Agri-Food Immigration Pilot
16th August 2021 | by Admin
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.
