The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is designed to help address labour shortages in specific agriculture and food-related industries.
The three-year pilot opened on May 15, 2020 and will run until May 14, 2023.
The pilot is specifically aimed at the meat processing, year-round mushroom and greenhouse crop production and livestock raising industries.
Candidates require Canadian eligible work experience and a job offer from a Canadian employer to qualify for the pilot.
The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is one of a number of pilots operated by the federal government. Others include the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and the Rural & Northern Immigration Pilot.
What Industries Are Eligible For the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?
Eligible 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 (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 or 1129)
What Jobs Are Eligible For the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?
1) Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
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
2) Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
NOC B 8252: Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
NOC C 8431: General farmworkers
NOC D 8611: Harvesting labourers
3) Animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 or 1129)
NOC B 8252: Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
NOC C 8431: General farmworkers
Application Limits By Eligible Job
The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot features annual application limits for each eligible occupation.
| Occupation | Annual Application Limit |
| Farm supervisor or specialized livestock worker (NOC B 8252) | 50 |
| Industrial butcher (NOC C 9462) or retail butcher (NOC B 6331) | 1,470 |
| Food processing labourer (NOC D 9617) | 730 |
| General farm worker (NOC C 8431) | 200 |
| Harvesting labourer (NOC D 8611) | 300 |
Agri-Food Immigration Pilot: Candidate Requirements
- 12 months of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience (at least 1,560 hours in the past 3 years) in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, in an eligible occupation.
- Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 in English or French in reading, writing, speaking and listening.
- Education at high school level or greater (Canadian equivalency).
- Indeterminate job offer for full-time, non-seasonal work in Canada, outside of Quebec, at or above the prevailing wage.
- The required settlement funds for candidates and dependents, unless already working in Canada.
| Number of family members (including those you support who aren’t immigrating with you) | Funds you need |
| 1 | $12,960 |
| 2 | $16,135 |
| 3 | $19,836 |
| 4 | $24,083 |
| 5 | $27,315 |
| 6 | $30,806 |
| 7 | $34,299 |
| For each additional family member | $3,492 |
Two-Year LMIA For Meat Processors
To complement the pilot, Employment and Social Development Canada is introducing changes that will benefit meat processor employers who are supporting temporary foreign workers in transitioning to permanent residence.
A two-year Labour Market Impact Assessment will be issued to eligible meat process employers, including employers who are using the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot or other existing pathways to permanent residence for temporary foreign workers in the same occupations and industries that are eligible for the pilot.
Agri-Food Immigration Pilot In Quebec
The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is not available in Quebec.
However, Quebec employers who hire non-seasonal workers through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program could benefit from a two-year LMIA as part of the pilot.
The quality, the temporary foreign worker’s job must match one of the specific NOC codes eligible for the pilot.
It should be noted that candidates in Quebec will not be eligible to qualify for permanent residence through the pilot. They can qualify through Quebec immigration programs only.
