Agricultural workers – Work temporarily in Canada
Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program
If you are hired through the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), you can work for any SAWP employer in Canada.
Who can apply
You can qualify for the program if:
- you’re a citizen of a country that takes part in the program,
- your government recruited you, and
- you’ll be working for SAWP employers in Canada.
Participating countries
- Anguilla
- Antigua and Barbuda
- Barbados
- Dominica
- Grenada
- Jamaica
- Mexico
- Montserrat
- St. Kitts-Nevis
- St. Lucia
- St. Vincent and the Grenadines
- Trinidad and Tobago
How to apply
Each foreign government has its own process to recruit and select workers. Your government will make sure that you have all of the needed documents and that you are eligible for the program.
How to get priority processing
We’re prioritizing applications for people who perform or support essential services.
When you fill out the work permit application form
To get priority processing, follow these steps:
- Get the National Occupational Classification (NOC) number your employer entered on the
- offer of employment or
- labour market Impact assessment (LMIA)
- Enter that number as your Job title.
- This is box 4 in the Details of intended work in Canada section.
- You must only enter the number.
Eligible occupations that perform or support essential services related to agriculture and agri-food
NOC 2021 codes
- Butchers – retail and wholesale (NOC 63201)
- Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale (NOC 65202)
- Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors (NOC 82030)
- Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators (NOC 84120)
- Livestock labourers (NOC 85100)
- Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators (NOC 84120)
- Livestock labourers (NOC 85100)
- Harvesting labourers (NOC 85101)
- Nursery and greenhouse labourers (NOC 85103)
- Harvesting labourers (NOC 85101)
- Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 94142)
- Labourers in food and beverage processing (NOC 95106)
- Fish and seafood plant workers (NOC 94142)
- Labourers in fish and seafood processing (NOC 95107)
- Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers (NOC 94141)
Paying your fees
Your fees and payment options depend on where you are applying from. You may also need to pay for biometrics.
Find out how to pay your fees.
Working for different employers
You may be asked to work on more than one farm while you’re in Canada. You don’t need a new work permit for each employer.
Note: You can’t be asked to work for a different employer without your consent.
Other agricultural workers
Your work permit will be employer-specific. This means that you can work only for the employer named on your work permit.
Before you apply
Your employer must get a positive labour market impact assessment (LMIA). An LMIA is a document from Service Canada that allows an employer to hire a foreign worker through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
Your employer must give you:
- a copy of the positive LMIA
- your job offer letter or contract
How to apply
Get the forms and documents you need to apply for a work permit.
How to get priority processing
We’re prioritizing applications for people who perform or support essential services.
When you fill out the work permit application form
To get priority processing, follow these steps:
- Get the National Occupational Classification (NOC) number your employer entered on the offer of employment or LMIA.
- Enter that number in the Job title box.
- This is box 4 in the Details of intended work in Canada section.
- You must enter only the number.
Working for different employers
If you plan to work for other employers (not listed on your work permit), you must apply for a new work permit. We recommend you do this as soon as possible after you enter Canada.
You can work for only one employer at a time, and you can’t work for a different employer until you receive your new work permit(s).
To apply for your new permit(s), follow these steps:
- Get the application package.
- Complete a separate application on paper for each new employer.
- Send all of your applications and supporting documents in the same envelope.
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