Starting today, August 18, 2023, there are two new updates to the Canada Agri-Food Pilot for people who want to become permanent residents.
Open Work Permits for Family Members:
Family members of Agri-Food Pilot participants can now apply for open work permits. This means family members can work in Canada while the main applicant is part of the Agri-Food Pilot.
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Union Reference Letters Accepted:
Instead of just employer reference letters, Canadian immigration now accepts union reference letters to validate work experience.
This offers an additional way to demonstrate relevant work experience for the Agri-Food Pilot.
Extension of Agri-Food Pilot:
Originally launched in 2020 as a 3-year pilot, the Agri-Food Pilot has been extended until May 14, 2025.
This extension creates more opportunities for interested individuals to apply for permanent residency.
Former Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced these changes on May 8, 2023.
Who Can Apply?
To be eligible for the Agri-Food Pilot, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Have at least 1 year of full-time, non-seasonal work experience in eligible Agri-Food occupations within eligible industries over the past 3 years.
- Hold a valid job offer for a full-time, permanent, non-seasonal role in an eligible occupation under the Agri-Food industries.
- Possess education equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma.
- Show sufficient settlement funds to support yourself (and your family, if applicable) in Canada.
Language Proficiency Requirements:
Meeting language proficiency requirements is essential. You can prove your language skills through various tests:
| Language Tests | Reading | Writing | Listening | Speaking |
| CELPIP | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
| IELTS GT | 3.5 | 4.0 | 4.5 | 4.0 |
| TEF Canada | 121-150 | 181-225 | 145-180 | 181-225 |
| TCF Canada | 342-374 | 4-5 | 331-368 | 4-5 |
Eligible Industries Under The Agri-Food Pilot
Eligible industries under the pilot are:
- meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
- greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
- animal production, excluding aquaculture
- 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)
Eligible occupations Under The Agri-Food Pilot
Occupations are classified by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. You can check the duties for each occupation by searching the NOC website.
Eligible occupations for each eligible industry are listed below.
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
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
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
Conclusion:
The Canada Agri-Food Pilot enhancements offer more pathways to permanent residency for individuals seeking to contribute to the Canadian agricultural industry. These changes, such as open work permits for family members and the acceptance of union reference letters, make the process smoother and more accessible.
If you meet the eligibility criteria and are interested in becoming a permanent resident of Canada, the Agri-Food Pilot could be the right choice for you.
