Canada Immigration for Farmers Through Targeted Express Entry

If you are applying under the Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations Category you must fulfil the eligibility requirements, which include -

• Meeting the eligibility criteria of one of the Express Entry streams: FSWP, FSTP, or CEC.
• Having at least 6 months of full-time, continuous work experience within the last 3 years in Canada or abroad, in an occupation targeted for the Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations Category.
• Meeting all of the requirements in the instructions for that round.

Average Salary of Farming Professionals in Canada

The high demand for farm workers has led to competitive salaries and excellent benefits. On average, an individual working in the agriculture sector in Canada can earn $57,719 per year. At entry-level positions, you can earn $40,851 per year and as you gain valuable experience, you can make up to $101,547 per year. The salaries also depend on your experience, location, and specialization.

Pathways to Immigrate for Farming Professionals

To move to Canada as a farming professional, here are your options –

1. Express Entry

The most popular way to immigrate to Canada is through the Express Entry program. It is a point-based program that assesses your profile as per your age, education, work experience, language skills, and other factors and gives you points in the FSW grid assessment. You can check your eligibility for Express Entry Canada 2024 and apply through the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) within the Express Entry.

2. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Several provinces have specific streams for farming professionals, offering nominations for permanent residency. For instance,

• Alberta AAIP Farm Stream is designed for entrepreneurial farmers with financial resources and management experience to set up or purchase a farm in Alberta. Fulfill the eligibility requirements to get a provincial nomination under this stream.
• Manitoba Farm Investor Pathway is tailored for individuals with prior farm management experience who have the funds to establish and run a farm in rural Manitoba.
• Saskatchewan Farm Owner and Operator, a part of the Saskatchewan Immigrant Nominee Program (SINP) has two sub-streams you can apply under – 1) Farm Owner and Operator, 2) Farm Owner and Operator – Young Farmer.

3. Agri-Food Immigration Pilot

One of the immigration pathways to Canada as a farming professional includes the Agri-Food Pilot program. It is tailored for workers in the agriculture and food sector to gain permanent residency in Canada.

Read More:- First-ever Express Entry Draw For Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations

To apply for this program, you must -

• have eligible Canadian work experience that falls under one or more of the eligible industries and occupations.
• have a full-time and non-seasonal job offer from a Canadian employer belonging to one of the eligible industries and occupations, except for Quebec.
• meet or exceed the language requirements.
• meet or exceed the educational requirements.
• have settlement funds, only if they are applicable.
• maintain temporary resident status, in case you are already in Canada.

Recent Targeted Express Entry Draws for Agriculture Category

The Canadian government recognizes the significance of agriculture and has conducted targeted draws to invite skilled farming professionals to apply for permanent residency. These draws prioritize candidates with expertise in various agricultural occupations.

The first-ever category-based Express Entry draw for Agriculture and Agri-food Occupations was conducted on September 28, 2023, issuing 600 ITAs and requiring a minimum CRS score of 354.

The second Express Entry draw for the same category was held on December 21, 2023, and saw invitations being issued to 400 candidates. Invited candidates required a minimum CRS score of 386, to be considered for an Invitation to Apply (ITA) for Canadian permanent residency.

For farming professionals considering a move to Canada, understanding the demand, available jobs, specific roles, and immigration pathways is crucial. And the best way to do that is to seek professional advice from the best Canada Visa Consultants in Bangalore, Nationwide Visas. With a team of highly qualified professionals, they will help you explore your pathway for Canadian immigration and make an informed decision.

Good luck!

Read more on Quora:- What is a step-by-step procedure for Canada express entry?