Agri-Food Immigration Pilot (Closed): Program History, Eligibility & Current Alternatives

• Applicants who held at least 1 year of cumulative, full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience (at least 1,560 hours) in the past 3 years in an eligible agri-food occupation
• Workers with experience gained under a Temporary Foreign Worker Program work permit tied to an LMIA of at least 12 months, or under an open work permit specifically issued for vulnerable workers
• Applicants with a genuine full-time, non-seasonal, permanent job offer in Canada (outside Quebec) in an eligible occupation and industry
• Applicants who met or exceeded the minimum language requirement of CLB or NCLC Level 4 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking
• Applicants with a Canadian high school diploma or a foreign educational credential assessed at the secondary level or higher by a designated ECA organization
• Applicants outside Canada who met both the job offer and the educational requirement; applicants residing in Canada could choose between the two
• Applicants with sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their family unless already working legally in Canada with a valid work permit
• Applicants who maintained their temporary resident status in Canada (if already in Canada at time of application)

These eligibility criteria reflect the pilot at the time of closure. They apply to applications received on or before May 14, 2025. No new applications are being accepted.

• Program Status: Closed to new applications as of May 14, 2025. IRCC continues to process applications received on or before that date.
• Program Type: Federal economic pilot program (pathway to permanent residence)
• Visa Category: Economic — sector-specific pilot
• Province Specific: No, but job must be in Canada outside Quebec
• Eligible Industry 1: Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
• Eligible Industry 2: Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
• Eligible Industry 3: Animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121 cattle, 1122 hog/pig, 1123 poultry/egg, 1124 sheep/goat, 1129 other animal)
• Qualifying Work Experience: At least 1 year (1,560 hours) of cumulative, full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience in the past 3 years in an eligible occupation
• Work Permit Type Required for Experience: LMIA-based work permit (minimum 12-month duration) under TFWP, or open work permit for vulnerable workers
• Job Offer — Hours: Full-time (30+ paid hours per week)
• Job Offer — Seasonality: Non-seasonal (consistent, regularly scheduled paid employment year-round)
• Job Offer — Duration: Permanent (no set end date)
• Job Offer — Location: In Canada, outside Quebec
• Job Offer — Wage (non-unionized): At or above Job Bank's prevailing (median) wage for the occupation in the province
• Job Offer — Wage (unionized): Per applicable collective agreement
• Education Requirement: Canadian high school diploma OR ECA from a designated organization showing foreign credential at secondary level or above (ECA must be less than 5 years old on application date)
• Inside Canada Flexibility: Applicants inside Canada could choose to meet either the job offer OR education requirement; applicants outside Canada had to meet both
• Minimum Language Score: CLB 4 or NCLC 4 in reading, writing, speaking, and listening
• Language Tests Accepted: IELTS General Training, CELPIP, PTE Core (English); TEF Canada, TCF Canada (French). Results must be less than 2 years old on application date
• Settlement Funds: Required unless already working legally in Canada on a valid work permit
• Medical Exam Required: Yes — by an IRCC-approved panel physician
• Police Clearance Required: Yes — from every country where lived 6+ months since age 18
• Biometrics Required: Yes
• Leads to PR: Yes (pilot was a direct PR pathway)
• Leads to Citizenship: Yes (3 years of physical presence in 5 years after PR)
• Official Source URL: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/agri-food-pilot.html

• Valid passport and travel documents for all applicants and accompanying family members
• Job offer letter from a Canadian employer in an eligible NAICS industry, outside Quebec, specifying full-time non-seasonal permanent terms
• LMIA or supporting documentation for the employer's work permit (for proving qualifying work experience)
• Employer reference letters on company letterhead confirming the eligible occupation, duties, and hours worked
• T4 slips and pay stubs covering the 1,560+ hours of qualifying Canadian work experience
• Union reference letter for unionized positions
• Language test results (IELTS General Training, CELPIP, PTE Core, TEF Canada, or TCF Canada) demonstrating CLB or NCLC Level 4
• Canadian high school diploma or Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization (less than 5 years old)
• Proof of settlement funds (bank statements, fixed deposits) unless working legally in Canada with a valid work permit
• Proof of maintained temporary resident status in Canada (if inside Canada at time of application)
• Medical examination results from an IRCC-approved panel physician
• Police clearance certificates from every country lived in 6+ months since age 18
• Biometrics (fingerprints and photograph) at a designated collection centre
• Proof of relationship for spouse, common-law partner, or dependent children

Related Resources

Explore more about Agri-Food Immigration Pilot