Updated April 30, 2026. The agri-food pilot program is closed. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) stopped accepting new permanent residence applications when the 2025 application cap of 1,010 spaces was filled on February 13, 2025, and the pilot reached its regulatory five-year ceiling on May 14, 2025. No successor program has been announced. Files received before the cap was reached are still being processed under the original rules. This guide explains what the agri-food pilot program was, why it closed, what happens to in-flight applications, and the active 2026 pathways for agri-food workers who want permanent residence in Canada.
Key Takeaways
- The federal Agri-Food Pilot stopped accepting new applications on February 13, 2025, after the 1,010-space 2025 cap was filled. The program officially closed on May 14, 2025 when its regulatory five-year window ended.
- IRCC continues to process applications received before February 13, 2025. Applicants in the queue are assessed against the eligibility rules in force at the time of submission.
- No replacement program for the agri-food pilot program has been announced. Agri-food workers in Canada now look at Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP), and the Atlantic Immigration Program for permanent residence.
- The Express Entry agriculture and agri-food category was retired in 2026. Of the original NOC codes the pilot covered, only Butchers (NOC 63201) remain eligible for Express Entry category-based draws, and they have been moved to the Trades category.
- Quebec runs a separate, province-level agri-food immigration pilot for food-processing workers under the Canada-Quebec Accord, and that program is still active as of 2026.
- Employers who hired Agri-Food Pilot workers received a two-year Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), which is being honoured for the duration of the LMIA term even though the pilot is closed.
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What Was the Agri-Food Pilot Program?
The Agri-Food Pilot was a federal immigration pathway IRCC launched in May 2020 to address chronic labour shortages in three Canadian agri-food sectors: meat product manufacturing, greenhouse and nursery production, and animal production outside aquaculture. The pilot offered permanent residence to temporary foreign workers who already had at least one year of full-time Canadian experience in eligible occupations and a non-seasonal job offer outside Quebec.
The program was structured as a five-year pilot under section 14.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act. Pilot programs created under that section can run for a maximum of five consecutive years. The Agri-Food Pilot reached that ceiling on May 14, 2025, which is why it closed regardless of demand. IRCC has the authority to launch a successor pilot, but as of April 2026 has not announced one.
In its final year, the pilot was capped at 1,010 principal-applicant spaces, down from the prior cap of 2,750 per year (2,750 was the cap from 2020 through 2024, before the 2025 reduction). The 2025 cap was set under the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, which reduced overall economic-immigration intake. Demand exceeded the 2025 cap within five weeks of opening: the cap was filled on February 13, 2025, and IRCC stopped accepting new applications that day.
Why the Agri-Food Pilot Program Closed
Three forces closed the agri-food pilot program at the same time:
- The five-year regulatory ceiling. Section 14.1 pilots cannot run beyond five years from the first acceptance date without a new regulatory instrument. The Agri-Food Pilot opened May 15, 2020 and ran exactly to its statutory limit.
- The 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan reductions. Federal economic admissions were reduced across the board for 2025 to 2027. The pilot’s 2025 cap was cut by 63%, from 2,750 to 1,010, to fit the new envelope.
- Oversubscription against that smaller cap. Even at 2,750 spaces, the pilot had been historically oversubscribed in its later years. At 1,010, the cap filled in roughly five weeks and would have filled faster without the new selection-criteria changes IRCC had layered on (residence-based eligibility split, two-year language test rule, removal of investments as proof of funds).
IRCC has not announced a successor program. The most plausible successor signals as of April 2026 are the Rural Community Immigration Pilot (which lists agriculture and food processing as priority sectors in many of its 14 designated communities) and the Express Entry Trades category (which retains NOC 63201 Butchers from the original Agri-Food list). Neither replaces the pilot one-to-one.
Final Eligibility Rules (as Applied to In-Flight Applications)
If your application was accepted by IRCC before February 13, 2025, the rules below are the ones used to assess your file. They are also the historical record of what the agri-food pilot program required in its final year.
Eligible Industries (NAICS Codes)
The pilot covered three industries, each defined by its NAICS code:
- Meat product manufacturing (NAICS 3116)
- Greenhouse, nursery, and floriculture production, including mushroom production (NAICS 1114)
- Animal production, excluding aquaculture (NAICS 1121, 1122, 1123, 1124, 1129)
If your employer’s primary business activity was not classified under one of these codes, the application failed the industry test regardless of the job title.
Eligible Occupations (NOC 2021 Codes)
The pilot used the 2021 NOC structure (effective for IRCC programs from November 16, 2022 onward). Eligible occupations by industry:
| Industry | NOC Code | Occupation | TEER |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meat product manufacturing | 63201 | Butchers, retail and wholesale | TEER 3 |
| Meat product manufacturing | 65202 | Meat cutters and fishmongers, retail and wholesale | TEER 5 |
| Meat product manufacturing | 94141 | Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers, and related workers | TEER 4 |
| Meat product manufacturing | 95106 | Labourers in food, beverage, and associated products processing | TEER 5 |
| Meat / Greenhouse / Animal | 82030 | Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors | TEER 2 |
| Meat / Greenhouse / Animal | 84120 | Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators | TEER 4 |
| Meat / Greenhouse / Animal | 85100 | Livestock labourers | TEER 5 |
| Greenhouse / Animal | 85101 | Harvesting labourers | TEER 5 |
Co-occupation matches were strictly enforced: a butcher working at a livestock farm did not qualify because the employer’s NAICS code did not match the worker’s NOC code.
Work Experience
Applicants needed at least 1,560 hours of full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation, accumulated within the three years before the application date. The 1,560 hours equate to one year of full-time employment at 30 hours per week. IRCC capped countable hours at 30 per week even if the worker was logging 40 or 50, so overtime did not shorten the qualifying period.
The experience had to be earned legally in Canada under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (an LMIA-supported permit of at least 12 months), or under an open work permit issued to vulnerable workers experiencing employer abuse. Self-employment, study-permit-related work, and unauthorized work did not count.
Language
Minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) Level 4 in each of the four skills (listening, speaking, reading, writing), in either English or French. Accepted tests were CELPIP General and IELTS General Training for English; TEF Canada and TCF Canada for French. Effective June 3, 2024, IRCC required language test results to be less than two years old on the application submission date. Older results were rejected outright.
Education
A Canadian high school diploma or equivalent. Foreign credentials needed an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an IRCC-designated organization (such as WES, ICAS, IQAS, or CES) confirming the foreign credential equalled at least a Canadian secondary diploma. The ECA had to be five years old or less.
Job Offer
The job offer had to be:
- For a non-seasonal, permanent, full-time position (at least 30 hours per week).
- In an eligible NOC occupation, working in an eligible NAICS industry.
- From a Canadian employer outside Quebec (Quebec runs its own selection under the Canada-Quebec Accord; see below).
- At a wage that met or exceeded the Job Bank prevailing wage for the occupation and province, or the rate set in a collective agreement for unionized roles.
The employer needed a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) tied to the offer. Pilot-supporting LMIAs were issued for two-year terms, and ESDC honoured those LMIAs for their full duration even after the pilot closed.
Settlement Funds (2024-2025 IRCC LICO Schedule)
Applicants needed to show settlement funds equivalent to 50% of the Low Income Cut-Off (LICO), unless they were already legally working in Canada with a valid work permit, in which case they were exempt. The 2024-2025 figures used by IRCC at closure:
| Family Size | Required Funds (CAD) |
|---|---|
| 1 | $14,690 |
| 2 | $18,288 |
| 3 | $22,483 |
| 4 | $27,297 |
| 5 | $30,690 |
| 6 | $34,917 |
| 7 | $38,875 |
| Each additional | +$3,958 |
Funds had to be liquid and held in the applicant’s name. As of June 3, 2024, IRCC stopped accepting real property and investments as proof of settlement funds.
Residence-Based Eligibility Split
A February 12, 2024 rule change split applicants into two groups:
- Applicants in Canada at the time of application could meet either the job-offer requirement or the education requirement.
- Applicants outside Canada had to meet both the job-offer requirement and the education requirement.
This change made the program functionally an in-Canada pathway. By 2025, the overwhelming majority of accepted files were submitted by workers who were already in Canada on temporary permits.
Fees at Closure
| Fee Item | Amount (CAD) |
|---|---|
| Processing fee, principal applicant | $1,525 |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | $575 |
| Biometrics, single | $85 |
| Single-applicant total | $2,185 |
| Spouse or common-law partner (processing + RPRF) | $1,525 |
| Dependent child | $260 |
These were the IRCC fees in force at closure. Note that the SUV-style higher fee schedule did not apply to the agri-food pilot program.
What Happens to Applications Already in the Queue
If your file was accepted by IRCC before February 13, 2025, IRCC continues to process it. The published service standard for the agri-food pilot program is 12 months from a complete file, but actual processing has been running 14 to 18 months for files received in 2024 and early 2025, and longer for files with foreign-credential or police-certificate gaps.
Applicants in the queue can:
- Use a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) if their pilot work permit is approaching expiry, the BOWP is available to PR applicants whose application has passed the completeness check.
- Provide updated documents when IRCC requests them (medical, biometrics, police certificates), within the deadlines set in the request letter.
- Track status on the IRCC permanent residence portal under the Agri-Food Pilot category, which remains in the system for in-flight files.
What you cannot do:
- Submit a new pilot application. IRCC’s intake mailroom now returns Agri-Food Pilot packages unopened.
- Add new family members beyond what is allowed under standard PR rules. Common-law partners and dependent children added after submission must meet the standard IRCC family-class rules.
- Switch your application to a different program. A withdrawn agri-food pilot file does not refund processing fees beyond the RPRF, and a new application under another stream is treated as a fresh file.
2026 Pathways to PR for Agri-Food Workers
The closure of the agri-food pilot program left a gap, but federal and provincial alternatives still admit agri-food workers to permanent residence. Five active routes:
1. Express Entry, Trades Category
The Express Entry agriculture and agri-food category was retired from the 2026 priority list. Of the NOC codes the agri-food pilot program covered, only NOC 63201 Butchers (retail and wholesale) remain eligible for category-based draws, and IRCC has moved that occupation under the Trades category for 2026.
To enter the Express Entry Trades pool, an applicant needs:
- One year (1,560 hours) of full-time, paid Canadian or foreign work experience in NOC 63201 within the previous five years.
- A Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) profile that meets the Trades category cut-off (typically 425 to 470 in 2025 to 2026 draws).
- Eligibility under one of the underlying programs: Federal Skilled Worker (FSW), Federal Skilled Trades (FST), or Canadian Experience Class (CEC) for those with Canadian experience.
Workers in the other agri-food NOC codes (65202, 94141, 95106, 82030, 84120, 85100, 85101) are not currently eligible for category-based draws. They can still apply through Express Entry programs (CEC if they have one year of Canadian skilled-trade experience; FSW if they meet the 67-point grid), but the cut-off CRS in the general all-program draws ran 525 to 545 in early 2026, which is high for these occupations.
2. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) with Agriculture Streams
Eight provinces have agriculture-relevant PNP streams that can nominate agri-food workers for permanent residence. The fit varies by occupation and province:
| Province | Stream | Best Fit For |
|---|---|---|
| British Columbia | BC PNP Skills Immigration: Skilled Worker / Entry Level and Semi-Skilled | Greenhouse and animal-production workers in NOC 84120, 85100, 85101 |
| Alberta | Alberta Advantage Immigration Program: Rural Renewal Stream | Meat-processing and farm workers in rural Alberta communities |
| Saskatchewan | SINP International Skilled Worker: Employment Offer | Agricultural workers with a permanent SK job offer |
| Manitoba | MPNP Skilled Worker in Manitoba | Meat-cutting and food-processing workers in Brandon, Neepawa, Winkler |
| Ontario | OINP Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills | Agricultural workers and butchers (NOC 63201, 84120, 85100) |
| New Brunswick | NB PNP Skilled Worker with Employer Support | Butchers and food-processing workers across NB |
| Nova Scotia | NSNP Skilled Worker | Same fit as NB; competitive for meat-processing roles |
| Prince Edward Island | PEI PNP Skilled Worker / Critical Worker | Butchers, livestock workers, food processing |
Each province sets its own work-experience minimum (typically nine to 24 months in the province), language threshold (CLB 4 to CLB 5), and employer-support rules. PNP nominees receive 600 CRS bonus points if they enter Express Entry, which effectively guarantees an Invitation to Apply.
3. Rural Community Immigration Pilot (RCIP)
The Rural Community Immigration Pilot launched in early 2025 and is the closest functional successor to the agri-food pilot program for workers settling outside major metro areas. Fourteen designated rural and northern communities run the pilot, and several list agriculture and food processing as priority sectors:
- Pictou County, Nova Scotia
- North Bay, Ontario
- Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario
- Sudbury, Ontario
- Timmins, Ontario
- Thunder Bay, Ontario
- Brandon, Manitoba
- Altona-Rhineland, Manitoba
- Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan
- Claresholm, Alberta
- Steinbach, Manitoba (food processing focus)
- West Kootenay, British Columbia
- North Okanagan Shuswap, British Columbia
- Peace Liard, British Columbia
Eligibility under RCIP requires a job offer from a designated employer in one of these communities, one year of relevant work experience, CLB 4 to 6 depending on TEER, a Canadian high school equivalent, and settlement funds (waived for in-Canada applicants with valid permits). RCIP is employer-driven, so the practical gate is finding a participating employer. Approved applicants receive a community recommendation, then apply to IRCC for permanent residence and an LMIA-exempt work permit while PR processes.
4. Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
The Atlantic Immigration Program admits workers in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador, Nova Scotia, and PEI under designated-employer endorsement. Meat processing, greenhouse work, and animal production are well represented among AIP designated employers, particularly in PEI (potatoes, dairy) and New Brunswick (poultry processing, seafood). AIP requirements are similar to RCIP: one year of recent work experience, CLB 4 to 5, Canadian high school equivalent, designated job offer, and a settlement plan from a service-provider organization.
5. Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFW Program) plus PNP
For workers who do not yet have one year of Canadian experience, the practical pathway is:
- Secure a TFW Program job offer with a positive LMIA in an agri-food occupation.
- Work in Canada on the LMIA-supported work permit for at least one year.
- Apply to a relevant PNP (or qualify for the Canadian Experience Class through Express Entry) once the experience clock is met.
The TFW Program is not itself a PR pathway, but it is the on-ramp most agri-food workers historically used to qualify for the agri-food pilot program, and it remains the on-ramp for the alternatives above.
Quebec Food Processing Pilot
Quebec runs its own, separate Pilot Program for the Permanent Immigration of Food Processing Workers under the Canada-Quebec Accord. It targets workers in NOC 94141 (industrial butchers), 95106 (food-processing labourers), and a handful of related codes who hold Quebec employment. Requirements include a Quebec job offer, intermediate French (Quebec scale level 7 oral), 24 months of relevant work experience, and a Quebec Selection Certificate (CSQ) before federal PR is filed. The Quebec pilot is the only province-level program that meaningfully replicates what the federal agri-food pilot program offered.
Decision Tree for Three Common Reader Profiles
Profile 1: Application Submitted and Accepted Before February 13, 2025
You are in the processing queue. Your file is being assessed under the rules in force at submission. Track status through the IRCC online portal, respond promptly to any document requests, and apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit if your current permit is within four months of expiry. Do not file a duplicate application under another stream while the pilot file is open; IRCC treats it as a duplicate and may refuse one or both files.
Profile 2: Worker Who Missed the Cap or Closure
You cannot file under the agri-food pilot program. The realistic 2026 sequence is:
- If you are in NOC 63201 (butcher) with strong CRS, build an Express Entry Trades profile.
- If you are in any of the other agri-food NOCs and live in a participating RCIP community, work with a designated employer and apply through RCIP.
- If you are settled in Atlantic Canada, work with an AIP-designated employer.
- If your provincial PNP has an in-demand or rural-renewal stream that includes your NOC, apply provincially.
- If you do not yet have one year of Canadian experience, use the TFW Program LMIA route to build the experience first.
Profile 3: Employer Who Hired Through the Pilot
The two-year LMIAs that ESDC issued to support agri-food pilot program workers continue in force for their full duration. Workers under those LMIAs can extend their work permits up to the LMIA end date. New hires for similar roles now require fresh LMIAs under the standard TFW Program agriculture or low-wage stream, which has different recruitment, advertising, and wage rules. Employers planning future PR-track hires should look at RCIP designation (if the community has not yet designated, the chamber of commerce or economic development office is the entry point) and AIP designation in Atlantic Canada.
Final Numbers: How the Agri-Food Pilot Program Performed
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Years operated | May 2020 to May 2025 (5 years) |
| Original annual cap | 2,750 principal applicants |
| 2025 cap | 1,010 principal applicants |
| Date 2025 cap filled | February 13, 2025 |
| Official program close date | May 14, 2025 |
| Total industries covered | 3 (meat manufacturing, greenhouse, animal production) |
| NOC occupations covered | 8 |
| Successor program | None announced as of April 2026 |
| Approximate fees at closure (single applicant) | CAD $2,185 |
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the agri food pilot program still open in 2026?
No. The agri-food pilot program closed on May 14, 2025, when its regulatory five-year window ended. IRCC stopped accepting new applications on February 13, 2025, after the 2025 cap of 1,010 spaces filled. Applications submitted before February 13, 2025 are still being processed, but new files are no longer accepted.
What replaced the agri food pilot program?
No direct successor has been announced. Active 2026 pathways for agri-food workers include Express Entry (Trades category for NOC 63201 Butchers), Provincial Nominee Program agriculture streams in eight provinces, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot in 14 designated communities, the Atlantic Immigration Program in the four Atlantic provinces, and Quebec’s separate food processing pilot.
How long is IRCC taking to process in-flight Agri-Food Pilot applications?
The published service standard is 12 months from a complete file. Actual processing for files received in 2024 and early 2025 has been running 14 to 18 months, with longer timelines for files with missing documents, foreign credentials requiring assessment, or police certificates from multiple countries. Bridging Open Work Permits are available to applicants whose initial work permit is expiring during processing.
Can I still apply through the Agri-Food Pilot if I missed the 2025 cap?
No. Applications received after February 13, 2025 are returned unopened. The pilot’s regulatory authority ended May 14, 2025, so IRCC has no legal basis to reopen intake. Workers in eligible occupations should look at the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, a relevant Provincial Nominee Program, or Express Entry through the Trades category if they are butchers (NOC 63201).
Did the Agri-Food Pilot cover Quebec?
No. The federal agri-food pilot program excluded Quebec, which selects its own immigrants under the Canada-Quebec Accord. Quebec runs a separate Pilot Program for the Permanent Immigration of Food Processing Workers, with French language requirements and Quebec job offers. That pilot is still active in 2026.
What were the eligible NOC codes for the Agri-Food Pilot?
The pilot covered eight 2021 NOC codes: 63201 (butchers retail and wholesale), 65202 (meat cutters and fishmongers), 94141 (industrial butchers), 95106 (food processing labourers), 82030 (agricultural service contractors), 84120 (specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators), 85100 (livestock labourers), and 85101 (harvesting labourers). Each code had to match an employer with the corresponding NAICS industry code.
Do butchers still qualify for Express Entry in 2026?
Yes, but under the Trades category, not the Agriculture and Agri-Food category, which IRCC retired in 2026. NOC 63201 Butchers (retail and wholesale) can enter the Trades category by submitting an Express Entry profile with at least one year of qualifying butcher experience and an underlying eligibility under FSW, FST, or CEC. Trades category cut-offs ran 425 to 470 CRS in 2025 to 2026 draws.
What happens to the LMIAs employers received under the Agri-Food Pilot?
ESDC issued two-year LMIAs to support agri-food pilot program job offers. Those LMIAs are honoured for their full term despite the pilot’s closure. Workers can use them to extend work permits and continue operating up to the LMIA end date. New hires require fresh LMIAs under the standard TFW Program agriculture or low-wage streams.
Bottom Line
The agri-food pilot program ran for exactly five years and closed on its statutory deadline. IRCC has not announced a successor, and workers who missed the February 13, 2025 cap need to pivot to the Rural Community Immigration Pilot, a Provincial Nominee Program, the Atlantic Immigration Program, Express Entry’s Trades category (butchers only), or Quebec’s parallel food processing pilot. Workers already in the queue should track their files through the IRCC portal and use Bridging Open Work Permits to maintain status while processing finishes.
The labour need that drove the pilot has not gone away. Whether IRCC announces a redesigned agri-food stream within the 2026 to 2028 Levels Plan or simply absorbs agri-food demand into RCIP and the PNPs is the open question. For now, the practical move for most agri-food workers is to find a designated RCIP employer or a province with a meaningful in-demand stream.
This is general information, not legal advice. Confirm program status, fees, and eligibility on the IRCC Agri-Food Pilot page, the Rural Community Immigration Pilot eligibility page, and the relevant provincial immigration site before you file.