Sault Ste. Marie RCIP 2026: Requirements & How Selection Works
Sault Ste. Marie is the only RCIP community with no points grid at all. Complete applications are reviewed against the community's priorities: fit with local labour needs, genuine intent to stay, work history and ties. Its August 2026 intake was the last one of the year, and the office expects the backlog from it to take several months, so the next realistic window is 2027. In July the community also swapped a sector: natural and applied sciences is out, and sales and service is in, with limits.
Checklist reviewClosed for 2026
How Sault Ste. Marie selects candidates
Intake windows are announced on the community site. The August 2026 intake was the last one for 2026. Review takes about 6 weeks per complete application.
Sault Ste. Marie does not publish a points grid. The community reviews complete applications against its priorities — intent to reside, fit with local economic needs, work experience and community ties.
- From July 1, 2026, natural and applied sciences was removed as a priority sector and sales and service was added.
- Sales and service: at most 2 applications per employer for occupations not already listed, and only while IRCC's occupation caps allow. Fast food, restaurant-based businesses and security companies are not eligible.
What you need before applying
- Full-time, permanent job offer from a designated Sault Ste. Marie employer in a priority sector
- You have usually worked for that employer for at least 6 months already
- 1 year (1,560 hours) of related work experience in the past 3 years, matched by TEER
- Language: CLB 6 (TEER 0/1), CLB 5 (TEER 2/3) or CLB 4 (TEER 4/5)
- Canadian secondary diploma or an ECA less than 5 years old
- Settlement funds (unless already working in Canada on a valid permit)
- Genuine intent to live in Sault Ste. Marie
Priority sectors: Health · Education, law and social, community and government services · Business and finance · Trades, transport and equipment operators · Manufacturing and utilities · Sales and service (from July 2026, limited)
Common questions
Is Sault Ste. Marie accepting RCIP applications right now?
Closed for 2026. The August 17 to 23 intake was the last one this year, and the office says working through it will take several months. (Status checked September 2026.)
Does Sault Ste. Marie use a points system?
Sault Ste. Marie does not publish a points grid. The community reviews complete applications against its priorities — intent to reside, fit with local economic needs, work experience and community ties.
How does Sault Ste. Marie select RCIP candidates?
Intake windows are announced on the community site. The August 2026 intake was the last one for 2026. Review takes about 6 weeks per complete application. You always need a full-time, permanent job offer from a designated employer in the community first.
Where do I confirm the current Sault Ste. Marie RCIP rules?
On the community’s official RCIP website (https://welcometossm.com/rcip/). Communities revise their grids and intake rules during the year; our data was last verified September 2026.
Official Sault Ste. Marie RCIP site Check federal eligibility
Other RCIP communities in Ontario: Greater Sudbury · North Bay & Area · Timmins · Thunder Bay