The Agri-Food Pilot helps address the labour needs of the Canadian agri-food sector.

The pilot provides a pathway to permanent residence for experienced, non-seasonal workers in specific industries and occupations. It will run until May 2023.

To be eligible to apply for permanent residence under the Agri-Food Pilot, you need

• eligible Canadian work experience in one or more of the eligible industries and occupations
• a full-time, non-seasonal job offer from a Canadian employer in one of the eligible industries and occupations (outside of Quebec)
• to meet or exceed the language requirements
• to meet or exceed the educational requirements
• to have settlement funds (if applicable)
• to maintain temporary resident status (if already in Canada)Eligible industries and jobs

Eligible industries:

Industries are classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). By searching the following industry codes on the NAICS website, you can see the specific definitions of each industry.

Eligible industries under the pilot are:

Production of meat products (NAICS 3116)

Greenhouse production, nursery and flower growing, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)

Livestock production, except for aquaculture

Livestock and Agriculture (NAICS 1121)

Pig breeding (NAICS 1122)

Poultry and Egg Production (NAICS 1123)

Sheep and Goat Breeding (NAICS 1124)

Other Animal Products (NAICS 1129)

Eligible jobs:

Jobs are classified by the National Occupational Classification Code (NOC). Qualifying jobs for each industry are listed below.

For the production of meat products (NAICS 3116), the following jobs are eligible

NOC B 6331 – Retail Butcher

NOC C 9462 – Industrial butchers

NOC B 8252 – Farm Supervisors and Specialist Livestock Workers

NOC D 9617 – Food processing workers

The following jobs are eligible for greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114).

NOC B 8252 – Farm Supervisors and Specialist Livestock Workers

NOC C 8431 – Public farmworkers

NOC D 8611 – Reaper Workers

For livestock production, except for aquaculture (NAICS 1121), 1122, 1123, 1124 and 1129, the following occupations are eligible.

NOC B 8252 – Farm Supervisors and Specialist Livestock Workers

NOC C 8431 – Public farmworkers

Application restrictions based on eligible jobs

There are annual limits on the number of applications that can be considered for each eligible job.

From January 1 each year, applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. This pilot will continue for three years.