Following the Minister’s signature of the memorandum of amendments to the Agri-Food Pilot, the pilot has been extended and is to conclude in May 14, 2025. Additionally, occupational sub-caps have been eliminated.
- Agri-Food Pilot (AFP) Program: Application process and who can apply
Who can apply
Those eligible to apply are foreign nationals who have the ability to become economically established and intend to reside and work in a province or territory outside Quebec, and meet all of the following criteria, as listed under Eligibility requirements in Guide 0117 – Agri-Food Pilot:
- minimum education requirements
- minimum language proficiency requirements
- minimum work experience
- minimum job offer requirements (see Employment requirements)
- minimum settlement funds (if applicable)
- temporary residence status requirement (if principal applicant is in Canada)
Submitting an application
All applications for permanent residence under the Agri-Food Pilot (AFP) Program must be submitted online. If the applicant cannot apply online and requires accommodation, including for a disability, they can ask for the application in another format here.
Eligibility for processing
The AFP Program has been extended and will operate until May 14, 2025. A maximum of 2,750 complete applications (from principal applicants) will be accepted into processing each calendar year, in accordance with the requirements specified in section 14.1 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA).
Eligible occupations
NOC 2021 will apply effective November 16, 2022.
Occupation type under NOC 2016 Occupation type under NOC 2021 NOC B 8252 (Farm supervisor or specialized livestock worker) - NOC 82030 (Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors)
- NOC 84120 (Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators) or
- NOC 85100 (Livestock labourers)
NOC C 8431 (General farm worker) - NOC 84120 (Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators)
- NOC 85100 (Livestock labourers) or
- NOC 85101 (Harvesting labourers)
NOC D 8611 (Harvesting labourer) - NOC 85101 (Harvesting labourers)
- NOC B 6331 (Retail butcher)
- NOC C 9462 (Industrial butcher)
- NOC 63201 (Butchers – retail and wholesale)
- NOC 65202 (Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale)
- NOC 94141 (Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers)
NOC D 9617 (Food processing labourer) - NOC 95106 (Labourers in food and beverage processing)
Applications must be submitted in accordance with the requirements specified in section 10 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR) and in the application kit to be considered complete and eligible for processing.
- Economic classes: Procedures at the Centralized Intake Office for applications (non-Express Entry)
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs (AIPP) closed on December 31, 2021, with the expiration of the pilot bilateral agreements. Ministerial Instructions 23 expired on March 5, 2022. These granted IRCC the authority to continue accepting pilot applications until March 5, 2022 (processing may continue beyond this date, as long as the complete applications were received by March 5, 2022). Any pilot applications received on or after March 6, 2022, should be rejected by the Centralized Intake Office (CIO).
IRCC started accepting permanent residence applications under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) on March 6, 2022.
These instructions apply to non-Express Entry applications, which include
- non-Express Entry Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications
- applications submitted under the start-up business class
- applications submitted under the self-employed persons class
- applications for the Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs (AIPP)
- The AIPP closed on December 31, 2021. However, IRCC can continue to process complete AIPP permanent residence applications that were received by March 5, 2022, when the AIPP Ministerial Instructions expired.
- applications for the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- applications for the Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) Program
- applications for the Agri-Food Pilot (AFP) Program
- applications submitted under the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) Public Policy
This section provides guidance on reviewing applications for completeness and putting them into process.
On this page
- Completeness check
- Ministerial Instructions
- Putting the application into process
- Processing family members
Completeness check
Applicants are required to submit their complete application, including all mandatory forms, fees, information and supporting documents, online via the Permanent Residence Portal to the Centralized Intake Office (CIO).
Each program is different; please refer to the document checklist to validate if the applicant must apply online.
Applications are first checked for completeness, according to the document checklist requirements in place at the time the application is received by the CIO.
If the application meets the requirements pursuant to section R10, the CIO
- enters the application information in the Global Case Management System (GCMS)
- recovers the processing fee
- sends an acknowledgement of receipt to the applicant
If the application is found to be incomplete (that is, if it does not meet the requirements pursuant to section R10), the CIO returns the incomplete application package, along with the fees, to the applicant and records the action in GCMS. Online applications will be returned by email.
Note: Applications received by mail due to an accommodation are date stamped when received by the CIO and in due time, are checked for completeness. The date on which the application is received at the CIO is the lock-in date. Processing offices should not change the “application received” date entered by the CIO at file creation.
The date on which the client submits their application through the online portal is the lock-in date.
See more on the lock-in date for the age of dependent children.
There are additional instructions for the completeness check for each of the following:
- Provincial nominee class
- Start-up business class
- Self-employed class
- Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs (AIPP) (Closed on March 5, 2022)
- Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
- Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program
- Agri-Food Pilot Program
- Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
Provincial nominee class
Part of the completeness check includes verifying that the applicant is listed on the monthly nomination spreadsheet that the CIO receives directly from the province or territory.
Confirmation of provincial nomination
The province or territory sends an encrypted monthly nomination spreadsheet directly to the CIO, via Entrust. The spreadsheet includes the details of all the nominations the province or territory has issued each month and is considered confirmation that the nomination certificate has been issued. The CIO must be satisfied that the spreadsheet is from the responsible provincial or territorial government authority (that is, the email address is from the provincial or territorial government department that processes the nominations).
The nomination is considered valid as long as the applicant submits a complete application for permanent residence on or before the expiry date of the nomination. A nomination extension is not required for nominations that expire while an application is being processed.
If a nominee does not apply for permanent residence before their nomination expires, the province or territory may issue an extension to allow the nominee additional time to submit their application. Provinces and territories notify IRCC of all extensions through the monthly nomination spreadsheet.
Nominees are issued a nomination approval letter by the nominating province or territory, and the letter must be included in their application for permanent residence.
Note: As of February 1, 2019, provinces may issue nomination approval letters in either electronic or paper format. A copy of this letter remains sufficient for completeness.
Note: In January 2020, the Yukon Government launched the Yukon Community Pilot (YCP). The nomination issued by the Yukon government will be community restrictive instead of employer restrictive. Under this initiative, nominees will be issued an open work permit allowing them to work for up to 3 employers within a specific community, rather than 1 specific employer. This pilot will run for 3 years. Applications will be accepted until June 22, 2023.
See the Yukon Community Pilot (YCP) for more information.
Nominees must also submit a copy of their nomination approval letter if they apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment-exempt work permit for a job offer in the nominating province or territory, or if they apply for a bridging open work permit. For more information, see Foreign workers: Provincial nominees or permanent residence applicants.
Provincial nomination streams
Each province has its own set of criteria and nomination streams and programs. The following list provides the GCMS categories for the various provincial and territorial programs or streams:
- Worker – Job offer
- Worker – No job offer
- Business
- Family support
- Students
- Community support
Lock-in date for age of dependent children of provincial nominees
The lock-in date for the age of a dependent child is the date the applicable provincial or territorial authority receives a complete application for a provincial or territorial nomination from the principal applicant [subsection R25.1(4)].
Minimum language standards and mandatory testing for provincial nominees in National Occupational Classification (NOC) skill levels C and D (for applications received on or before November 15, 2022) or NOC TEER 4 and 5 (for applications received on or after November 16, 2022)
Applicants must include a copy of their language test results with their application for permanent residence. For more information, see Language requirements – Provincial nominees.
Start-up business class
Confirmation of commitment certificate and letter of support
The designated entity sends a commitment certificate directly to the processing office by email or courier and sends a letter of support to the applicant, both with the same validity period.
The applicant must include the letter of support in their application. The commitment certificate and letter of support are considered valid, as long as the applicant submits a complete application for permanent residence on or before the expiry date of the commitment certificate and letter of support. An extension is not required for a commitment certificate or letter of support that expires while an application is being processed.
If an application is received after the commitment certificate and letter of support have expired, the application should be returned to the applicant, with a note to resubmit the application with a valid letter of support.
If an applicant does not apply for permanent residence before the expiry of their commitment certificate, the designated entity may not issue an extension. The designated entity may issue a new commitment certificate after ensuring that the details of the commitment, including ownership structure, are still accurate.
When the processing office receives a commitment certificate, it must do the following in GCMS:
- create each designated entity as an “Organization”
- associate all applicants with the designated entity
- create a client note, entered under the applicant’s unique client identifier (UCI), informing officers of the receipt of the commitment certificate
Upon receipt of the application for permanent residence, the processing office must
- verify that the application is complete, according to the document checklist
- ensure a valid commitment certificate and letter of support issued by a designated entity have been received
- enter “SUD-FED” into the category field in GCMS
For more instructions, see When an essential person’s application does not meet section R10 requirements.
Self-employed class
Note: New applications under the farm management stream of the Self-Employed Program are no longer accepted. See the Ministerial Instructions on the self-employed persons class for more information.
The CIO verifies that the application is complete, according to the document checklist.
If the application contains the form Schedule 6A in an older version than the 2019 version:
After adding the form “Schedule 6A” to the application in GCMS, the officer enters the NOC number matching the experience mentioned by the applicant in Section 6 of the form. The NOC of the principal applicant must be updated in the “ Clients and Parties ” tab of the application.
If the application contains the 2019 version of form Schedule 6A or a more recent one:
After adding the form “IMM 0008E Schedule 6A – Business Immigrants – Self-employed persons (PDF, 727 KB)” to the application in GCMS, the officer enters the NOC number mentioned by the applicant in Section 6B of the form. The NOC of the principal applicant must be updated in the “ Clients and Parties” tab of the application.
Please refrain (when possible) from using general NOC numbers, such as “ NOC 9914 – New Worker,” as entering accurate information on the occupations of self-employed applicants helps the department gather important data.
Reminder: NOC 2016 must be used for applications received before November 16, 2022.
Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs (AIPP)
The Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs (AIPP) closed on December 31, 2021, with the expiration of the pilot bilateral agreements. Ministerial Instructions 23 expired on March 5, 2022. These granted IRCC the authority to continue accepting pilot applications until March 5, 2022 (processing may continue beyond this date, as long as the complete applications were received by March 5, 2022). Any pilot applications received on or after March 6, 2022, should be rejected by the Centralized Intake Office (CIO).
The CIO verifies that the application is complete, according to the document checklist.
Part of the completeness check includes verifying that the applicant is listed on the encrypted monthly endorsement spreadsheet that the CIO receives directly from the Atlantic provinces via Entrust.
The endorsement is considered valid, as long as the applicant submits a complete application for permanent residence on or before the expiry date of the endorsement. An endorsement extension is not required for endorsements that expire while an application is being processed.
If an applicant does not apply for permanent residence before the expiry of their endorsement, the province may not issue an extension. However, the province may issue a new endorsement.
The applicant must provide evidence that they had temporary resident status at the time of their application if they are in Canada.
Complete applications
If the application meets all the criteria for completeness, the CIO
- enters the application information in GCMS
- recovers the processing fee
- sends an acknowledgement of receipt to the applicant
- puts the application into processing
The processing fees are no longer refundable.
Incomplete applications
If the application is incomplete (that is, if it does not meet the criteria for completeness), the CIO will
- record the outcome and reasons in GCMS
- return the incomplete application and processing fees
- inform the applicant
Lock-in date for age of dependent children of endorsed applicants
The lock-in date for the age of a dependent child is the date the applicable provincial authority receives a complete application for a provincial endorsement from the principal applicant. This date can be found on the monthly nomination spreadsheet that the CIO receives directly from the province or territory.
Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP)
IRCC started accepting permanent residence applications under the Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP) on March 6, 2022.
The CIO verifies that the application is complete, according to the document checklist.
Part of the completeness check includes verifying that the applicant is listed on the encrypted monthly endorsement spreadsheet (available internally only) that the CIO receives directly from the Atlantic provinces, via Entrust.
The endorsement is considered valid as long as the applicant submits a complete application for permanent residence on or before the expiry date of the endorsement. Once the permanent residence application is in processing, the endorsement certificate can expire, and there is no need to issue a new endorsement certificate.
If an applicant does not apply for permanent residence before the expiry of their endorsement certificate, the applicant must get a new endorsement certificate from the province.
If the applicant is in Canada, they must provide evidence that they had temporary resident status at the time of their application. The applicant must maintain temporary resident status while in Canada.
Complete applications
If the application meets all the criteria for completeness, the CIO
- enters the application information in GCMS
- recovers the processing fee
- sends an acknowledgement of receipt to the applicant
- puts the application into processing
If the application is deemed complete, the processing fees are no longer refundable.
Incomplete applications
If the application is incomplete (that is, if it does not meet the criteria for completeness), the CIO will
- record the outcome and reasons in GCMS
- return the incomplete application and processing fees to the applicant along with an explanation
Lock-in date for age of dependent children of endorsed applicants
The lock-in date for the age of a dependent child is the date the applicable provincial authority receives a complete application for a provincial endorsement from the principal applicant. This date can be found on the monthly endorsement spreadsheet (available internally only) that the CIO receives.
Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot (RNIP) Program
Update due to COVID-19
As a temporary measure, the designated economic development organization is now able to digitally sign the recommendation form [IMM 0112]. The applicant can include either a copy of the recommendation form with a handwritten signature or a copy of the electronically signed recommendation form with their application.
All other document requirements must be met unless exempted under the COVID-19 special measures.
The CIO verifies that the application is complete, according to the document checklist [IMM 5987] (PDF, 2,750 KB).
Part of the completeness check includes verifying that the applicant is listed on the encrypted monthly community recommendation spreadsheet from the economic development organization issuing the recommendation on behalf of the participating community. Each community recommendation has a unique recommendation number. Each participating community sends the spreadsheet directly to IRCC via Entrust.
The community recommendation [IMM 0112] is valid for 6 months after the date of issuance, is considered valid as long as the applicant submits a complete application for permanent residence on or before the expiry date of the recommendation, and will remain valid until a decision is rendered. If an applicant submits an application for permanent residence with an expired community recommendation, no extension can be issued. The application is deemed incomplete and the applicant must request a new community recommendation from the designated economic development organization of the participating community before re-submitting an application to IRCC.
The applicant must provide evidence that they had temporary resident status at the time of their application if they are in Canada.
Complete applications
If the application meets all the criteria for completeness, the CIO
- enters the application information in GCMS
- recovers the processing fee
- sends an acknowledgement of receipt to the applicant
- recovers the biometric fee and sends the biometric instruction letter (BIL)
- If the biometric fee was not paid, the CIO sends the biometric fee payment letter. The BIL will be sent by the processing office once the applicant submits the biometric fee.
- puts the application into processing
The processing fees are no longer refundable.
Note: Permanent residence applicants are required to enroll their biometrics with each application.
Incomplete applications and applications that exceed the cap
If the application is incomplete (that is, if it does not meet the criteria for completeness), or if it is received after the maximum allotment for complete applications for the RNIP Program has been reached, the CIO will
- record the outcome and reasons in GCMS
- return the incomplete application
- inform the applicant
Lock-in date for age of dependent children of recommended applicants
The lock-in date for the age of a dependent child is the date the applicable designated economic development organization receives a complete application for a community recommendation from the principal applicant. This date can be found on the monthly community recommendation spreadsheet that the CIO receives from each of the selected communities and on the community recommendation form [IMM 0112] given to the applicant as “date application received”.
Agri-Food Pilot (AFP) Program
The CIO verifies that the application is complete, according to the document checklist [IMM 0116].
Annual application limits
A maximum of 2,750 complete applications (from principal applicants) will be accepted into processing each calendar year. Applications must be processed on a first-come, first-served basis.
Complete applications
If the application meets all the criteria for completeness, the CIO
- enters the application information in GCMS
- recovers the processing fee
- sends an acknowledgement of receipt to the applicant
- recovers the biometric fee and sends the biometric instruction letter (BIL)
- If the biometric fee was not paid, the CIO sends the biometric fee payment letter. The BIL will be sent by the processing office once the applicant submits the biometric fee.
- puts the application into processing
The processing fees are no longer refundable.
Note: Permanent residence applicants are required to enroll their biometrics with each application.
Incomplete applications and applications that exceed the cap
If the application is incomplete (that is, if it does not meet the criteria for completeness), or if it is received after the maximum allotment for complete applications in an eligible occupation under the AFP has been reached, the CIO will
- record the outcome and reasons in GCMS
- return the incomplete application and the processing fees (biometric fees are not refunded)
- inform the applicant
Lock-in date for age of dependent children of recommended applicants
The lock-in date for the age of a dependent child is the date a complete application for permanent residence is received at the CIO.
Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP)
The Resettlement Operations Centre (ROC) in Ottawa verifies that the application is complete, according to the document checklist IMM 0137 (PDF, 1,065 KB).
If the application includes a loan pre-approval letter to meet the settlement fund requirement, part of the completeness check includes verifying that the applicant is listed on the Windmill Report, which Windmill forwards to IRCC on a monthly basis via Entrust.
Application intake limits
As outlined in the Public Policy, application intake for phase 2 of EMPP will take place in 2 stages:
- Stage 1, ending June 30, 2022, will cap processing at 150 applications from principal applicants.
- Stage 2, starting July 1, 2022, will cap processing at 350 applications from principal applicants.
Applications must be processed on a first-come, first-served basis. Applications received after the cap is reached will be rejected.
Complete applications
If the application meets all the criteria for completeness, the ROC:
- determines eligibility for EMPP facilitation measures against Public Policy requirements according to Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP): Determining eligibility against public policy requirements
- puts the application into processing if EMPP public policy requirements are met
Note: Permanent residence applicants are required to enrol their biometrics with each application.
Applications that are incomplete
If the application is incomplete (that is, if it does not meet the criteria for completeness), ROC-O will
- record the outcome and reasons in GCMS
- inform the applicant by email (or authorized rep, if applicable) and provide the reasons why the application is being returned
- administratively close the application in GCMS (cancelled)
Ministerial Instructions (MI)
The following table indicates which Ministerial Instructions apply to specific classes and programs:
| Class | Ministerial Instructions |
|---|---|
| Start-up business class | MI 7 – March 30, 2017 |
| Atlantic High-Skilled Program | MI 23 – March 6, 2017 |
| Atlantic Intermediate-Skilled Program | MI 23 – March 6, 2017 |
| Atlantic International Graduate Program | MI 23 – March 6, 2017 |
| Self-employed persons class | MI 26 – March 10, 2018 |
| Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot Program | MI 33 – August 17, 2019 |
| Agri-Food Pilot Program | MI 35 – August 31, 2019 |
Putting the application into process
Following a positive completeness check, the CIO will do all of the following:
- creates a file in GCMS
- enters the appropriate code in the “Category” field in GCMS
- cost recovers the applicable processing fees and enters confirmation in GCMS
- records the GCMS file number in the paper file (for applications received by mail due to accommodation)
- sends an acknowledgement receipt of the letter to the applicant, informing them that their file has been put into process and, if applicable, transferred to another office
- transfers the paper file to the processing office, in accordance with existing file transfer policies (for applications received by mail due to accommodation)
- transfers the electronic file to the processing office in GCMS by making that office the primary office for processing
Processing family members
The CIO receives and triages all paper-based and online applications submitted under the PNP, the start-up business class, the self-employed persons class, the AIPP, the AIP, the RNIP and the AFP. The application is triaged based on established criteria and is transferred to the relevant processing office, where the principal applicant and all family members (inland or overseas) should be processed.