Canada Agri-Food Pilot Announces Major Changes For 2025

The Canada Agri-Food Pilot program has long been a key pathway for skilled workers in the agriculture and food industries to gain permanent residency. As the program enters its final year, there are important updates that applicants need to know. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has reduced the number of applications they will accept in 2025. Only 1,010 applications will be processed, a significant decrease from the 2,750 applications allowed in 2024.

This change means that the window of opportunity for interested workers is much smaller. The applications must be submitted by May 14, 2025, or when the quota is filled—whichever happens first. Since the Agri-Food Pilot program is temporary, it will conclude after May 2025, and this will be the last year applicants can apply.

Since its launch in 2020, the Agri-Food Pilot has helped more than 4,500 workers and their families transition to permanent residency. In the past year alone, 1,775 workers successfully made the move, helping fill labor gaps in Canada’s agriculture and food processing sectors.

The 2025 application process will be divided into two categories:

1. Online Applications: A maximum of 1,000 applications will be accepted online, streamlining the process and ensuring quicker submission and review.
2. Alternate Formats: Up to 10 applications will be accepted in alternate formats for applicants who cannot apply online. These applications must follow specific guidelines to be considered.

Eligibility Criteria For Applicants

To qualify for the Agri-Food Pilot, applicants must meet several key criteria:

• Work Experience: Applicants must have at least one year of full-time, non-seasonal work experience (minimum 1,560 hours) in an eligible agri-food occupation within the last three years. This experience must be gained while working on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based work permit.
• Job Offer: A full-time, permanent, non-seasonal job offer is required in one of the qualifying occupations in the agri-food industry.
• Education: Applicants must have at least a Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent foreign credential verified by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
• Language Skills: Applicants must show a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 in either English or French.
• Settlement Funds: Proof of enough funds to support the applicant and their family while living in Canada, unless they are already working in Canada with a valid work permit.

Applicants will also need to submit supporting documents, such as reference letters from employers and tax documents like T4 statements and pay stubs.

Eligible Occupations And Industries

The Agri-Food Pilot targets several occupations within the agriculture and food industries. Some of the key sectors include:

1. Meat Product Manufacturing: Butchers, meat cutters, farm supervisors, and laborers in food processing.
2. Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production: Farm supervisors, specialized livestock workers, and harvesting laborers.
3. Animal Production: Farm supervisors and livestock laborers.

To apply, eligible individuals should first review the application guide available on the IRCC website. They must prepare necessary documents, such as proof of work experience, education, language test results, and settlement funds. Online applications can be submitted directly, while alternate format applicants should ensure they meet specific guidelines. Once submitted, applicants can track the status of their application using the IRCC portal.

The Canada Agri-Food Pilot has been an essential solution to labor shortages in key sectors, and for the last time, workers have a chance to apply for permanent residency. Interested applicants must act quickly to meet the revised application cap and ensure their spot in the program before it closes.