AGRI-FOOD PILOT
This post highlights Agri-Food Pilot Program in detail.
The Agri-Food Pilot is a specialized immigration initiative in Canada aimed at tackling labor shortages within the country's agri-food industry.
Initially introduced by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) in 2019 as a three-year pilot program scheduled to end in 2022, it has been granted an extension until May 14, 2025.
CAP:
The program is capped at 2750 application per year on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications will start on January 1 every year.
Who can apply:
Those eligible to apply are foreign nationals who have the ability to become economically established and intend to reside and work in a province or territory outside Quebec, and meet all of the following criteria, as listed under Eligibility requirements in Guide 0117 – Agri-Food Pilot:
minimum education requirements
minimum language proficiency requirements
minimum work experience
minimum job offer requirements (see Employment requirements)
minimum settlement funds (if applicable)
temporary residence status requirement (if principal applicant is in Canada)
Work Experience:
a minimum of 1 year of non-seasonal, full-time work in the past 3 years before they apply for permanent residence (at least 1,560 hours);
in 1 or more of the eligible occupations listed under 1 of the eligible industries; and
through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (an “LMIA“) with a minimum 12-month duration must have been submitted by your employer when hiring you.
If you’re not sure, you can ask your former or current employer about the duration.
Job Offer:
The job offer must meet the following requirements:
be in an eligible occupation listed under 1 of the eligible industries;
be full time;
be non-seasonal;
be permanent;
for unionized positions, the wage must be determined by the applicable collective agreement.
for non-unionized positions, the wage must meet or exceed the prevailing wage; and
the job offer must be for a job in Canada outside of Quebec.
Eligible Industries/ Occupations:
NAICS 1114 – Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
NAICS 1121 – Cattle ranching and farming
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
NAICS 1122 – Hog and pig farming
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
NAICS 1123 – Poultry and egg production
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
NAICS 1124 – Sheep and goat farming
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
NAICS 1129 – Other animal production
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
NAICS 3116 – Meat product manufacturing
NOC 63201 – Butchers – retail and wholesale
NOC 65202 – Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale
NOC 94141 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing