The Agri-Food Pilot in Canada will become available for new requests on 1 January 2024. This program possesses a yearly ratio of the highest number of 2,750 requests. The programs provide skills and a path to permanent residency for non-seasonal employees in specific industries and professions. Canada prolonged the Agri-Food Pilot, formerly presented as a three-year investigation in 2020, until 14 May 2025, in May 2023.
However, in 2023, two fresh changes to the Canada Agri-Food Pilot for PR were executed, making it simple for qualified applicants. Firstly, household members of the candidates for the Agri-Food Pilot are currently eligible to make applications for Canadian Open Work permits. Secondly, immigration in Canada will now approve union citation letters instead of employer reference letters affirming a candidate’s work skills.
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Qualifications for Canada Agri-food Pilot
People in Canada or overseas satisfying the below standards are qualified to make an application for permanent residency under the Agri-Food Pilot:
- A minimum of 12 months’ worth of cumulative, non-seasonal, full-time skills in the previous 36 months, a minimum of 1,560 hours over 52 weeks in one or more qualified agri-food professions.
- These skills are required to have been acquired throughout at least one year of an LMIA-founded work permit.
- An employment offer for a full-time, permanent, non-seasonal role in an eligible profession within one of the qualified agri-food industries.
- A high school diploma in Canada or equivalent academic evaluation.
- Sufficient settlement money to help you and your household in Canada even if they are not relocating with you.
- If you are currently hired under a work permit in Canada, you are not required to demonstrate your settlement finances.
- The least used language skills include English or French of Canadian Language Benchmark or NCLC level 4.
Authorized Evidence of Work Skills
- A reference letter from an employer or union.
- A reference letter from a union is only authorized for unionized roles.
- An employment letter
- Paystubs
- T4
Professions Qualified for the Agri-food Pilot Program
When it comes to meat product production with NAICS 3116
- Butchers either retail or wholesale with NOC 63201
- Fishmongers and meat cutters, both retail and wholesale, with NOC 65202
- Poultry preparers, industrial butchers, meat cutters, and associated professions with NOC 94141.
- Farm supervisors and agricultural service contractors with NOC 82030
- Farm machinery operators and professional livestock employees with NOC 84120
- Livestock laborers with NOC 85100
- Laborers in beverage and food processing with NOC 95106
When it has to do with greenhouse, floriculture, and nursery manufacturing, which includes mushroom manufacturing (NAICS 1114).
- Farm supervisors and agricultural service contractors with NOC 82030
- Farm machinery operators and professional livestock employees with NOC 84120
- Livestock laborers with NOC 85100
- Harvesting laborers with NOC 85101
When it has to do with animal production, exempting aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122,1123, 1124 and 1129)
- Farm supervisors and agricultural service contractors with NOC 82030
- Farm machinery operators and professionalized livestock employees with NOC 84120
- Livestock laborers with NOC 85100
- Harvesting laborers with NOC 85101
To make an application for the pilot program, if you satisfy the qualification conditions, visit the official IRCC webpage and download the whole application manual.
