published on 30 May 2023 @ 4:00 pm · COMMENT

Agri-Food Pilot Extended until May 14, 2025, Annual Quotas Removed

On May 8, 2023, the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration announced the extension of the Agri-Food Pilot Program. The program will be extended until May 14, 2025.

The Minister also announced the removal of the annual occupation caps, and the limits for how many candidates can apply for a specific occupation under the pilot.

The Agri-Food pilot is a temporary public policy providing a pathway to permanent residence for non-seasonal workers in the agricultural sector. To qualify, applicants must me the following requirements:

1. Have a minimum of one year of non-seasonal work experience in Canada in the past three years, in one or more of the eligible Agricultural occupations. Work experience must be gained while on a closed work permit issued on the basis of a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment, with a minimum 12-month duration.
2. Have a job offer from a Canadian employer in one of the eligible occupations and industries. The offer must be full-time, non-seasonal and permanent.
3. Demonstrate English or French proficiency at a Canadian Benchmark Level 4 or higher.
4. Have an education level equivalent to a Canadian secondary school diploma or higher.
5. Have demonstrated funds to provide for settlement in Canada, unless the applicant is already working in Canada with a valid work permit.

The Minister also announced in May 2023 that the following changes will be implemented to the program, in stages throughout the remainder of the 2023 year:

1. Expanding open work permit access to family members of all participants in the Agri-Food Pilot, regardless of the participant’s job skill level;

1. Allowing unions to attest to a candidate’s work experience, as an alternative to employer reference letters;
2. Giving applicants residing in Canada the option to either meet the job offer requirement, including the median wage requirement for the job offer, or the education requirement, including educational credential assessment verification; and
3. Accepting work experience gained under an open work permit for vulnerable workers, giving more workers an opportunity to qualify.

The following Industries and Occupations are currently eligible for this program:

Eligible industries:

• 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:

For meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116), eligible occupations are

• 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), eligible occupations are

• 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), eligible occupations are

• 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

filed under: IMMIGRATIONPERMANENT RESIDENCE