What is the Agri-Food Pilot Program?

The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot aims to address the labor shortages in Canada's agricultural sector by attracting and retaining skilled foreign workers with expertise in various industries, such as mushroom and greenhouse crop production, meat processing, and livestock raising.

This pilot program will operate on a trial basis from 2020 to 2023, with a maximum intake of 2,750 candidates per year.

If you're considering obtaining permanent residency in Canada through the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot, you'll need to demonstrate relevant work experience in one of the eligible sectors and secure a job offer from a Canadian employer in a qualifying occupation.

Occupations Eligible for the Agri-Food Pilot Program

The National Occupational Classification (NOC) code has identified various qualifying occupations within each industry. It’s essential to familiarize yourself with the detailed job descriptions and responsibilities of the position you’re interested in.

Below are the qualifying jobs categorized by industry:

Meat product manufacturing

  • Retail and wholesale butchers – NOC 63201
  • Meat cutters and fishmongers – 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
  • Labourers in food and beverage processing – NOC 95106

Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production, including mushroom 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, excluding aquaculture

  • 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

There’s a yearly cap on the number of applications for each occupation. The IRCC processes applications on a first-come, first-served basis. If the maximum capacity for your occupation is reached, your application will not be accepted, and the fees will be refunded.

Eligibility Criteria for the Agri-Food Pilot Program

To participate in the program, you must meet the following requirements:

  • Demonstrate qualifying work experience.
  • Obtain a job offer that meets program requirements.
  • Meet language proficiency standards.
  • Satisfy educational prerequisites.
  • Prove financial capability to settle in Canada.

Work Experience Criteria for the Agri-Food Pilot

Your work experience must adhere to the following guidelines:

  • Must be acquired within Canada.
  • Minimum duration of one year, full-time, and non-seasonal.
  • Relevant to an eligible occupation within a specific agricultural sector.
  • Hours can be accrued across various positions and employers.
  • Experience must be gained through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, with your former employer holding a Labour Market Impact Assessment for at least 12 months.

Unpaid work through volunteering, internships, or self-employment cannot be counted.

Job Offer Requirements

To qualify for the pilot, your job offer must meet specific conditions:

  • The offered position must be in a selected occupation within the agricultural sectors listed.
  • Full-time employment, with a minimum of 30 hours per week.
  • Non-seasonal and permanent.
  • Consistent, regularly scheduled hours without a fixed end date.
  • Compensation must meet or exceed the prevailing wage for your occupation in the province of employment, or at the national level if provincial data is unavailable.
  • The employer must be located in Canada, excluding Quebec.

Language Proficiency Standards

You must demonstrate proficiency in English or French, meeting the following minimum requirements:

  • CLB/NCLC Level 4 in reading, listening, speaking, and writing.
  • Submit results of a designated language test taken within the past two years.

Educational Prerequisites

Applicants must fulfill the following educational criteria:

  • Possess at least a high school diploma in Canada.
  • If education was obtained outside Canada, provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report demonstrating equivalence to or surpassing the secondary school level.
  • ECA report must be from an approved organization or professional body and obtained within the last five years.

Settlement Funds

Document your financial capacity to support yourself and your family in Canada:

  • Provide bank statements, property ownership proof, or investment documents.
  • Applicants already working in Canada are exempt from providing proof of funds with their application.
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