On May 8th, the Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, announced changes to the Agri-Food Pilot program that would enable more foreign nationals to obtain permanent residency in Canada. The changes will be phased in by the end of 2023.
- The first change is an extension of the Agri-Food Pilot program until May 14th, 2025. The program was initially launched in 2020 and was set to expire in May 2023.
- The second change involves the removal of annual limits for individual occupations on how many applicants can apply under the pilot program. This change is intended to encourage more people to apply, but the pilot program’s maximum annual limit of 2,750 remains in place.
- The third change allows family members of Agri-Food Pilot applicants to be eligible for an open work permit, regardless of their occupation code.
- The fourth change provides more flexibility for pilot program applicants who are residing in Canada. They will have the option of meeting either the job offer requirement, including the median wage requirement for the job offer, or the education requirement, including educational credential assessment verification.
- Finally, the IRCC will be accepting work experience gained under an open work permit for vulnerable workers, which will increase the number of workers who can qualify for the pilot program.
Eligible Industries for the Agri-Food Pilot Program
The Agri-Food Pilot Program is open to foreign nationals working in specific industries. The eligible industries for this program are:
- Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
- Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production (including mushroom production) (NAICS 1114)
- Animal production (excluding aquaculture), which includes:
- 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)
List of Occupations Eligible for Agri-Food Pilot Program
Occupations eligible for 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
Occupations eligible for 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
Occupations eligible for animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, and 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
What Makes Agri-Food Pilot Program Unique?
The Agri-Food Pilot Program stands out for its relatively low language and education requirements, making it an accessible pathway for foreign workers seeking Canadian permanent residency. Key points include:
- Qualified applicants need to have a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in English or French, which is the lowest level in language proficiency tests like IELTS/CELPIP/TEF/TCF.
- Only a high school diploma or foreign equivalent is required for education. However, foreign graduates must obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report from a recognized organization or professional body.
- The program is open and accepting applications until May 14, 2025, providing ample time for eligible candidates to apply.
- To be eligible, candidates must have at least 12 months of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience in one of the eligible occupations in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, an indefinite job offer for full-time, non-seasonal work in Canada (excluding Quebec), and meet the prevailing wage requirements.
