Agri-Food Pilot

Program Status Update: The Agri-Food Pilot closed to new applications on February 13, 2025, after reaching its 2025 intake cap of 1,010 applications. Applications submitted before that date continue to be processed by IRCC. If you have not yet applied, you will need to explore other permanent residence pathways. Learn about alternative options through the Provincial Nominee Program or request a free assessment.

What Is the Agri-Food Pilot?

The Agri-Food Pilot was a federal immigration program launched in May 2020 to address chronic labour shortages in Canada's agriculture and food processing sectors. It offered a direct pathway to permanent residence for experienced, non-seasonal workers in specific industries, including meat processing, greenhouse crop production, mushroom farming, and livestock operations.

The pilot ran until May 14, 2025, and closed to new applications on February 13, 2025, after its 2025 intake cap of 1,010 principal applications was reached. Since its launch, the program helped over 4,500 agri-food workers and their family members gain permanent resident status in Canada.

Applications submitted before the closure date are still being reviewed by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). No extension or replacement program has been announced at this time. Workers in the agri-food sector who have not yet applied should consider pathways such as the Provincial Nominee Program or LMIA-based work permits as next steps.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 Eligibility Requirements

To be eligible for the Agri-Food Pilot, candidates must meet all of the following requirements:

Work Experience: At least 12 months of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience, equivalent to a minimum of 1,560 hours, in an eligible occupation gained through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Experience under the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) does not qualify.

Job Offer: A full-time, non-seasonal, indeterminate job offer in an eligible industry, located outside Quebec, at or above the prevailing wage for that occupation.

Education: At least a Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent foreign credential. Applicants applying from outside Canada must meet both the job offer and education requirements. Applicants already in Canada may meet either one.

Language Proficiency: A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in English or French across all four skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing.

Settlement Funds: Proof of sufficient funds to support yourself and any accompanying family members, unless you are already legally working in Canada with a valid work permit.

Temporary Resident Status: If you are already in Canada, you must have maintained valid temporary resident status throughout your stay.

Note on work experience documentation: As of May 2023, IRCC accepts union reference letters as an alternative to employer reference letters to verify eligible work experience.

Agri-Food Pilot's Fee

The application fees for the Agri-Food Pilot start at $1,525. This includes processing fees for the principal applicant and any family members included in the application. A right of permanent residence fee is also payable once your application is approved. In most cases, a biometrics fee applies for fingerprint and photo collection.

Depending on your situation, additional third-party costs may include medical exam fees, language test fees, and educational credential assessment fees. Submitting the correct fees at the time of application avoids unnecessary delays.

Hands using a calculator and reviewing application documents on a desk with an agricultural background.

What Jobs Are Eligible Under the Agri-Food Pilot?

The pilot targets three specific industry sectors, classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). Eligible occupations within each sector are identified by NOC 2021 codes.

Meat Product Manufacturing (NAICS 3116)

NOC 63201 – Butchers, retail and wholesale NOC 65202 – Meat cutters and fishmongers, retail and wholesale NOC 94141 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing

Greenhouse, Nursery and Floriculture Production, Including Mushroom Production (NAICS 1114)

NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers

Animal Production, Excluding Aquaculture (NAICS 1121–1129)

NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers

All employers participating in this pilot must demonstrate a genuine labour need and offer wages at or above the median wage for the province of employment. Employers who qualified for the pilot were also eligible for a two-year Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which reduced the administrative burden of repeated assessments.

How to Apply for the Agri-Food Pilot

If you submitted your application before February 13, 2025, your file is still being processed by IRCC. The steps below reflect the standard application process under this pilot.

Step 1 – Confirm your eligibility Before applying, make sure you meet all eligibility requirements: 12 months of qualifying work experience through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, a valid job offer outside Quebec, CLB 4 language scores, and the required education credential.

Step 2 – Gather your documents Collect all supporting documents before starting your application. These include your language test results, educational credential assessment (if applicable), job offer letter, proof of work experience (employer reference letters or union reference letters), and proof of settlement funds if you are applying from outside Canada.

Step 3 – Complete your application online Agri-Food Pilot applications are submitted through your IRCC secure account on canada.ca. You will need to fill out the required forms, upload your supporting documents, and pay the applicable fees.

Step 4 – Pay application fees Application fees start at $1,525 for the principal applicant and vary depending on the number of family members included. A right of permanent residence fee is payable separately once your application is approved. Biometrics fees apply in most cases.

Step 5 – Provide biometrics Most applicants are required to provide fingerprints and a photo at a designated Service Canada or Visa Application Centre location. IRCC will send you instructions after your application is received.

Step 6 – Wait for a decision IRCC will review your application and may request additional documents or an interview. Processing times vary. You can track the status of your application through your IRCC secure account.

If you need guidance at any stage of this process, Sepehr Falahati (RCIC R533959) can review your file and help you avoid common errors that cause delays.

Show more

5:14 PM

Agri-Food Pilot: Program Timeline

Applications submitted before February 13, 2025 continue to be processed. Since its launch, the program helped over 4,500 agri-food workers and their family members obtain permanent residence in Canada.