The Agriculture and Agri-Food industry in Canada is an important part of the Canadian economy, contributing more than $110 billion to the country’s GDP each year.

The Canada Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program is designed for foreigners who want to work in Canadian agriculture. Agriculture is a mainstay in every economy, including Canada’s, and in order to sustain the industry and address the labor shortage, the Canadian government introduced a new immigration program that will provide foreign workers specializing in the Agri-Food industry with a convenient pathway to permanent residence.

The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot was established to provide qualifying temporary foreign employees in the sector with a road to permanent residency in Canada. Each year, up to 2,750 applications are accepted.

• What exactly is the Canada Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?
• Industries Eligible
• Eligibility Requirements for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot
• Application Procedure for Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program
• Processing time for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

What exactly is the Canada Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?

The agri-food immigration pilot program is an industry-specific immigration program designed to attract foreign employees interested in the Agri-Food industry and seeking Canadian permanent residency. The program’s goal is to encourage workers to work in the Agri-Food industry in exchange for permanent residency.

Industries Eligible

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) classifies industries eligible for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program.

The following industries are eligible for the pilot:

• Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
• Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
• Animal production, excluding aquaculture
• Cattle ranching and farming (NAICS 1121)
• Hog and pig farming (NAICS 1122)
• Poultry and egg production (NAICS 1123)
• Sheep and goat farming (NAICS 1124)
• Other animal production (NAICS 1129)

Eligibility Requirements for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

In order to be considered for Canadian permanent residence under the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot, candidates with work experience in the above occupations must also meet the following eligibility standards.

• 12 months of full-time
• Non-seasonal Canadian work experience in one of the approved occupations through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
• An indeterminate job offer for full-time
• Non-seasonal work in Canada
• Outside of Quebec
• At or above the prevailing salary a Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 in English or French the foreign equivalent of a high school level education or greater

• Work Experience Required

You must have one year of Canadian job experience in the last three years to be eligible for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot. Work experience is required:

• A minimum of one year (1,560 hours) of non-seasonal full-time work during the last three years
• Be a permanent job be a qualifying occupation on the NOC list
• A minimum of one year (1,560 hours) of non-seasonal full-time work during the last three years

• Job Offer

You must have a legitimate work offer from a Canadian employer in one of the qualified occupations before applying for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot.

• Your job offer must satisfy the following criteria:
• The employment offer must be non-seasonal and full-time which means you must work at least 30 hours per week.
• It must also be permanent, with no expiration date
• It must be an eligible occupation on the NOC list of eligible occupations.
• Your job offer must come from somewhere other than Quebec.

• Language Prerequisites

You are required to attain a certain level of proficiency in Canadian languages. In reading, writing, listening, and speaking, the minimum language requirement is Canadian Language Benchmark (CBL) 4.

You must submit your application within two weeks of receiving the results of your language test.

• Requirements for Education

To be eligible for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program, you must hold the following qualifications:

• A Canadian high school diploma or an educational credential exam demonstrating that you have a certificate equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma
• The educational credential evaluation must be completed within five years of the date you submit your application.

Compensation Funds

You must also demonstrate that you have the money to settle in Canada and that you have enough money to settle in Canada with family members accompanying you.

You do not need to establish that you have enough money to settle in Canada if you are already working in Canada with a work permit.

The table below indicates how much money is required for an applicant and their accompanying family members to settle in Canada.

Note: The amount of cash fluctuates according to family size, and these amounts are revised each year

Application Procedure for Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program

The steps below will assist you with your application for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program.

Finish the application package

Before applying for permanent residence under the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot, you must ensure that you meet the job offer and work experience requirements. If any of the standards are not met, your application for permanent residency will be denied.

You may view the job offer and work experience requirements above.

Prepare to apply

After determining your eligibility for the program, compile your documentation and prepare to submit your application. You can also read the instruction book to find out if you are eligible, how much it costs, and how to apply.

Have your photograph and fingerprints taken.

Applicants between the ages of 14 and 79 must provide biometrics. If you are in this age group, you must submit them to the IRCC website.

Even if you have previously distributed your biometrics and they are still valid, you must pay the costs within 30 days to avoid a delay.

Make your payment online.

After you have completed your application form, you must pay your costs online.

The IRCC website has information on how to pay your fees online.

Send in your application.

After completing the application form and paying your costs online, you can submit your application to the IRCC website.

Your application has been processed.

An officer will review and process your application after you submit it.

Submit the results of your medical exam.

You and your family members must submit medical test results to demonstrate your health problems before you can live in Canada.

If your health is a problem, you will not be admitted.

As it is a threat to Canada’s public health or safety would place an undue burden on health and social services in Canada.

Your information has been validated

Make sure you supply accurate and up-to-date information, since if any of it is found to be false, the following actions may be taken against you.

• Your application could be denied.
• You may be found ineligible.
• You could be barred from entering Canada for the next five years.

A decision has been made on your application.

Your application may be approved or denied. The choice can be based on

• Whether you meet the program’s qualifying requirements
• If you are eligible to enter Canada depending on the findings of your medical examination and background checks

If your application is denied, you may resubmit under the following circumstances:

Your application is denied, you may resubmit under the following circumstances:

• Complete and submit a new application
• Meet the eligibility requirements
• Be approved for entry into Canada
• Be accepted in accordance with the annual occupational caps

If your application is accepted, you must pay the following fees if you have not already done so:

You will receive an email confirmation.

You will also receive a confirmation email with the following information:

• Permanent resident visa with Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR).
• Your COPR acts as your identity and includes both your name and a photograph. You must double-check that every detail is right.

Fill out an application for a permanent residence card.

You must apply for a PR card as soon as you receive an email verifying your application. This card will serve as your identification in place of your COPR

Processing time for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

There is no time limit for obtaining Permanent Residence under the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot, however, the process can be completed in less than a year. So, if you are eligible, you must prepare everything before submitting your application.

After submitting your application, you pay your fees online and gather all of your paperwork to ensure they are ready.

You may be contacted at any time after submitting your application, and if your application is approved, you will have less than 30 days to submit all of your documentation, including your medical report.