Agri-Food Pilot (AFP) program is a federal immigration program in Canada. It aims to support Canada’s agriculture and food industry by offering an immigration pathway for experienced and non-seasonal workers in specific occupations to obtain permanent residency.

The Agri-Food Pilot program was launched in 2020 to alleviate the labour shortages in the agriculture and agri-food sector. The application deadline was set to expire on May 14, 2023. On May 8, 2023, IRCC announced the extension of the program to May 14, 2025. 

 

Agri-Food Pilot (AFP): Eligibility

To be eligible for permanent residency under the Agri-Food Pilot, you must fulfill the following requirements:

• You have eligible Canadian work experience in one or more of the eligible industries and occupations.
• **You have a full-time and non-seasonal job offer from a Canadian employer in one of the eligible industries and occupations (excluding Quebec) OR
  Meet the educational requirements.
  
• You meet or exceed the language.
• You have settlement funds (if applicable)
• You have temporary resident status if you are already in Canada.

**IRCC announced changes to the AFP, as of 10 Feb 2024:

• In-Canada applicants now have the option to meet either the job offer or the education requirement.
• Work experience gained under an open work permit for vulnerable workers is now accepted.

More details regarding the changes, please visit IRCC’s official website.

 

AFP: Language Requirements

You must get a minimum language proficiency of CLB or NCLC Level 4 in reading, writing, speaking and listening. 

 

AFP: Educational Requirements

You must meet either one of the following educational requirements OR choose to meet the “Job Offer” Requirement list in the below section:

• A Canadian high school diploma
• An educational credential assessment (ECA) report from a designated organization or professional body showing that you completed a foreign credential at the secondary school level or above
  • The ECA report must be no older than 5 years from the date of your application. It must have been issued on or after the date the organization was designated.

 

AFP: Job Offer

You must get a genuine job offer which meets all of the following requirements OR choose to meet the above “Educational Requirement”:

• It must be for an eligible occupation listed under one of the eligible industries.
• The job must be full-time, meaning you must work at least 30 hours per week and have consistent, year-round paid employment.
• The job must be non-seasonal and offer permanent employment without a set end date.
• For unionized positions, the wage must conform to the relevant collective agreement. 
• For non-unionized positions, the wage must meet or exceed the prevailing (median) wage for the occupation listed on your job offer in the province of employment (or at the national level if there is no provincial rate available).
• Your job offer must be for a position in Canada outside of Quebec.

 

AFP: Settlement Funds

As of April 25, 2023, the table displayed below specifies the minimum amount of funds required for immigration to Canada.

Number of family members	Funds you need (in Canadian Dollars)
1	$13,757
2	$17,127
3	$21,055
4	$25,564
5	$28,994
6	$32,700
7	$36,407
If more than 7 people, for each additional family member	$3,706

 

AFP: Work Experience Requirements

To qualify for the AFP, you must meet the following work experience requirements:

• At least 1 year of full-time and non-seasonal work experience in the past 3 years (at least 1,560 hours) 
• Worked in 1 or more of the eligible occupations listed under one of the eligible industries
• Your employment must be facilitated through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. Your employer must have submitted a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) with a minimum duration of 12 months when you were hired. 

You can hold an Open Work Permit now, but you must have a work permit through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program to be qualified for the AFP. Any work experience you gained while holding an open work permit does not count. 

 

Agri-Food Pilot: Eligible Industries

Industries are classified by the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). When you receive a job offer from your employer, it should have the industry code included. The following industries are eligible under the Pilot:

• Meet product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
• Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
• Animal production, excluding aquaculture
  • Cattle ranching and farming (NAICS 1121)
  • Hog and pig farming (NAICS 1122)
  • Poultry and egg production (NAICS 1123)
  • Sheep and goat farming (NAICS 1124)
  • Other animal production (NAICS 1129)

 

Agri-Food Pilot: Eligible Occupations

Occupations are classified by the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. The following occupations are eligible under the Pilot.

Meat Product Manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
NOC 63201	Butchers – retail and wholesale
NOC 65202	Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale
NOC 94141	Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
NOC 82030	Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120	Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100	Livestock labourers
NOC 95106	Labourers in food and beverage processing

 

Greenhouse, Nursery and Floriculture Production, including Mushroom Production (NAICS 1114)
NOC 82030	Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120	Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100	Livestock labourers
NOC 85101	Harvesting labourers

 

Animal Production, excluding Aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124 and 1129)
NOC 82030	Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120	Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100	Livestock labourers
NOC 85101	Harvesting labourers

 

AFP: Annual Application Limits

IRCC will accept up to 2,750 applications each year, without specific limits for individual occupations. Applications will be processed on a first-come first-served basis, starting on January 1 of each year. If your application is rejected due to reaching the annual limit, IRCC will reimburse your application fees.