting Technicians and Bookkeepers
  • 13110 – Administrative Assistants
  • 14400 – Shippers & Receivers
  • 21232 – Software Developers and Programmers
  • 21300 – Civil Engineers
  • 21310 – Electrical and Electronics Engineers
  • 22220 – Computer Network and Web Technicians
  • 31301 – Registered Nurses and Registered Psychiatric Nurses
  • 32101 – Licensed Practical Nurses
  • 33100 – Dental Assistants and Dental Laboratory Assistants
  • 33102 – Nurse Aides, Orderlies and Patient Services Associates
  • 33103 – Pharmacy Technical Assistants and Pharmacy Assistants
  • 42201 – Social and Community Service Workers
  • 42202 – Early Childhood Educators and Assistants
  • 44101 – Home Support Workers, Caregivers and Related Occupations
  • 64410 – Security Guards and Related Security Service Occupations (with 5% limit)
  • 72100 – Machinists and Machining and Tooling Inspectors
  • 72106 – Welders and Related Machine Operators
  • 72200 – Electricians
  • 72404 – Aircraft Mechanics and Aircraft Inspections
  • 72410 – Automotive Service Technicians, Truck and Bus Mechanics and Mechanical Repairers
  • 75110 – Construction Trade Helpers and Labourers
  • 94110 – Production Line Worker

2026 Intake Periods

  • February 15, 12:00 am to February 21, 11:59 pm
  • March 8, 12:00 am to March 14, 11:59 pm
  • April 5, 12:00 am to April 11, 11:59 pm
  • May 3, 12:00 am to May 9, 11:59 pm
  • June 7, 12:00 am to June 13, 11:59 pm
  • July 12, 12:00 am to July 18, 11:59 pm
  • August 9, 12:00 am to August 15, 11:59 pm
  • September 13, 12:00 am to September 19, 11:59 pm
  • October 18, 12:00 am to October 24, 11:59 pm
  • November 15, 12:00 am to November 21, 11:59 pm

NOC Code Requests

Were your employees’ NOC codes or positions removed? While we appreciate that every occupation contributes to our communities and the economy, RCIP is not for everyone. If your employees are not eligible for the North Bay & Area RCIP in 2026, we would like your feedback. Please submit your requests for consideration HERE. We will review all requests and consider changes yearly. Requests must be made by EMPLOYERS only.

We appreciate your understanding as we adapt the pilot to better serve our business communities. These updates are a direct result of the feedback we received, and are designed to reflect the actual day-to-day labour requirements of our catchment area. Thank you for your participation in this program, cooperation, and patience.