Canada: Agri-Food Pilot – Immigration and Visa Overview

What is the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot?

The Canada: Agri-Food Pilot is a one-time immigration initiative created to address gaps in the Canadian agri-food industry’s workforce. The pilot will bring up to 2,750 experienced workers to Canada over the 2019-2020 period, subject to a cap of up to 900 workers per year. The pilot is designed to attract eligible applicants from a variety of occupations in the agri-food sector, including:

• Farm owners and operators
• general farm labourers
• harvesting labourers
• nursery and greenhouse workers
• packing and grading labourers
• animal production workers
• meat-processing workers
• retail butchers and bakers

The Canada: Agri-Food Pilot was created to provide a solution to the challenge of seasonal and/or permanent labour shortages in the agri-food industry. This program allows workers to come to Canada and assist farmers in meeting their labour needs.

Who is Eligible to Apply for the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot?

In order to be eligible to apply to the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot, applicants must meet the following criteria:

• Be at least 18 years old
• Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer in an eligible occupation
• Have 2 or more years of recent and relevant work experience in their intended occupation
• Be able to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in either English or French to perform the job duties

The job offer must be permanent or a minimum of 6 months in duration. The job must also meet the minimum wage requirements laid out by either the relevant provincial/territorial government or the Canada-wide job market.

Applicants are also required to demonstrate that they have the necessary settlement funds to cover their expenses upon arrival in Canada, or be able to find other sources of support.

How to Apply for the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot

Applicants to the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot must first obtain a valid job offer from a Canadian employer in an eligible occupation. Applicants must then complete the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot application form and submit it along with the necessary supporting documents to the Canadian government office handling the visa application.

The following documents must accompany the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot application:

• A copy of the job offer, including the start and end dates, salary and position title
• Proof of language proficiency in English or French
• Proof of educational qualifications
• Proof of work experience
• Proof that applicants have sufficient funds to cover their expenses in Canada

Once the application is submitted, applicants may be required to complete additional steps such as providing biometrics. Once all of the documents have been submitted and all required steps have been taken, the visa application will be assessed by an immigration officer. If approved, the applicant will be issued a Canadian visa.

What are the Benefits of the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot?

By participating in the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot, eligible applicants can enjoy the following benefits:

• A fast-tracked visa process with less paperwork
• Full protection of Canada’s labour laws from day one of employment
• The ability to find a job in Canada even before graduating from college or university
• The chance to gain invaluable work experience in a new country
• The opportunity to apply for permanent residence after working in Canada
• The benefit of having an open work permit, which allows the holder to work for any employer in Canada

FAQs

Q. What is the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot?
A. The Canada: Agri-Food Pilot is a one-time immigration initiative created to address gaps in the Canadian agri-food industry’s workforce. The pilot will bring up to 2,750 experienced workers to Canada over the 2019-2020 period, subject to a cap of up to 900 workers per year.

Q. Who is eligible to apply for the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot?
A. Applicants to the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot must be at least 18 years old, have 2 or more years of recent and relevant work experience in their intended occupation, have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer in an eligible occupation, and be able to demonstrate sufficient proficiency in either English or French to perform the job duties.

Q. How to apply for the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot?
A. Applicants to the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot must first obtain a valid job offer from a Canadian employer in an eligible occupation. Applicants must then complete the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot application form and submit it along with the necessary supporting documents to the Canadian government office handling the visa application.

Q. What are the benefits of the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot?
A. By participating in the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot, eligible applicants can enjoy the following benefits: A fast-tracked visa process with less paperwork, full protection of Canada’s labour laws from day one of employment, the ability to find a job in Canada even before graduating from college or university, the chance to gain invaluable work experience in a new country, the opportunity to apply for permanent residence after working in Canada, and the benefit of having an open work permit, which allows the holder to work for any employer in Canada.

Conclusion

The Canada: Agri-Food Pilot is a one-time immigration initiative created to provide a solution to labour shortages in the agri-food sector, by bringing experienced workers to Canada over the 2019-2020 period. Eligible applicants must be at least 18 years old and have 2 or more years of recent and relevant work experience in their intended occupation. Applicants must obtain a valid job offer from a Canadian employer, complete the relevant application form, and submit it along with the necessary supporting documents to the Canadian government office handling the visa application. Successful applicants to the Canada: Agri-Food Pilot can enjoy benefits such as a fast-tracked visa process with less paperwork, full protection of Canada’s labour laws from the start of their employment, and the opportunity to apply for permanent residence after working in Canada.