What is the Agri-Food Pilot Program

What do you need to know about the Agri-Food Pilot Program as a TFW or an employer of a TFW?

What is the Agri-Food Pilot Program:

The Agri-Food Pilot program is a program that was introduced to address labour shortages in the Canadian agriculture sector. The program provides a pathway to Canadian Permanent Residence (PR) for eligible Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW), who have non-seasonal experience in specific industries and occupations.

To apply for PR under the Agri-Food Pilot program, a TFW needs:

1. Canadian Work Experience

You need to show a minimum of 1-year non-seasonal, full-time Canadian work experience in the past 3 years in an eligible industry and eligible occupation (at least 1,560 hours) through the TFW program.

Note: A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) with a minimum 12-month duration must have been submitted by the employer when you are hired.

2. A Job Offer

You need to have a permanent full-time non-seasonal job offer in one or more of the eligible industries and occupations (outside of Quebec) above the median wage for that occupation;

3. Language Requirements

You need to meet the language requirements – a Canadian Benchmark level of level 4 in English or French;

4. Educational Requirements

You need to meet educational requirements – of at least a foreign equivalent of a Canadian high school level of education or higher;

5. Settlement Funds (if applicable)

You need to have settlement funds to prove that you have enough money to support yourself and any family members, even if they are not coming to Canada with you. If you already have a valid work permit when an employee applies you don’t need to provide proof of settlement funds.

6. Maintain Status (if applicable)

You need to maintain temporary resident status if you are already in Canada.

Eligible Industries & Occupations:

1. For meat product manufacturing, eligible jobs are;

• Retail butchers
• Industrial butchers
• Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• Food processing labourers

2. For greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production, including mushroom production, eligible jobs are:

• Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• General farm workers
• Harvesting labourers

3. For animal production, excluding aquaculture, eligible jobs are:

• Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• General farm workers

There are annual limits on the number of applications that will be processed for each eligible occupation. At this time, the Agri-Food Pilot program is scheduled to run until May 2023.

In order to assess whether a TFW qualifies for the Agri-Food Pilot Program, please click HERE for a free assessment.

If you have any further questions or would like our assistance with respect to the Agri-Food Pilot Program application process, please contact our office to schedule an initial consult.