Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

The new Agri-Food Immigration Pilot was designed to help address the labour needs of the Canadian Agri-food sector. Debuting in March 2020, this pilot program will run until May 2023. It is aimed at attracting non-seasonal farm and livestock workers who have the intention of settling and remaining in Canada year round. To learn how you can apply for permanent residency in Canada through this new immigration pilot program, continue reading below.

About the Process

To apply for permanent residency through the Agri- Food Pilot, you must meet all of the following requirements to be deemed eligible:

• Eligible Canadian work experience in at least one of the eligible industries and occupations
• Maintain temporary resident status (if already in Canada)
• Have a full-time non-seasonal job offer from a Canadian employer in one of the eligible industries and occupations ( outside of Quebec)
• Have settlement funds
• Meet or exceed the education requirements
• Meet or exceed the language requirements

Eligible Industries

Industries are classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Specific industries definitions are lists on the NAICS website under industry codes. Eligible industries for the pilot are:

• Meet production manufacturing ( NAICS 3116)
• Animal Production (NAICS 1121-1124, 1129)
• Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)

Eligible Occupations

Eligible jobs for each occupation:

• Meet product manufacturing (NAICS 3116
  • Industrial butchers (NOC C 9462)
  • Retail butchers (NOC B 6331)
  • Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (NOC B 8252)
  • Food processing labours (NOC D 9617)
• Animal Production
  • General farm workers (NOC C 8431)
  • Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (NOC B 8252
• Greenhouse, Nursery and Floriculture Production ( NAICS 1114)
  • Farm supervisor and specialized livestock workers ( NOC B 8252
  • General farm workers (NOC C 8431)
  • Harvesting Labourers ( NOC D 8611)

Occupations are classified under the National Occupational classification (NOC code)

Application Limits by Occupation

For each eligible occupation, there are annual limits on the number of applications that will be processed. Each year on January 1^st, applications are processed on a first come, first serve basis.

Job Offer

To apply for the Agri-Food Pilot, you must have a genuine eligible job offer by a Canadian employer. It must meet all of the following criteria:

• Offer must be in one of the eligible occupations in one of the eligible indutires
• Must be full time
• Employment must be permanent and non-seasonal

Language Requirements

You must meet or exceed level 4 in the Canadian Language Benchmark in

• Listening
• Reading
• Writing
• Speaking

Education Requirements

You must have at least

• Canadian high school diploma
• And educational credential assessment report showing that you have completed a foreign credential at the secondary school level or above.

Work Experience

You must have eligible Canadian work experience that:

• Is a minimum of 1 year of non-seasonal full time work in the last 3 years in the same industry you are applying for

Settlement Funds

You must be able to prove that you have enough money to come to and settle in Canada, to support yourself and family members.

If you are already working in Canada with a valid work permit, you don’t need to provide proff of settlement funds

Processing times

The IRCC aims to process 80% of applications within 6 months.

Akrami and Associates

The application process for the Agri-Food Pilot is complex, with several areas of eligibility one must meet. Contact us today to find out your eligibility and/or to discuss options to permanent residency. 416-477-2545 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Our legal representatives have assisted and guided on hundreds of immigration cases.

With Akrami & Associates there is always a way!!