Canada Agri-Food Pilot Program | What, When & How to Apply

Last Update – 20th October 2022

If you are working in the agriculture and food sector and planning to move to Canada, then learn about the Canada Agri-Food pilot program to be successful. So, I explained the requirements, the complete step-by-step process, and who exactly can apply for this program. This Canadian immigration program provides an easy pathway to permanent residence for workers in certain agri-food industries.

What is the Canada Agri-Food pilot program?

This pilot program is an economic class program launched to meet labor demands in the agri-food sector of Canada. Besides, it is designed to provide permanent residence to temporary visa holders already living in Canada. Also, they have non-seasonal full-time Canadian work experience in certain agriculture and agri-food industries.

This program will run for 3 years until May 14th, 2023, the last application submission date. Moreover, Canadian immigration will be processing up to 2750 applications per year plus their family under the agri-food pilot program. So, that would be the upper limit of people who can apply for this pilot in a year.

Requirements

Let’s learn about the requirements of the Canadian agri-food pilot. First comes education, and the good thing is that the minimum education requirement for this pilot is just a high school education of grade 12. Hence, anyone who doesn’t have a degree or diploma can apply for this pilot program.

In addition, if you have completed your education outside Canada, you will need to get an educational credential assessment or an ECA. You can complete your ECA through a credential evaluation agency like WES to prove that your level of education is equivalent to Canadian high school education.

Also, the WES (world education services) has the fastest processing time, and its fees are lower than any other evaluation agency in Canada. Next, is language proficiency that you will need to prove?

So, before applying, you must clear an approved English or French language test such as IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF. In the case of IELTS, you need to make sure you take the IELTS general test because IELTS academic is only for the students. Above all, the minimum level of IELTS is very low, CLB-4, which is pretty easy to achieve.

Work Experience

Let’s move on to the next requirement, which is work experience. So, you must have a minimum of one year of non-seasonal full-time paid work experience in the past 3 years. That means you must have at least 1560 hours of work experience in the past 3 years.

Yet, another very important criterion for work experience is that it must be through the temporary foreign worker program. Also, your Canadian employer has to submit a labor market impact assessment (LMIA) within the minimum 12-month duration.

Conversely, suppose you currently have an open work permit but used to have a work permit through the temporary foreign worker program. In that case, you may have eligible work experience for the Canada agri-food pilot program.

However, any work experience you gain while holding an open work permit does not count. Most importantly, your work experience must be in one of the eligible occupations as listed in the next paragraphs.

Qualifying Industries

Eligible Occupation under Canada Agri-Food Pilot Program

Job offer for agriculture pilot program Canada

The next requirement is a job offer to be eligible for the Canada agri-food pilot program. Since you’re already residing in Canada, it will be slightly easier for you to get a job offer than applying from your home country. Most importantly, a job offer has to be a full-time permanent non-seasonal, and it should be from one or more eligible NOC levels.

Proof of Funds

The next requirement would be proof of funds or settlement funds. So, you must have enough money to settle in Canada with your family members for their initial expenses like rent groceries until you get a job in Canada.

Thus, the amount required for the Canada agri-food program is the same as the Express Entry program. So it is 13000 $CAD for a single applicant and about 3500 Canadian dollars for every additional dependent family member.

Documents Requirements

After meeting the initial requirements, the next step would be to gather the required documents to apply for the Canada agri-food pilot program. A detailed document checklist is available on the agri-food pilot page on the IRCC Canada website.

So go through the checklist and collect all your documents well before applying. You will need identity and travel documents like your passport, language test result, and credential assessment report (ECA).

In addition, you must show proof of funds such as bank letters and statements. You must also show proof of your valid status as a temporary resident in Canada and all the other documents listed in the checklist.

How to apply for the Canada agri-food pilot program?

The next step is to complete your application for Canadian permanent residency for the agri-food pilot project. So, the complete application package is available on the official website. You can fill this application package online or take prints and fill them normally with a pen. However, filling out forms online is recommended instead of by hand as it’s easier and reduces mistakes that can cause unnecessary delays.

Application Fee

The next step would be getting biometrics done and paying your application fee online. Also, save proof of payment or receipt. 

it is mandatory to apply online. You can create account by visiting this website.

This guide will help you fill out the application forms just in case you are not fully aware of the requirements.

After reviewing your application, immigration officials decide to accept or refuse your application. If your application is rejected or refused, you’ll be sent a letter explaining the reason for your refusal, and you have to submit a new application.

Unlike, if your application is approved under the Canada agri-food pilot program, you get a confirmation mail from IRCC. That is the confirmation of permanent residence COPR or your permanent resident visa.

Conclusion

So, I hope you have understood the requirements and steps to apply for the Canada agri-food pilot program. I tailored this blog to guide foreign workers who want to start their careers in Canada in the agri-food industries because it has great employment and earning potential and Canadian PR options.

The Canada Agri-Food Pilot program helps address the labor needs of the Canadian agri-food sector and its related industries. On the other hand, the program provides a pathway to permanent residence for agriculture and food industries workers.

In reality, agriculture refers to the cultivation of crops and the raising of livestock. It is one of the major professions that people can work in, in Canada. Therefore, I covered all the important aspects and eligibility factors for Canada’s agri-food pilot program, and I also enclosed the necessary links for your perusal.