Agri-Food Pilot Program
A pathway to permanent residence for experienced and non-seasonal workers in the agri-food sector
Agri-Food Pilot Program is a pathway to permanent residence for workers who have Canadian work experience and a job offer in industries and occupations of Food and Agriculture
Job offer
Education
Work experience
Settlement fund
Language
Animal production, excluding aquaculture NAICS codes 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 and 1129
NOC 84120 - Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 - Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 - Harvesting labourers
Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production - NAICS code 1114
NOC 84120 - Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 - Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 - Harvesting labourers
Meat product manufacturing - NAICS code 3116
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
Process timeline of preparing and reviewing the application
between the employer with Employment and Social Development Canada
Application submission
Submit the permanent resident application to IRCC when all minimum requirements are met and have legal status.
Biometrics collection
Receive a request from IRCC for biometrics collection at visa application centres to verify identity and admissibility.
Medical examination
Receive a request from IRCC for a medical examination with panel physicians to provide proof of the health conditions.
Get PR Status
Application approved, the applicant gets Permanent Resident status after landing or confirming on IRCC Portal.Confirmation valid within 12 months
Crucial elements affect the decision
Benefits the applicant and their accompanying family members are entitled to when becoming permanent residents
Family-friendly
The immigration application includes the applicant's spouse and children
Work and study
Keep working legally with the letter of support for work permit renewal
Medical
Access to high-quality modern public health care as same as Canadian
Education
Free or lower tuition for children depends on the level of education
Benefits
Access to social benefits as same as Canadian
Mobility right
Live and work anywhere under Permanent Resident status
Sponsorship
Ability to sponsor relatives if the conditions are met
Naturalization
Ability to obtain citizenship if residency conditions are met
Important requirements the applicant should note
- Agri-Food Pilot Program is a pathway to permanent residence for experienced workers to address the labor needs in Food and Agriculture industry in Canada. This pilot program will run until May 2023 and accept approximately 16,500 application per year.
- Must have at least 1 year of work experience on a valid LMIA work permit in the eligible occupations
- The permanent application includes spouses, children and grandchildren.
- There is an annual limit of 2,750 applications plus family members to each eligible occupation
Immigration Ineligibility
- Misrepresentation: directly or indirectly misrepresenting or withholding material facts that cause or may cause administrative errors of the government
- Have failed to comply with any immigration act or regulation
- Have a family member who is inadmissible to Canada
- Financial ground: unable or unwilling to financially support yourself and accompanying family members
- Medical ground: have a health condition that is dangerous to public health, public safety or may cause excessive demand on health or social services
- Have committed a crime, including impaired driving
- Membership in criminal organizations for activities such as human trafficking or money laundering
- National security reasons: espionage, subversion of government, violence or terrorism, or membership of related organizations
- Violations of human rights or international law such as war crimes, crimes against humanity, or being a prescribed senior official of a government that engages or has engaged in these activities
Eligible industries and occupations
- Animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS codes 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 and 1129)
- 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
- Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS code 1114)
- 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
- Meat product manufacturing (NAICS code 3116)
- 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
Job offer
- Permanent full-time and non-seasonal with a wage that meets or exceeds the median wage for the same position and region
- Outside of Québec
Work experience
- 1 year of full-time non-seasonal work experience on an LMIA work permit within the last 3 years in occupations and industries of Food and Agriculture
- In eligible industries and occupations
Education
- Equivalent to a 1 year post-secondary program in Canada
- Foreign education credential(s) must be assessed by Educational Credential Assessment
Language
Minimum CLB 4, assessed by 1 of 4 language proficiency tests within the last 2 years:
- International English Language Testing System (IELTS) General Training
- Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP-General)
- Pearson Test of English - Core (PTE-Core)
- Test d'évaluation de français (TEF)
- Test de connaissance du français Canada (TCF Canada)
Settlement fund
Unless current working in Canada on a valid work permit, must have proof of funds to support yourself and family members during the period of adaptation after your arrival, based on Low Income Cut-Off threshold and family size:
| Size of family | Funds required (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $14,690 |
| 2 | $18,288 |
| 3 | $22,483 |
| 4 | $27,297 |
| 5 | $30,690 |
| 6 | $34,917 |
| 7 | $38,875 |
| If more than 7 people, for each additional family member | $3,958 |
