Agri-Food Pilot

This Pilot program intended to run until May 2023 is designed to  address the labour shortage of the Canadian agri-food sector. 

The pilot provides a pathway to permanent residence for experienced, non-seasonal workers in specific industries and occupations.

 

Requirements

• eligible Canadian work experience in one or more of the eligible industries and occupations

• a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a Canadian employer in one of the eligible industries and occupations (outside of Quebec)

• meet or exceed the language requirements

• meet or exceed the educational requirements

• have settlement funds (if applicable)

• maintain temporary resident status (if already in Canada)

 

Eligible industries under the pilot
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

• 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)

 

Eligible occupations
For meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116), eligible jobs are

• NOC B 6331 – Retail butchers

• NOC C 9462 – Industrial butchers

• NOC B 8252 – Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

• NOC D 9617 – Food processing labourers

 

For greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114), eligible jobs are

• NOC B 8252 – Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

• NOC C 8431 – General farm workers

• NOC D 8611 – Harvesting labourers

 

For animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 and 1129), eligible jobs are

• NOC B 8252 – Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers

• NOC C 8431 – General farm workers

 

There are annual limits on the number of applications that will be processed for each eligible occupation

 

Eligible occupation
Number of applications accepted per year

• Farm supervisor or specialized livestock worker (NOC B 8252) - 50

• Industrial butcher (NOC C 9462) or retail butcher (NOC B 6331) - 1470

• Food processing labourer (NOC D 9617) - 730

• General farm worker (NOC C 8431) - 200

• Harvesting labourer (NOC D 8611) - 300

 

Language requirements

• Must prove ability in English or French.

• The minimum language requirements are Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) Level 4 in reading, writing, speaking, listening