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The Agri-Food Pilot is a Canadian immigration program created to address labor shortages in the agriculture and food processing sectors. It offers a pathway to permanent residency (PR) for experienced, non-seasonal workers in specific agri-food industries who wish to settle in Canada permanently. The program targets skilled foreign workers in areas such as meat processing, mushroom farming, greenhouse production, and livestock raising.
What is the Agri-Food Pilot?
- Program Duration: The pilot has been extended and will run until May 2025.
- Annual Application Limit: A maximum of 2,750 applications are accepted each year.
Successful applicants under the Agri-Food Pilot, along with their families, gain the opportunity to live and work in Canada as permanent residents. This initiative helps fill critical labor gaps in Canada’s agri-food sector while providing stability and long-term opportunities for workers and their families
Who is Eligible for the Agri-Food Pilot?
A. Industries Targeted:
The pilot concentrates on particular agri-food industries, such as:
- Meat processing (butchers, workers in food processing, etc.)
- Raising livestock (such as farm managers and specialized livestock workers)
- Nursery, greenhouse, and floriculture production (e.g., farm supervisors, harvesters)
- Aquaculture and mushroom cultivation (e.g., harvesters, farm supervisor
B. Qualified Professions:
The curriculum focuses on particular jobs in the aforementioned sectors, including:
- Workers who butcher, cut meat, and process fish
- Supervisors of farms and specialists in livestock
- Farm managers and agricultural service providers
- Harvesting workers and general farmworkers
C. The requirement for a job offer:
- Candidates must be employed in one of the qualifying industries or vocations and hold a current, full-time, non-seasonal work offer from a Canadian employer.
D. Experience at Work:
- In the last three years, candidates must have completed at least one year of full-time, cumulative, non-seasonal work experience in Canada in an approved occupation. Gaining this experience requires temporary foreign worker status.
E. Proficiency in Language:
- Candidates must be able to speak English or French and meet the CLB/NCLC 4 minimal language standards.
F. Learning:
- It is necessary to have a high school diploma from Canada or its equivalent.
- An Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required to validate foreign credentials.
- You must achieve at least CLB 4 in English or French.
- Accepted tests: IELTS, CELPIP (English), TEF, TCF (French).
G. Funds for Settlement:
- Unless they are currently employed in Canada, applicants must show that they have enough money to sustain themselves and their families when they arrive.
H. Temporary Foreign Worker Status:
- Applicants must have gained their work experience in Canada as temporary foreign workers with valid work permits.
What is the Agri-Food Pilot Application Process?
Step 1: Receive a Job Offer
- Obtain a legitimate, full-time offer in an approved agri-food occupation from a Canadian business.
Step 2: Compile the paperwork
- Educational Qualifications (ECA report, transcripts, diploma).
- Results of Language Tests (CELPIP, TEF, TCF, or IELTS).
- Evidence of Funds (if needed).
- Proof of Work Experience (contracts, pay stubs, and employment letters).
Step 3: File an Application for Permanent Residency
- Apply via Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- 12–18 months to process.
Why Choose Agri-Food Pilot ?
For temporary foreign workers who are already making contributions to Canada’s agri-food industry and are looking for a permanent route to stay here, this program is perfect.In addition to meeting urgent labor demands in the food processing and agricultural sectors, it offers stability to employees and their families.
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