Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

Launched in 2020, the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot aims to address labor shortages in Canada’s agricultural sectors by providing a pathway to permanent residence for eligible temporary foreign workers. Initially capped at 2,750 principal applicants per year, the program has been extended until May 2025, with this cap removed to allow more workers and their families to benefit.

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Immigration Evaluation Form

Your Title

Your First Name

Your Last Name

Date of Birth

What is your nationality?

What is your country of residence?

What is your marital status?

Do you have any family members or relatives, living in Canada? Do you have any family members or relatives, living in Canada?

Yes

What is your highest level of education?

What is your area of study?

What is your country of study?

Do you have any full time paid work experience?

Yes

How many years have you worked in the past 10 years?

What is your occupation?

If you have had full time paid work experience, what was the job description?

Do you or your spouse have a job offer from a Canadian employer?

Yes

What is your family's annual income in Canadian dollars?

What is your estimated net worth in Canadian dollars?

What is your level of English (Provable with valid certificate)?

What is your level of French (Provable with valid certificate)?

Your Email

Your Phone Number

Name of the person to be contacted if not above

Their Email

Their Phone Number

Who is filling this form? Who is filling this form?

How did you hear about us? How did you hear about us?

Captcha

If you are human, leave this field blank.

Key Features

The pilot targets specific industries, including meat processing, mushroom and greenhouse crop production, and livestock raising. It allows workers to transition from short-term, seasonal work permits to permanent residence, enabling them to live and work in Canada indefinitely.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify for the Agri-Food Pilot, candidates must meet the following requirements:

Work Experience

At least 12 months of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience in eligible occupations in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program within the past three years.

Language Proficiency

A Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in English or French across all four skills: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.

Education

A high school diploma or higher, or the foreign equivalent.

Job Offer

This is an indeterminate job offer for full-time, non-seasonal work in Canada, outside of Quebec, at or above the prevailing wage.

Settlement Funds

Sufficient funds to support themselves and their dependents, unless already working in Canada.

Eligible Industries and Occupations

The pilot includes specific industries and occupations classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS):

Industries

Meat Product Manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production, including Mushroom Production (NAICS 1114)
Animal Production, excluding Aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, or 1129)

Meat Product Manufacturing

Butchers (retail and wholesale) (NOC 63201)

Meat cutters and fishmongers (retail and wholesale) (NOC 65202)

Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers, and related workers (NOC 94141)

Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (NOC 82030)

Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators (NOC 84120)

Livestock labourers (NOC 85100)

Laborers in food and beverage processing (NOC 95106)

Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production

Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (NOC 82030)

Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators (NOC 84120)

Livestock labourers (NOC 85100)

Harvesting labourers (NOC 85101)

Animal Production

Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (NOC 82030)

Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators (NOC 84120)

Livestock labourers (NOC 85100)

Harvesting labourers (NOC 85101)

Employer Benefits

The meat processing sector employers participating in the pilot are eligible for a two-year Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). This assessment requires them to demonstrate plans to support the temporary foreign worker’s transition to permanent residence. Unionized meat processors need a letter of support from their union. In contrast, non-unionized processors must meet additional requirements to protect the labor market and migrant workers.

Conclusion

The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is a significant initiative to fill critical labor shortages in Canada’s agricultural industry by offering essential workers a stable pathway to permanent residence. This program supports the economic stability of the agriculture sector. It provides valuable opportunities for workers to establish their lives in Canada.