Canada Farmer Recruitment and Farmer Visa Requirements

There is a wide range of employment opportunities in the agricultural sector in Canada, from seasonal farm work to sectoral IT jobs. The demand for foreign agricultural workers has increased due to the increasing demand for agricultural products and the labor shortage in Canada. According to World Bank statistics, Canadian farmer recruitment density was measured at 1,421% in 2020.

Those who go to Canada for less than 6 months to work in the agricultural sector can apply for a visitor work visa or a permanent resident visa through the residence programs opened by the Canadian government.

In addition, a seasonal Canadian agricultural immigration program can be opened for farmers on a state basis. In order to apply for a Canadian visa as an agricultural worker, an online application form must be filled out on the Canadian Consulate page.

What are the requirements to go to Canada as a farmer?

To go to Canada as a farmer in the vacant positions of farm equipment mechanics, agricultural welding, tree pruning and spraying, a minimum of two years of farm management experience is required. The Canadian farmer visa applicant must also intend to buy a farm in Canada and establish at least a farm business that will create employment opportunities for him/her.

For the Canada farmer visa application, basic farm knowledge and first aid course or certificate may be required. The applicant must apply for a visa to the Canadian Immigration Office and pay the visa fees.

For the Canada farmer visa application, the applicant must have documents that prove their farm management experience in their document file and prove that they have the intention and opportunity to buy and operate a farm in Canada. If the Canada farmer visa application is approved, all family members can immigrate to Canada.

Is There a Canadian Immigrant Farmer Program for Turkish Citizens?

No, there is no Canadian immigrant farmer program for citizens of the Republic of Türkiye.

Turkish citizens can only go to Canada as farmers if they receive a job offer.

What are the requirements for a farmer visa and work permit in Canada?

Canadian farmer visa and work permit requirements are listed below.

• A job offer from a Canadian employer must be received prior to applying.
• The employer must apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). ESDC determines whether the employer can hire a foreign worker for the open position.
• The applicant must prove that they will leave Canada if their work permit expires.
• Since the work permit is employer-specific, the applicant can only work for the employer whose name is specified in the work permit.
• It must be proven that you will not work for an employer who performs a type of work that is prohibited in Canada.

If the applicant wishes to work for an employer other than the one specified in the work permit, he/she may apply for a new work permit under the work permit requirements for Canada.

It is recommended that workers who will apply for a new work permit do so as soon as possible after entering Canada.

How to Get a Farmer Visa from Canada?

To obtain a Canadian farmer visa, a copy of the positive LMIA and job offer contract must be delivered to the employee by the employer.

Before applying to go to Canada as a farmer, an employer must obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). The LMIA is a document from Service Canada that allows an employer to hire a foreign worker on a temporary basis.

What are the Required Documents for Canada Farmer Visa Application?

The documents required for the Canadian farmer visa application are listed below.

• Canada work permit application form : After filling out the Canada work permit application form on the computer and taking a printout, the barcode page should be placed at the beginning.
• Canada family information form : A family information form filled out by a family member over the age of 18 must be included in the application documents.
• Official declaration of the Canadian customary law society : The official declaration of the customary law society, which includes the name of the visa office where the application is made, must be among the application documents.
• Canadian representative use form : In case an authorized representative is used for the visa application or a representative is dispensed with, the document regarding the use of the representative must be among the application documents.
• Canada personal information sharing form : If the applicant authorizes Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) to share their personal information, they must fill out a form regarding the sharing of personal information.
• Canadian visa fee payment document : Documentation showing that biometric procedures, visa application and evaluation fee and open work permit fees have been paid must be among the application documents.
• Passport : A photocopy of the biographical data page of the passport must be included in the document file.
• Biometric photo : Two biometric photos with the applicant’s name, surname and date of birth written on the back must be included in the document file.
• Proof of immigration status : If the applicant’s region of residence is different from the country of citizenship, proof must be provided that the immigration status in the region of residence is legal.
• Marriage certificate photocopy : If the applicant is married, a copy of the marriage certificate must be among the application documents.
• Canadian work qualification document : The applicant must have a document showing that he/she meets the qualifications required for the job offered in Canada.
• Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) : A copy of the employer’s positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and a copy of the job offer must be included in the application documents.
• Quebec acceptance certificate (CAQ) : If the applicant is hired in Quebec, they must have a valid Quebec acceptance certificate (CAQ).
• Canadian provincial attorney document : A provincial attorney in Canada who has been selected by the applicant’s employer and has been granted a positive LMIA must be included in the application documents.
• Additional documents for Canadian graduate work permit : If the applicant is a new graduate, a transcript and a graduation certificate from the relevant institution must be included among the application documents.

How to Apply for a Canadian Farmer Visa?

Canadian farmer visa and work permit applications are made online to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). The applicant must first register on the Canadian immigration office page, upload the application documents and pay the visa application fee. After the online application, an appointment must be made at the VFS offices in Istanbul or Ankara, biometric procedures must be performed and the application documents must be submitted. If the application is approved by the IRCC, the applicant must forward his/her passport to the intermediary institution.

When Does a Canadian Farmer Work Permit Come?

Obtaining a Canadian farmer work permit takes an average of 12 weeks, excluding the time required for file transmission from the intermediary institution and biometric procedures.

How Long Can You Work in Canada with a Farmer’s Visa?

With a farmer’s visa, it is possible to work in Canada temporarily for a maximum of 4 years with all extension rights.

What Are Job Opportunities for Farmers and Agricultural Workers in Canada?

The provinces with the most job opportunities for farmworkers and agricultural workers in Canada are Ontario, Quebec, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Manitoba, British Columbia, Prince Edward Island, Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Newfoundland and Labrador.

In Canada, farming is a job that is hired all year round, but harvest season is when the most job openings are. The minimum wage for agricultural workers in Canada is $11.05 CAD per hour, but it is possible to earn higher wages depending on the position and experience.

In addition to agriculture, education, child care, communications, emergency response and security, energy, business, health and transportation sectors are also among the leading sectors where employment opportunities can be found in Canada.

What is the Salary of an Agricultural Worker in Canada?

The average agricultural worker salary in Canada is $35,588 CAD per year or $18.25 CAD per hour. The average farm salary in Canada is $29,981 CAD per year for an entry level job and $45,559 CAD for a specialist job.

The Canadian minimum wage in 2024 is $17 CAD per hour.

What is the Place of Agriculture in the Economy in Canada?

Due to Canada’s geographical conditions, only 7% of the land is suitable for agriculture, but agriculture has an important place in the economy in Canada, and Canada is among the world’s top agricultural exporters. In 2020, one in nine jobs in Canada was in the agricultural sector, and income from agriculture accounted for 7.4% of GDP.

The Canadian economy, which is largely based on mining and oil extraction, ranked 9th in the world in 2020.

Can I Work in Different Jobs with a Canadian Agricultural Worker Visa?

No, it is not possible to work in different jobs with a Canadian agricultural worker visa. The work permit obtained is required for a single job, but it is possible to work in different jobs if an offer is received from a different sector.

While in Canada, it is possible to apply for a new Canadian worker visa or extend your visa online through the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship (IRCC) page.