Hire a temporary foreign agricultural worker

Notice:

As of December 31, 2018, all foreign workers are required to provide biometrics information, including fingerprints and digital photograph to obtain entry into Canada.

The biometrics expansion will not impact the processing of your Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) however we have put in place special measures for 2019 to support you through this transition.

LMIA applications are now being accepted for Primary Agriculture employers requesting workers for January or February 2019.
LMIAs for primary agriculture positions that begin in 2019 will be valid until December 15, 2019 or for six months, whichever is longer.
You can submit LMIA applications for Seasonal Primary Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP) positions that have multiple worker arrival dates. Applications will need to be for the same position, wage and NOC code.

Advertisement waiver for employers hiring transfer through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program or replacement workers through SAWP or the Agriculture Stream in the same position and the same economic region is in effect as of May 3, 2018.

You can only hire a temporary foreign agricultural worker in occupations and activities related to primary agriculture.

Primary agriculture

Primary agriculture is defined as work duties that must:

be performed within the boundaries of a farm, nursery or greenhouse
involve at least one activity, such as:
- operation of agricultural machinery
- boarding, care, breeding, sanitation or other handling of animals, other than fish, for the purpose of obtaining raw animal products for market
- collection, handling and assessment of those raw products, or the planting, care, harvesting or preparation of crops, trees, sod or other plants for market
be consistent with one of these National Occupational Classification codes: 0821, 0822, 8252, 8255, 8431, 8432, and 8611