The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot was introduced by the federal government in March of 2020 in order to promote targeted economic immigration to specific agricultural and food-related industries.

The 3-year pilot aims to fill labor shortages in meat, mushroom and greenhouse crop production and processing within the agriculture-food sector. The agriculture sector is a crucial component of Canada’s economic growth and is a major job creator.

The pilot encourages the immigration of full-time, nonseasonal high-skilled or semi-skilled workers who will significantly benefit the Canadian labor market.

It is an industry-specific pilot, unlike the employer-driven pilot, the Rural Northern Immigration Pilot.

The pilot plans to allow 2,750 applicants and accompanying family members to apply for permanent residency per year.

Which Specific Industries are for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?

Industries classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) for the pilot are:

• Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
• Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
• Animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 or 1129)

What are the Requirements for Industry Employers for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?

Employers eligible for this pilot receive a 2 year Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) that allows them to hire temporary foreign workers and help them to transition to permanent residency.

Employers will need to present a settlement plan to help their employees. A letter of support will be required for employers whose occupations are unionized.

As an employer, if you have recently hired a temporary foreign worker who transitioned to permanent residency, then you can be exempt from the cap on hiring low-wage temporary foreign workers.

Who Can Apply for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?

Only those with a valid job offer from an eligible industry-specific employer can apply for this pilot. An eligible employer is:

• Currently operational in the agriculture or food industry
• Can provide you the remuneration and benefits
• Offering a full-time permanent position
• In compliance with the employment rules and regulations of Canada
• Has a genuine labour shortage

What are the Requirements of the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?

You need to meet the following eligibility requirements to apply for the pilot program:

• Have at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of nonseasonal work experience in the last 3 years. Part-time and non-continuous experience is also valid as long as it adds up to 1,560 hours
• Have a valid job offer for full-time, nonseasonal employment and offered salary that meets or exceeds the current wage in that occupation
• Score a minimum of a level 4 of the Canadian Language Benchmarks in either English or French
• Have a Canadian high school diploma or a foreign equivalent supported by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report
• Demonstrate enough financial resources to support yourself and your family members, both accompanying and non-accompanying

How can I apply for permanent residence through the pilot?

If you meet all the eligibility requirements for the pilot, then you can apply for permanent residence to the government body of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Can I apply for permanent residency in Canada as a semi-skilled farmworker?

Yes. The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot allows semi-skilled and skilled workers apply for permanent residency.

Is the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot valid for Quebec Immigration?

No. the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is not available in Quebec. However

However. applicants will not be eligible for permanent residence through the TFWP. Permanent residence in Quebec can only be gained through the Quebec Immigration programs.

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