Applications for Canada's Agri-Food Immigration Pilot open from March 2020

Canada will begin accepting applications for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot from March 2020. The pilot, announced in July 2019, aims to address labour shortages in industries like meat processing, livestock farming, and greenhouse crop production.

You need to have a job offer from a Canadian employer and eligible Canadian work experience to qualify for the program.

Which industries qualify for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?

The following industries qualify for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot:

1. Meat product manufacturing
2. Mushroom production, greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production
3. Animal production (does not include aquaculture)

Which jobs qualify for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?

The following jobs are eligible for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot:

1. Meat product manufacturing

• Retail butchers (NOC 6331)
• Industrial butchers (NOC 9462)
• Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (NOC 8252)
• Food processing labourers (NOC 9617)

2. Mushroom production, greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production

• Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (NOC 8252)
• General farmworkers (NOC 8431)
• Harvesting labourers (NOC 8611)

3. Animal production (excluding aquaculture)

• Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers (NOC 8252)
• General farmworkers (NOC 8431)

Here is the annual application limit for each occupation:

Occupation	Annual Application Limit
8252-Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers	50
6331- Retail butcher and 9462-Industrial butcher	1,470
9617- Food processing labourer	730
8431- General farmworker	200
8611- Harvesting labourer	300

What are the candidate requirements for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?

• An eligible candidate should have at least one year of work experience in recent three years in Canada under the TFW program in a suitable occupation
• Must score for at least a CLB 4 in either English or French
• Must be educated till high school level or higher
• Must have a full-time job offer for non-seasonal work in Canada, except Quebec
• Must meet the minimum settlement funds requirement. A candidate is exempt from this requirement if they are already working in Canada.

More support for meat processors

ESDC (Employment and Social Development Canada) will introduce measures to support employers in the meat processing industry to complement the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot.

Eligible employers in the meat processing industry will be issued a two-year LMIA. Employers in the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot or any other eligible PR pathway would be eligible for the same.

Quebec will not have the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot. However, employers in Quebec who hire non-seasonal workers under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program could avail the two-year LMIA under the new pilot.

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