Agri-food Immigration Pilot Program
The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is intended to alleviate workforce shortages in agriculture and food-related industries.
The three-year pilot opened on May 15, 2020 and will run till May 14, 2023.
The pilot is specifically aimed at meat processing, year-round mushroom and greenhouse crop production and livestock raising industries.
To qualify for a pilot, candidates need qualified Canadian work experience and a job offer from a Canadian employer.
The Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is one of several pilots operated by the federal government. Others include the Atlantic Immigration Pilot and the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot.
Which Industries Are Eligible for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?
The North American Industry Classification System categorizes industries that are eligible for funding (NAICS).
Meat Product Manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
Animal production other than aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 or 1129)
What Jobs Are Eligible for Agri-Food Immigration Pilot?
1) Meat Product Manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
NOC B 6331: Retail Butcher
NOC C 9462: Industrial Butcher
NOC B8252: Farm Supervisor and Special Livestock Worker
NOC D 9617: FOOD PROCESSING WORKERS
2) Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
NOC B8252: Farm Supervisor and Special Livestock Worker
NOC C 8431: Ordinary Agricultural Workers
NOC D 8611: Harvesting Workers
3) Animal production other than aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 or 1129)
NOC B8252: Farm Supervisor and Special Livestock Worker
NOC C 8431: Ordinary Agricultural Workers
Two Year LMIA for Meat Processors
To complement the pilot, Employment and Social Development Canada are introducing changes that will benefit meat processor employers who are supporting temporary foreign workers in the transition to permanent residency.
Qualified meat processing firms, including firms that use agri-food immigration pilots or other current channels to provide permanent employment for temporary foreign workers in the same occupations and industries, would get a two-year Labor Market Impact Assessment. a candidate for residence This is a pilot.
In Quebec, there is a pilot program for agri-food immigration.
In Quebec, the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot is not available.
However, Quebec employers hiring non-seasonal workers through the Temporary Foreign Employee Program may benefit from a two-year LMIA as part of the pilot.
The quality, temporary foreign worker job must match one of the specific NOC codes eligible to pilot.
It should be noted that candidates in Quebec will not be eligible to qualify for permanent residency via the pilot. They can only qualify through the Quebec immigration programs.