Does the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot require a minimum amount of Canadian work experience?

Yes, the Agri-Food Immigration Pilot generally requires applicants to have completed a period of qualifying Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation before they can apply, rather than being available to someone with no Canadian work history in the sector at all. The specific length of that qualifying period is set by IRCC and can change, so it is not something to assume based on older information you may have come across.

A nuance that catches people off guard is that not all agricultural work experience counts, even when it was performed in Canada. The experience generally needs to be in one of the pilot's eligible occupations, under proper work authorization, for it to count toward the qualifying period; time spent in a different role, or under a status not authorized for that kind of work, typically will not be credited. This is a common gap between what an applicant assumes qualifies and what IRCC actually accepts when the file is reviewed.

Because the qualifying experience requirement and how it is assessed have been subject to change as this pilot has evolved, and because the pilot's current availability should not be assumed, confirm the current requirement directly with IRCC's published guidance, or review your specific work history with an immigration lawyer before applying.