Canada Agri-Food Immigration: PR Routes After the Pilot

You milk cows at 5 a.m., cut meat on a processing line or run a greenhouse crew, and you'd like to stay in Canada for good. For years, the answer was the Agri-Food Pilot. That door is now closed, but Canada agri-food immigration hasn't stopped. It has moved to other programs.

This guide explains what happened to the pilot, which permanent residence routes are still open to farm and food workers as of September 2026, and how to pick one.

What happened to the Agri-Food Pilot?

The Agri-Food Pilot was a federal program for people with full-time, non-seasonal Canadian work experience in certain agriculture and agri-food jobs. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), it ended on May 14, 2025.

IRCC says it will keep processing applications it accepted before that date. It isn't taking new ones.

In April 2026, IRCC announced a one-time In-Canada Workers Initiative. It speeds up permanent residence applications already in IRCC's system from several programs, including the Agri-Food Pilot. It is not a new program, and you can't apply to it directly.

Which Canada agri-food immigration routes are still open?

Permanent residence (PR) means you can live and work anywhere in Canada with no end date. For farm and food workers, the main PR routes now run through provinces and local communities.

Provincial nominee programs

A Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) lets a province choose, or "nominate," people it needs. Once you're nominated, you apply to IRCC for permanent residence.

Saskatchewan runs an Agriculture Talent Pathway through its Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP). The province describes it as a route for general farm workers, nursery and greenhouse workers, and workers in some food and beverage processing jobs. It asks for a permanent, full-time job offer and at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4. CLB is Canada's scale for measuring English or French skills, and level 4 is a basic working level.

Ontario closed eight nominee streams in June 2026. It opened the Ontario Workforce Priority stream on August 4, 2026. Its TEER 4–5 pathway is open to workers in all TEER 4 and 5 jobs, which covers many farm and food roles, and asks for CLB 4.

Alberta runs the Alberta Opportunity Stream for workers with an Alberta job offer and a Rural Renewal Stream for designated rural communities. Its Farm Stream is for experienced farmers who plan to buy or start a farm, not for farm employees.

Atlantic and community programs

The Atlantic Immigration Program covers New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland and Labrador. You need a job offer from an employer the province has designated.

The Rural Community Immigration Pilot and Francophone Community Immigration Pilot cover 18 communities. Again, you need a job offer from a designated employer, and IRCC says you may get a work permit while you wait.

How do you know which jobs qualify?

Canada sorts every job with a National Occupational Classification (NOC) code. Each code has a TEER level, short for Training, Education, Experience and Responsibilities. TEER runs from 0 (managers) to 5 (jobs that need little formal training).

Most farm labour and processing line jobs sit at TEER 4 or 5. Ontario's 2026 draws, for example, named livestock labourers (NOC 85100), nursery and greenhouse labourers (NOC 85103), and food and beverage processing labourers (NOC 95106).

Supervisor and specialist jobs usually sit at a higher TEER level. That can open extra options, including Express Entry. Our guide on how to apply for Express Entry walks through that system.

Steps to get permanent residence as a farm or food worker

1. Find your NOC code and TEER level. Use the official NOC search tool and match it to your real duties, not your job title.
2. Keep your work status valid. Most people build experience on a work permit first. Our guide to Canada farm jobs with visa sponsorship covers those permits.
3. Take an approved language test. Even a basic CLB 4 needs an official result, and results expire.
4. Get a permanent, full-time job offer. For Atlantic and community programs, the employer must be designated.
5. Check your education documents. Some streams ask for proof of schooling or a credential assessment.
6. Apply to the province or community. Follow its expression of interest or application steps.
7. Apply to IRCC for PR once you're nominated or endorsed, and pay the federal fees.

What does it cost?

As of September 2026, IRCC's fee list shows $1,590 CAD for an economic-class principal applicant. That includes the $600 right of permanent residence fee. Biometrics (fingerprints and a photo) cost $85 per person, or $170 for a family.

On top of that, budget for a language test, a medical exam, police certificates and document translations. Prices for these vary by country. Some provinces also charge their own application fee, so check the provincial page.

A realistic example

Say Ana works full-time on a dairy farm in Saskatchewan on an employer-specific work permit. Her employer wants to keep her. She takes an approved English test and scores CLB 5.

Her employer registers with SINP and gets the position approved. Ana then applies through the Agriculture Talent Pathway. If she's nominated, she applies to IRCC for permanent residence. Nothing is guaranteed, but each step builds on a real job she already does.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Following old articles. Many still describe the Agri-Food Pilot as open.
• Letting your permit expire while you wait for a nomination.
• Picking the wrong NOC code. Your reference letters must match the duties of the code.
• Assuming seasonal work is enough. Most streams want a permanent, full-time job.
• Paying for a job offer. Employers in Canada can't make you pay recruitment fees. Read our guide to Canada LMIA jobs to spot fake offers.
• Hiring unlicensed help. Paid advisers must be a lawyer, a Quebec notary or a member of the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants.

What to do next

Start by finding your NOC code and TEER level. Then read the current page for the province where you work, or want to work.

Book a language test early, since almost every route needs one. If your employer is in Atlantic Canada or a pilot community, ask whether they're designated. And keep checking IRCC's program pages, because the rules for farm and food workers are still changing.