Get designated as an employer

Being “designated” means you can hire candidates under the Rural Community Immigration Pilot or the Francophone Community Immigration Pilot. Each community is responsible for designating employers in their area.

1. Check that you meet the requirements

   To be designated, you must

   • have been operating continuously for at least 2 years in a participating community
   If you’ve recently relocated to a participating community or want to

   Participating communities can still designate you, if they determine you have made or will make a substantial contribution to their economy

   • be in good standing and comply with employment standards and occupational health and safety legislation
   • do business in at least one priority occupation that your community has identified
     • Communities set priority sectors and occupations that can be filled through the pilots based on local economic development priorities.
   • do at least 75% of business work inside the community
   • not be in violation of the employer compliance regime
   • complete the free onboarding training
   • complete the free intercultural competency training
   • agree to support the settlement of newcomers and their families

   You cannot be

   •  a consulate
   •  a staffing or employment agency
   •  an employer that a candidate (or their spouse or common-law partner) owns or controls
     • This includes any business that a candidate owns a majority stake (more than 50%) in, either directly or indirectly.
   •  an employer that:
     • runs a business offering striptease, erotic dance, escort services or erotic massage on a regular basis
     • offers jobs that are not genuine
     • owes administrative penalties
   •  a business owned by an authorized immigration representative

2. Apply to your participating community

   Each community has its own application process. There is no cost to becoming a designated employer. You can find applications to become designated on the communities’ websites:

   If you have questions about the designation process, contact your community directly.