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On Friday August 18, 2023, two new changes were made to the Canada Agri-Food Pilot for permanent residency (PR). Canada is now allowing open work permit applications for the family members of all the Agri-Food Pilot participants.

Also, in lieu of employer reference letters, Canadian immigration will now also accept union reference letters to attest to an applicant’s work experience.

Eligibility for Canada Agri Food Pilot

Individuals residing inside or outside Canada can apply for permanent residency under the Agri Food Pilot if they meet the below listed requirements:

• You have at least 1 year (at least 1,560 hours in a total of 52 weeks) of cumulative, non-seasonal, full-time experience in the last 3 years in:
  • 1 or more of the eligible Agri-Food occupations in one of the eligible industries
  • This experience must have been gained on an LMIA-based work permit (minimum of 12 months)
• You have a full-time, permanent, non-seasonal job offer in an eligible occupation listed under one of the eligible Agri-Food industries
• You have education equivalent to Canadian high school diploma
• You have enough settlement funds to support you and your family (even if they are not coming with you) to settle in Canada.
  • If you are currently working on a work permit, then you need to show your settlement funds.
• You have valid temporary resident status (if already in Canada)
• Meet the minimum score in one of the below listed language proficiency tests:

Agri-Food Pilot Language Scores

See below occupations eligible for Agri-Food Pilot

For meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)

1. NOC 63201 – Butchers – retail and wholesale
2. NOC 65202 – Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale
3. NOC 94141 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
4. NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
5. NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
6. NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
7. NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing

For greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)

1. NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
2. NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
3. NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
4. NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers

For animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 and 1129)

1. NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
2. NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
3. NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
4. NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers

Need help creating a work permit profile, preparing your application after receiving an invitation to apply or even just reviewing an application you prepared yourself? Send us an email on eseumohimmigration@gmail.com