Agri-Food Immigration Pilot Program (AFIP) is aimed at meeting the labour needs of the Canadian agri-food sector.

Effective February 10, 2024, applicants who are currently living in Canada at the time of application can choose to verify the job offer requirement or the education requirement. Work experience gained on an open work permit for foreign workers now counts toward the work experience requirement.

Applications for participation in this program can be submitted up to and including May 14, 2025.
Required fees: from $1,525 (as of July 2024).


To participate in this immigration program, you must:

  • Experience. A minimum of one year (1,560 hours) of non-seasonal full-time employment in the last three years in one or more eligible agri-food occupations. The work experience must be obtained under a work permit based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA).
  • Job offer. Full-time, non-seasonal work from a Canadian employer in one of the eligible industries. The job must be of indefinite duration (no set end date) and offer a salary no lower than the average for the profession.
  • Education. A Canadian high school diploma or equivalent recognized by an assessing body.
  • Knowledge of language. Proficiency in English or French at or above level 4 on the Canadian Language Bar (CLB) in all four skills: reading, writing, speaking and listening.
  • Relocation funds. Have sufficient funds to support yourself and your family members in Canada unless you are already working in Canada on a valid work permit.
  • Suitable professions and industries. Suitable industries and occupations include meat production (e.g., meat cutters, food processing workers), greenhouse, horticultural, and flower crop production (e.g., farmers, harvesters), and animal husbandry (e.g., livestock care workers).

How to calculate working hours:

  • Hours worked full-time are taken into account. Hours may be worked in different professions and for different employers for at least 12 months (working more than 30 hours a week does not reduce this period).
  • Not taken into account: unpaid work, such as volunteering or an unpaid internship; working as a sole proprietor; part-time or seasonal work; work not permitted by IRCC.

There is also a need for proof of the required level of language proficiency (basic level 4 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) tests). Test results must be no older than two years at the time of application.

If the applicant is in Canada at the time of application, they must have a valid temporary resident status. If outside Canada, they must demonstrate that they have sufficient funds to support themselves in Canada, including providing for a standard of living for family members, even if they are not traveling with the applicant to Canada.

Thus, the key requirements of the program are one year of relevant industry experience, a current non-seasonal job offer from a Canadian employer, a verified high school education, and a minimum of CLB Level 4 proficiency in one of Canada’s official languages.