Alternate pathways to Canada Agri-Food Pilot closure

On February 13, 2025, Canada's Agri-Food Pilot Program, which allowed workers in specific occupations in the agriculture sector to obtain permanent residency, was closed because it reached its allocation limit. 

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In this blog, we will address important information for those interested in this program. Read with me to the end and learn what to do if you are in the process of applying before the deadline or if you did not manage to submit your application on time. Let's get started.

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What to do after the closing?

Those who were not able to apply to the Agri-Food Pilot will have to resort to alternative avenues such as the Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP), Express Entry or the Atlantic Immigration Program.

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Applicants who started the process before the closing can continue with the steps required for permanent residency.

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While this program began with a three-year period starting in 2020, the government ended up extending it for two more years, until 2025. From this news, many interested foreigners will wonder if there could be further extensions or replacements as has happened with other pilots, but so far Canada has not made any announcements in this regard. Therefore, it is advisable to evaluate alternate avenues of immigration.

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What are the alternative immigration routes?

Alternate pathways for those who did not manage to apply to the agri-food pilot include:

• Provincial Nomination Programs (PNP).
• Express Entry.
• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
• Rural Community Immigration Pilot Project. 

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These options have requirements such as job offers in specific sectors, professional experience and language proficiency (English and French). Interested parties should carefully evaluate their eligibility for each program in order to make the most of the one that best suits their immigration profile.

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What does the Agrifood Pilot consist of?

Since its launch, this pilot has been a fast-track gateway to Canada for workers in sectors such as meat production, greenhouses, floriculture and animal production. 

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To expand on the concept of a migration pilot in Canada, this is a temporary initiative designed to address specific labor market or demographic needs in certain regions or sectors of the country. Pilot programs seek to attract skilled, semi-skilled or unskilled workers to fill labor shortage areas or to foster development in certain communities.

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Why is it called a pilot? 

It is called a "pilot" because it functions as an experimental or test project. Its objective is to evaluate the effectiveness of the policies implemented before deciding whether to convert them into permanent programs. During its limited period, data are collected and results are analyzed to determine whether they meet the established goals.

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What is the difference between a pilot and a permanent program?

Canada has a variety of immigration pathways that facilitate the arrival of eligible foreign nationals. Here are some of the differences:

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• Limited duration: pilot programs are time-limited, while regular programs are permanent.

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• Specific focus: pilots are usually targeted at specific sectors, occupations or regions, while regular programs have a broader scope.

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• Flexibility: pilot programs allow for adjustments and modifications during implementation, which is less common in regular programs.

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• Evaluation: pilots are subject to continuous analysis to decide their future, while normal programs are already established as permanent policies.

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One example is precisely this Agri-Food Pilot, which focused on workers in sectors such as meat production and floriculture to respond in an agile manner to certain specific needs, while assessing their impact on the community before they make a long-term commitment.

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What does the closure of a pilot represent?

A pilot program in Canada can be closed for a number of reasons, depending on its purpose and results. Here are some of the main reasons:

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• Fulfillment of objectives: if the program meets the specific needs for which it was designed, such as filling job vacancies or evaluating policies, it can be closed as a success.

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• Limit of places: Many pilot programs have a maximum number of participants. Once this limit is reached, as was the case with the Agrifood Pilot, the program stops accepting applications.

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• Evaluation of results: pilot programs are experimental. If the results do not meet expectations or do not justify their continuation, the government may decide to close them.

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• Limited duration: pilots usually have a defined time frame from their inception. Upon reaching its end date, it is evaluated whether to extend it, turn it into a permanent program or close it.

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• Changes in priorities: Canada's immigration policies may change according to economic, social or political needs, which may lead to the closure of pilot programs to make way for new initiatives.

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Does this closure affect your immigration process? If so, you can clarify your doubts with our team of lawyers andregulated consultants: https://www.immilandcanada.com/migracion/consultas

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If you would like to learn more about alternative programs to this closure, please do not hesitate to write to us.

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I hope this topic will be helpful and you will be able to successfully submit your application to Canada this 2025. Thank you for reading. See you in the next blog.

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With love, 

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Immiland Canada