Canada Agri-Food Pilot Changes 2024

Name: Black History Month - Toronto Black Farmers Collective
Uploaded: 2024-02-01T06:40:41-08:00
Duration: 4 min 14 s
Description: Two new changes to the Canada Agri-Food Pilot for permanent residency (PR) came into effect on February 10, 2024.

Last Updated On 19 June 2024, 11:50 AM EDT (Toronto Time)

Two new changes to the Canada Agri-Food Pilot for permanent residency (PR) came into effect on February 10, 2024.

First off, candidates who live in Canada at the time of application may now choose to meet either the job offer requirement or the educational requirement.

Second, for vulnerable foreign workers, the IRCC is now crediting work experience obtained under an open work permit toward the work experience criteria.

Canada extended the Agri-Food pilot, which was first introduced as a three-year pilot in 2020, until May 14, 2025, in May 2023.

Previously, Canada also introduced two new changes in August 2023: allowing open work permits for family members of Agri-Food pilot applicants and accepting union reference letters in lieu of employer reference letters as a proof of work experience.

These #AgriFoodPilot changes came into force on February 10, 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.

Learn more:… pic.twitter.com/yE3tmNrrtw
— IRCC (@CitImmCanada) February 12, 2024

Eligibility for Canada Agri Food Pilot

Following are the eligibility criteria for people living in Canada or abroad to apply for permanent residency under the Agri Food Pilot:

You have at least one year’s worth of cumulative, non-seasonal, full-time experience in the following three years—that is, at least 1,560 hours over 52 weeks.

One or more of the Agri-Food jobs that qualify in one of the relevant industries

This expertise must have been obtained over the course of a minimum 12-month LMIA-based work visa.

You’ve received an offer for a full-time, permanent, non-seasonal position in a qualifying occupation within one of the agri-food industries that qualify.

Your education is on par with a high school diploma from Canada.

Even if your family isn’t moving with you, you have enough settlement money to support both of you while you establish yourselves in Canada.

In the event that you are presently employed under a work permit, you don’t need to present your settlement money.

If you are already in Canada, you must have a valid status as a temporary resident.

Reach the required minimum score on one of the language proficiency exams listed below:

Language Tests	Reading	Writing	Listening	Speaking
CELPIP	4	4	4	4
IELTS GT	3.5	4.0	4.5	4.0
TEF Canada	121-150	181-225	145-180	181-225
TCF Canada	342-374	4-5	331-368	4-5

Agri-Food Pilot Language Scores

Occupations Eligible for Agri-Food Pilot

For 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
No. 84120: Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing

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

NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
No. 84120: Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers

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

NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
No. 84120: Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 85101: Harvesting Labourers

What’s Special About the Agri-Food Pilot?

The good news about this pilot programme is that qualified applicants simply need to have CLB level 4 in English/French.

In a language exam such as IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF, CLB level 4 is the lowest level. The total band score for IELTS is 4 (reading: 3.5, writing: 4, listening: 4.5, speaking: 4).

Only a high school diploma is necessary in terms of schooling.

If you studied outside of Canada, you must have an educational credential assessment (ECA) report from a recognised organisation or professional body indicating that you completed a foreign credential at the secondary school level or above.

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon

Gagandeep Kaur Sekhon moved to Canada in 2010 on a study visa. She navigated through the ups and downs of her student life and gained her permanent residency in 2015. Today, she is a proud Canadian citizen residing in Calgary, Alberta. She is mother of 2 beautiful daughters and making her difference through writing and guidance at INC – Immigration News Canada.