1. IRCC announces extension to the Agri - Food Immigration Pilot

The agricultural and agri-food sector is an important contributor to Canada's economic growth. In 2021, Canada ranks fifth in the world in agricultural and seafood exports, providing one-ninth of jobs and creating jobs for 2.1 million people in Canada. 

To attract and increase the workforce to maintain production, the Government of Canada has launched the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot (AFIP), running from May 15th, 2020 to May 14th, 2023 for foreign workers to have the opportunity to immigrate here. Recruitment data from February 2023 shows there are more than 243,000 people in Canada working in Agriculture, Hunting, Fishing and Forestry and more than 14,000 open jobs. The industry has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic, which has shuttered factories, volatile markets and disrupted supply chains.

Therefore, the government decided to extend the registration period for this program until the end of May 14, 2025, in order to create favorable conditions for experienced workers in the fields of agriculture, other industries. food industry obtain permanent residency in Canada.

Immigration Minister Announcement regarding the Agri-Food Pilot Immigration Program – Source: IRCC

2. Changing the occupation limits for the skilled Canadian immigration program

To assist employers and candidates, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship also announced the removal of the annual occupation limit, or limit on the number of applicants that can apply for a single job. specific occupations in the pilot program. This will open the door for more qualified candidates to apply. 

By the end of 2023, the Department of Immigration intends to introduce new changes to the Agri-Food immigration pilot in phases, including:

• Extend the opportunity to obtain an open work permit to family members of applicants regardless of job skill level;

• Give candidates residing in Canada the option to meet the requirements of the job offer, including the average salary requirement for the job offer or the educational requirement, including verification of education certificate prices.

• Acceptance of work experience obtained under a work permit is open to people working in vulnerable sectors. IRCC says this will give more workers a chance to qualify.

3. Occupations eligible for the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

Eligible occupations and industries under the pilot include:

Meat product manufacturing;

• Retail butchers
• Industrial butchers
• Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• Food processing labourers

Greenhouse, nursery and floriculture production, including mushroom production;

• Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• General farm workers
• Harvesting labourers.

Animal production excluding aquaculture:

• Farm supervisors and specialized livestock workers
• General farm workers.

Meat and mushroom production, greenhouse crop production and livestock production, etc. are the sectors covered by the AFIP programme.

Candidates for the Agri-Food immigration pilot must also meet additional eligibility requirements such as:

• 12 months of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in one of the eligible occupations;
• a Canadian Language Benchmark level 4 in English or French;
• the foreign equivalent of a high school level education or greater; and
• an indeterminate job offer for full-time, non-seasonal work in Canada, outside of Quebec, at or above the prevailing wage.

AFIP complements Canada's existing suite of economic immigration programs, which includes the Atlantic Immigration Program, the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program, the caregiver pilot program, the Skills Strategy Global, Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Program. These changes are an important step in meeting long-term labor market needs, continuing to promote the skills and labor needed in the agriculture and food sectors. It also widens the path to permanent residency for experienced workers in these industries and their families. 

4. AFIP program advantage

Similar to the skilled Canadian immigration programs, AFIP also offers a number of benefits to candidates such as:

• A spouse who travels to Canada together can apply for an open work permit to find work in Canada.

• When working for a full year of 1 year, the employee can apply for Canadian permanent residence .

• The Government of Canada has a policy that requires employers in the program to have a plan to assist workers in the process of applying for permanent residence.

• The whole family is fully entitled to health, retirement, and unemployment benefits like Canadian citizens, their children can study for free until the end of 12th grade and enjoy a more favorable university tuition rate than international students. economic. 

Families of workers under the Agri-Food pilot immigration program can obtain permanent residency and enjoy the same benefits as Canadian citizens.

Contact iCanfield Vietnam immediately for the best support and advice!

Canadian immigration programs 2023:

• Start-up Visa: Conditions of program here

• Saskatchewan Entrepreneurs:  Conditions of program here

• Entrepreneur of the province of Prince Island (PEI):  Conditions of programs  here

• Immigrate to Canada as a skilled worker: Conditions of program here

Source: Canada.ca

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