The Agri-Food Pilot is designed to help address labour shortages in specific agriculture and food-related industries.
The three-year pilot opened on May 15, 2020 and will run until May 14, 2023.
The pilot is specifically aimed at the meat processing, year-round mushroom and greenhouse crop production and livestock raising industries.
Candidates require Canadian eligible work experience and a job offer from a Canadian employer to qualify for the pilot.
What Industries Are Eligible For the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?
Eligible industries are classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS).
- 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 Jobs Are Eligible For the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?
1) Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
- NOC 63201 – Butchers – retail and wholesale
- NOC 65202 – Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale
- NOC 94141 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
- NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
- NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing
2) Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
- NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
- NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
3) Animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 or 1129)
- NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
- NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
- NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
- NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
Application Limits
Canada receives a limit of 2,750 applications each year.
Agri-Food Immigration Pilot: Candidate Requirements
- 12 months of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience (at least 1,560 hours in the past 3 years) in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, in an eligible occupation.
- Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 in English or French in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
- Education at high school level or greater (Canadian equivalency).
- Indeterminate job offer for full-time, non-seasonal work in Canada, outside of Quebec, at or above the prevailing wage.
- The required settlement funds for candidates and dependents, unless already working in Canada.