Canada Agri-Food Pilot

You must have a genuine job offer to be eligible for the Agri-Food Pilot.

The job offer must meet all of the following requirements:

• The job must be in an eligible occupation listed under 1 of the eligible industries
• The job must be full time
  • This means you work at least 30 paid hours per week
• The job must be non-seasonal
  • In general, this means you have consistent and regularly scheduled paid employment throughout the year
• Your employment must be permanent
  • This generally means that there is no set end date
• For unionized positions, the wage must be determined by the applicable collective agreement
• For non-unionized positions, the wage must meet or exceed the Job Bank’s prevailing (median) wage for the occupation listed on your job offer in the province of employment (or at the national level if no provincial rate is available)
• The job offer must be for a job in Canada outside of Quebec

To be eligible for the Agri-Food Pilot, you must prove that you have at least a level 4 score in either the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC).

This must be for all four key skills (reading, writing, speaking, and listening).

If English is your main language, you may take either of the following tests to prove your language ability:

• Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP)
• International English Language Testing System (ILETS)

Meanwhile, if French is your main language, you may take either of the following to prove your language ability:

• TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
• TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français

To be eligible for the Agri-Food Pilot, you must have either:

• A Canadian high school diploma, or
• 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 less than 5 years old on the date of your application
  • The original ECA report must have been issued on or after the date the organization was designated

Note that you may only get an ECA from one of the following designated organizations:

• Comparative Education Service: University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
• International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
• World Education Services
• International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
• International Credential Evaluation Service

You must prove that you have enough funds to support yourself and your family in Canada, unless you’re already working in Canada with a valid work permit when you apply.

The amount of funds you will need will depend on the size of your family. Your family must include:

• Yourself
• Your spouse or partner
• Your dependent children
• Your spouse’s dependent children

Your spouse and dependent children must be included even if they’re permanent residents or Canadian citizens or if they’re not coming to Canada with you.

The table below shows examples of the minimum amount you need to immigrate to Canada. Note that this table is for 2020. The minimum amounts are updated every year, so it’s important to double-check that you have the minimum required funds for the year you’re applying.

Once you’ve determined that you fully meet the eligibility requirements for the Agri-Food Pilot, you can apply for permanent residence.

To apply for permanent residence, you will need to fill in the following forms:

• Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
• Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
• Schedule 1 – Agri-Food Pilot (IMM 0114)
• Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
• Supplementary Information – Your travels (IMM 5562)
• Document Checklist (IMM 0116)

You may also have to fill out the following forms if they apply to you:

• Additional Dependants/Declaration (IMM 0008 DEP)
• Separation Declaration for Minors Travelling to Canada (IMM 5604)
• Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union (IMM 5409)
• Use of a Representative (IMM 5476)

The employer must also fill out an Offer of Employment to a Foreign National – Agri-Food Pilot (IMM 0115) form and give it to you to submit with your application.

After filling in your forms, you will then need to pay the fees for the application online.

After you’ve completed all the forms and paid the fees, you must then post your application (including all of your supporting documents) to the IRCC Centralized Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

You must include the following supporting documents with your application:

• Copies of valid passports or travel documents you, your spouse or partner, and dependent children
• Proof of language proficiency
• Proof of education, with an Educational Credential Assessment, if necessary
• Proof of collective agreement
  • This is only applicable if the wage offered on the job offer form is determined by a collective agreement
• Proof of previous relevant work experience (see FAQ for more details)
• Proof of funds (see FAQ for more details)
• Proof that you have valid temporary resident status (only if you’re applying from inside Canada)
• Identity and civil status documents for you and your spouse or partner, such as:
  • Birth certificates
  • Marriage certificates
  • Evidence of cohabitation for at least 12 continuous months (if applicable)
• Children’s information (if applicable)
• Police certificate
• Two photos each for every member of your family
• A receipt payment for application fees

After you submit your application, IRCC will check to see that you have filled it in completely and correctly, met all the requirements and include all the necessary supporting documents.

If you’re between 14 and 79 years old, you will need to give your biometrics information in the form of your fingerprints and photograph after you apply. You will receive a letter from IRCC with details of where and how to do this.

You and your family members must get a medical exam before you settle in Canada.

If your existing work permit is due to expire while your application is being processed, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit. This type of permit lets you keep working while you wait for a final decision on your permanent residence application.

If your application is refused, you will be sent a letter detailing the reason or reasons why.

To be reconsidered for the Agri-Food Pilot, you must fill out and submit a new application. You must ensure that you still meet the eligibility criteria and that you’re eligible to be considered.