What Is the Agri-Food Pilot?

The Agri-Food Pilot is a special immigration program in Canada. It offers a pathway to permanent residence for experienced, non-seasonal workers in specific sectors. These sectors include meat processing, mushroom production, and greenhouse crop production, among others.

The program aims to fill labor shortages in key agri-food industries by providing a streamlined route for eligible workers to become permanent residents. 

Applications are open until May 14, 2025. Once your application is approved, you and your family can gain permanent residency in Canada.

Agri-Food Pilot Program Qualification and Requirements

To qualify for the Agri-Food Pilot, you need to meet specific requirements:

• Eligible Job Offer: You must have a job offer in one of the eligible industries. If you’re in Canada, you can choose to meet this requirement or the educational requirement. The job must be permanent, full-time, and non-seasonal. It should also be located outside of Quebec.
• Educational Requirements: You need at least a Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent foreign credential. If you apply from outside Canada, you must meet both the job offer and educational requirements. For those applying within Canada, you can meet either requirement.
• Work Experience: You need at least 12 months of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. This work should be in one of the eligible occupations, such as industrial butchers, food processing laborers, or general farm workers.
• Language Proficiency: You must demonstrate language skills in either English or French, with a Canadian Language Benchmark level 4. This involves basic abilities in reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
• Settlement Funds: If you’re applying from outside Canada, you need to show proof of funds to support yourself and your family. This doesn’t apply if you’re already working in Canada with a valid work permit.
• Temporary Resident Status: If you’re already in Canada, you must have maintained your temporary resident status.

Eligible occupations under this pilot include meat processing roles like butchers, general farm workers for mushroom production, and specialized livestock workers. Employers in these industries must offer wages that meet or exceed the median wage in the province of employment.

Agri-Food Pilot Fee

The application fees for the Agri-Food Pilot start at $1,525. This includes processing fees for you and any family members included in your application. There’s also a right of permanent residence fee, which you pay when your application is approved. In most cases, you’ll need to pay a biometrics fee for fingerprint and photo collection. 

Other third-party fees might be required depending on your situation, like fees for medical exams, language tests, and educational credential assessments. It’s crucial to pay the correct fees to avoid delays in your application.

Looking to make Canada your permanent home through the Agri-Food Pilot? Our team at SEP Immigration is here to guide you through every step of the process. Reach out today to start your journey toward permanent residency!