Through the Canada Agri-Food Pilot program experienced agri-food workers obtain permanent residency status in Canada.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada department will update how many people can apply to the program starting in 2025.
The program’s intake ceiling will drop to just 1,010 applications next year down from previous 2,750 applications.
Learn everything you need to know about the program plus who qualifies and how to get started.
Key Changes for 2025
Starting today IRCC established 1,010 available applications for the Agri-Food Pilot until 2025.
Submit applications to this program before May 14 2025 or when the yearly quota closes.
The agency made this decision to limit the period when applicants can seek program admission.
As a temporary program under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act the Agri-Food Pilot has reached its designated five years of operation.
Before ending on May 14, 2025 eligible candidates must submit their applications now.
Since its debut in 2020 the Agri-Food Pilot has helped reduce workforce shortages in agricultural and food processing industries.
From 2020 until now the Agri-Food Pilot program has helped more than 4500 qualified workers from the agricultural sector receive permanent residency for themselves and their families.
Between November 2024 and the previous year the agri-food pilot program accepted 1775 workers including their families.
Application Categories and Submission Format
For the 2025 cycle, IRCC will accept applications through two distinct categories:
Online Applications: Only 1000 applications per year can be submitted through digital channels. The new quicker application and assessment system helps move applications through the review process faster.
Alternate Formats: The program will admit another 10 new applicants whose disabilities prevent them from using online tools. Applicants need to track their documents to match IRCC’s designated requirements for alternate file submission.
Eligibility Criteria for the Agri-Food Pilot
Skilled and experienced workers can use the Agri-Food Pilot program as their entry point.
To qualify for permanent residency under this program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Work Experience:
An applicant needs to show one year of regular full-time work (1560 hours) from the last three years.
Agri-food applicants need work experience documented in an approved Labour Market Impact Assessment to perform activities in eligible agricultural food sector jobs.
Job Offer:
To qualify you need to accept permanent full-time work from an eligible agri-food employer in a recognized job role.
Educational Qualifications:
You must show proof of high school graduation from a Canadian school or a foreign equivalent certificate analyzed by an Educational Credential Assessment.
Language Proficiency:
Workers need to show their language skills to reach at least CLB Level 4 either in English or French.
Settlement Funds:
People who apply must prove they have enough money saved to live with their dependents in Canada if they do not have legal work rights to work there.
Acceptable Proof of Work Experience
To validate their work experience, applicants must provide acceptable documentation, including:
Employer Reference Letter: A record of work duties and working time.
Union Reference Letter: Workers must submit documentation through their union membership.
Letter of Employment: Proof of employment status.
T4 Statements: Canadian employers must submit their tax documents to verify work data.
Paystubs: The records show that pay and work times stayed level.
Eligible Occupations and Industries
The Agri-Food Pilot specifically targets occupations within select industries.
Below are the qualifying industries and their associated National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:
1. Meat Product Manufacturing (NAICS 3116):
Retail and Wholesale Butchers: NOC 63201
Meat Cutters and Fishmongers: NOC 65202
Industrial Butchers and Meat Cutters: NOC 94141
Farm Supervisors and Agricultural Service Contractors: NOC 82030
Specialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators: NOC 84120
Livestock Labourers: NOC 85100
Labourers in Food and Beverage Processing: NOC 95106
2. Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (NAICS 1114):
Farm Supervisors and Agricultural Service Contractors: NOC 82030
Specialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators: NOC 84120
Livestock Labourers: NOC 85100
Harvesting Labourers: NOC 85101
3. Animal Production (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1129):
Farm Supervisors and Agricultural Service Contractors: NOC 82030
Specialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators: NOC 84120
Livestock Labourers: NOC 85100
Harvesting Labourers: NOC 8510
How to Apply for the Canada Agri-Food Pilot
If you meet all the eligibility criteria, follow these steps to apply for permanent residency through the Agri-Food Pilot:
Review the Application Guide: Get the full Agri-Food Pilot application steps by downloading the official IRCC document from their website. The guide gives you complete directions and masters all needed documents.
Prepare Your Documents: Follow these directions to assemble your documents which should include employment verification, academic records, test results showing your language skill level plus evidence of settlement funds if needed.
Submit Your Application:
Apply using our online system if electronic submission matches your qualifications.
Follow all rules set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for alternative application methods.
Track Your Application: Check your IRCC portal regularly to learn about your application status and send responses to all document requests quickly.
The Canada Agri-Food Pilot helps fill job vacancies across important industries and lets skilled workers become permanent residents.
The program’s ending year demands that applicants submit their applications promptly since no more than 1,010 participants will be accepted in 2025.
Study all eligibility details and make your application perfect to boost your chances in the selection process.
Can I apply for an agri-food pilot if I’m outside Canada?
Yes, both in-Canada and out-of-Canada applicants are eligible, provided they meet the program’s requirements.
What happens if the application cap is reached for the agri-food pilot before May 14, 2025?
Once the cap of 1,010 applications is met, no further submissions will be accepted.
Canada Agri-Food Pilot To Accept 1,010 New Applications In 2025
Through the Canada Agri-Food Pilot program experienced agri-food workers obtain permanent residency status in Canada.
The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada department will update how many people can apply to the program starting in 2025.
The program’s intake ceiling will drop to just 1,010 applications next year down from previous 2,750 applications.
Learn everything you need to know about the program plus who qualifies and how to get started.
Key Changes for 2025
Starting today IRCC established 1,010 available applications for the Agri-Food Pilot until 2025.
Submit applications to this program before May 14 2025 or when the yearly quota closes.
The agency made this decision to limit the period when applicants can seek program admission.
As a temporary program under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act the Agri-Food Pilot has reached its designated five years of operation.
Before ending on May 14, 2025 eligible candidates must submit their applications now.
Since its debut in 2020 the Agri-Food Pilot has helped reduce workforce shortages in agricultural and food processing industries.
From 2020 until now the Agri-Food Pilot program has helped more than 4500 qualified workers from the agricultural sector receive permanent residency for themselves and their families.
Between November 2024 and the previous year the agri-food pilot program accepted 1775 workers including their families.
Application Categories and Submission Format
For the 2025 cycle, IRCC will accept applications through two distinct categories:
Online Applications: Only 1000 applications per year can be submitted through digital channels. The new quicker application and assessment system helps move applications through the review process faster.
Alternate Formats: The program will admit another 10 new applicants whose disabilities prevent them from using online tools. Applicants need to track their documents to match IRCC’s designated requirements for alternate file submission.
Eligibility Criteria for the Agri-Food Pilot
Skilled and experienced workers can use the Agri-Food Pilot program as their entry point.
To qualify for permanent residency under this program, applicants must meet the following criteria:
Work Experience:
An applicant needs to show one year of regular full-time work (1560 hours) from the last three years.
Agri-food applicants need work experience documented in an approved Labour Market Impact Assessment to perform activities in eligible agricultural food sector jobs.
Job Offer:
To qualify you need to accept permanent full-time work from an eligible agri-food employer in a recognized job role.
Educational Qualifications:
You must show proof of high school graduation from a Canadian school or a foreign equivalent certificate analyzed by an Educational Credential Assessment.
Language Proficiency:
Workers need to show their language skills to reach at least CLB Level 4 either in English or French.
Settlement Funds:
People who apply must prove they have enough money saved to live with their dependents in Canada if they do not have legal work rights to work there.
Acceptable Proof of Work Experience
To validate their work experience, applicants must provide acceptable documentation, including:
Employer Reference Letter: A record of work duties and working time.
Union Reference Letter: Workers must submit documentation through their union membership.
Letter of Employment: Proof of employment status.
T4 Statements: Canadian employers must submit their tax documents to verify work data.
Paystubs: The records show that pay and work times stayed level.
Eligible Occupations and Industries
The Agri-Food Pilot specifically targets occupations within select industries.
Below are the qualifying industries and their associated National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes:
1. Meat Product Manufacturing (NAICS 3116):
Retail and Wholesale Butchers: NOC 63201
Meat Cutters and Fishmongers: NOC 65202
Industrial Butchers and Meat Cutters: NOC 94141
Farm Supervisors and Agricultural Service Contractors: NOC 82030
Specialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators: NOC 84120
Livestock Labourers: NOC 85100
Labourers in Food and Beverage Processing: NOC 95106
2. Greenhouse, Nursery, and Floriculture Production (NAICS 1114):
Farm Supervisors and Agricultural Service Contractors: NOC 82030
Specialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators: NOC 84120
Livestock Labourers: NOC 85100
Harvesting Labourers: NOC 85101
3. Animal Production (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1129):
Farm Supervisors and Agricultural Service Contractors: NOC 82030
Specialized Livestock Workers and Farm Machinery Operators: NOC 84120
Livestock Labourers: NOC 85100
Harvesting Labourers: NOC 8510
How to Apply for the Canada Agri-Food Pilot
If you meet all the eligibility criteria, follow these steps to apply for permanent residency through the Agri-Food Pilot:
Review the Application Guide: Get the full Agri-Food Pilot application steps by downloading the official IRCC document from their website. The guide gives you complete directions and masters all needed documents.
Prepare Your Documents: Follow these directions to assemble your documents which should include employment verification, academic records, test results showing your language skill level plus evidence of settlement funds if needed.
Submit Your Application:
Apply using our online system if electronic submission matches your qualifications.
Follow all rules set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for alternative application methods.
Track Your Application: Check your IRCC portal regularly to learn about your application status and send responses to all document requests quickly.
The Canada Agri-Food Pilot helps fill job vacancies across important industries and lets skilled workers become permanent residents.
The program’s ending year demands that applicants submit their applications promptly since no more than 1,010 participants will be accepted in 2025.
Study all eligibility details and make your application perfect to boost your chances in the selection process.
Can I apply for an agri-food pilot if I’m outside Canada?
Yes, both in-Canada and out-of-Canada applicants are eligible, provided they meet the program’s requirements.
What happens if the application cap is reached for the agri-food pilot before May 14, 2025?
Once the cap of 1,010 applications is met, no further submissions will be accepted.
Author: Sam Gill
Recent Posts
Recent Comments
Archives
Categories
Categories