May 11, 2023 – The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, announced the extension of the Agri-Food pilot, which will now run until May 14, 2025. Launched in May 2020, the pilot helps facilitate the transition of experienced workers in the agricultural and food industries to permanent residence in Canada.
To support employers and candidates, the Minister also announced the removal of the annual occupational caps or the limits for how many candidates can apply for a specific occupation under the pilot. Removing these limits will provide an opportunity for more eligible candidates to apply.
By the end of the year, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) intends to introduce new changes to the pilot in stages, including: expanding open work permit access to family members of all participants in the Agri-Food pilot—regardless of the participant’s job skill level; allowing unions to attest to a candidate’s work experience as an alternative to employer reference letters; giving applicants residing in Canada the option to either meet the job offer requirement, including the median wage requirement for the job offer, or the education requirement, including educational credential assessment verification; and accepting work experience gained under an open work permit for vulnerable workers, giving more workers an opportunity to qualify.
The Agri-Food Pilot complements Canada’s existing suite of economic immigration programs, which includes the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot, the caregivers pilots, the Global Skills Strategy, Express Entry, and the Provincial Nominee Program. It continues to promote the skills and labor required in the agriculture and agri-food sector while also providing an opportunity for these workers to settle in Canada and contribute to our economy.
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