If you want to work in Canada as a temporary foreign worker, you can explore farm worker job opportunities under the Primary Agriculture Stream.
Canadian employers in farms, greenhouses, nurseries and livestock operations often hire foreign workers when they cannot find enough local workers. You may qualify for an LMIA job and build work experience in Canada’s agriculture sector.
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Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)
What Is the Primary Agriculture LMIA Stream?
Canada’s Primary Agriculture LMIA Stream, commonly called the Agricultural Stream, allows Canadian farms, nurseries and greenhouses to hire temporary foreign workers when they cannot find enough Canadians or permanent residents.
To qualify, the work must take place within a farm, nursery or greenhouse and involve activities such as operating agricultural machinery, caring for livestock, or planting, maintaining and harvesting crops. The employer’s production must also fall within Canada’s National Commodity List.
Unlike the Seasonal Agricultural Worker Program (SAWP), which limits participation to Mexico and participating Caribbean countries, the Agricultural Stream allows employers to recruit workers from any country.
What Jobs Are Available Under This Stream?
Canada recognizes eight NOC groups for primary agriculture work.
1. Harvesting Labourer / Farm Worker – NOC 85101
Plants, irrigates, harvests, sorts and packs fruits, vegetables and specialty crops.
Job Titles Include:
- General Farm Worker – Harvesting
- Farm Labourer – Harvesting
- Farm Worker – Harvesting
- Fruit or Vegetable Picker
- Vegetable Picker
Salary: $16.00–$25.00/hour
2. Nursery and Greenhouse Labourer – NOC 85103
Plants, cultivates, harvests and handles flowers, trees, shrubs and greenhouse crops.
Job Titles Include:
- Greenhouse Labourer
- Nursery Labourer
- Greenhouse Worker
- Nursery Worker
- Plant Propagator – Greenhouse or Nursery
Salary: $15.25–$29.00/hour
3. Specialized Livestock Worker / Farm Machinery Operator – NOC 84120
Operates farm equipment or performs specialized livestock duties such as feeding, breeding and herd care.
Job Titles Include:
- Farm Machinery Operator
- Farm Equipment Operator
- Tractor Operator – Farm
- Dairy Herdsperson
- Swine Technician
Salary: $15.00–$32.00/hour nationally.
4. Livestock Labourer – NOC 85100
Feeds and cares for cattle, poultry and other livestock, cleans facilities and helps maintain farm equipment.
Job Titles Include:
- Dairy Farm Worker
- Poultry Farm Worker
- Hog Farm Worker
- Farm Worker – Livestock
- General Farm Worker – Livestock
Salary: $15.00–$28.00/hour
5. Farm Manager – NOC 80020
Manages crop or livestock operations, workers, production schedules and farm resources.
Job Titles Include:
- Farm Manager
- Dairy Farm Manager
- Sow Farm Manager
- Apiary Manager
- Horse Breeder
Salary: $16.25–$57.69/hour
6. Horticulture Manager – NOC 80021
Manages greenhouses, nurseries, plant production, employees and growing operations.
Job Titles Include:
- Greenhouse Manager
- Nursery Manager
- Flower Grower
- Grower, Trees – Nursery
- Grower, Plants – Nursery
Salary: $17.00–$33.54/hour
7. Farm Supervisor – NOC 82030
Supervises farm workers and coordinates planting, harvesting, livestock care and agricultural services.
Job Titles Include:
- Farm Supervisor
- Farm Workers Supervisor
- Dairy Farm Foreman/Woman
- Livestock Foreman/Woman
- Vegetable Farm Foreman/Woman
Salary: $17.00–$38.46/hour
8. Greenhouse or Nursery Supervisor – NOC 82031
Supervises nursery and greenhouse employees and coordinates plant-growing operations.
Job Titles Include:
- Greenhouse Supervisor
- Nursery Supervisor
- Nursery Foreman/Woman
- Horticulture Workers Supervisor
Salary: $21.00–$41.00/hour
These Job Bank figures show national labour-market ranges. Actual wages vary by province, commodity, occupation and employer. Agricultural employers must meet the applicable government wage rate or minimum wage requirements.
What Agricultural Products Qualify?
Eligible commodities include:
- Fruits and vegetables
- Dairy
- Cattle
- Poultry
- Swine
- Sheep
- Mushrooms
- Flowers
- Greenhouse and nursery products
- Grains and oilseeds
- Maple syrup
- Tobacco
- Sod
- Apiary products
- Christmas trees
Canada also permits on-farm processing of fruits and vegetables when the farm grows those products itself.
What Is the Temporary Foreign Worker Program?
The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers temporarily when qualified Canadians and permanent residents are unavailable.
Employment and Social Development Canada reviews employer applications and issues a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Service Canada considers recruitment efforts, wages, working conditions and the effect that hiring foreign workers could have on Canada’s labour market.
Key Benefits for Foreign Farm Workers
Employers under the Agricultural Stream must follow important worker-protection rules.
They must generally arrange and pay required round-trip transportation, provide suitable and affordable housing, offer workplace safety protection and pay workers for all work performed. Employers cannot keep workers’ passports or identification documents.
Primary agriculture positions under the eligible NOC codes also receive an important employer benefit: Canada does not charge the standard LMIA processing fee for these positions.
How Long Can You Work Under the Agricultural Stream?
Under current 2026 rules, an employer applying for a low-wage Agricultural Stream position may request employment for up to 2 years.
For qualifying high-wage agricultural positions, an employer may request up to 3 years, provided the period matches the employer’s reasonable employment needs.
Who Can Apply under the Primary Agriculture Stream?
Foreign workers may qualify when they:
- Receive a genuine job offer from an eligible Canadian agricultural employer
- Meet the skills or experience required for the occupation
- Meet any licensing requirements for the job
- Qualify for a Canadian employer-specific work permit
- Pass medical or admissibility requirements when applicable
- Provide truthful documents supporting their qualifications
Many entry-level positions, including harvesting and livestock labourer jobs, generally require no formal education and provide on-the-job training.
Workers do not apply for the LMIA themselves. The Canadian employer completes that process.
How to Apply under the Primary Agriculture Stream?
Step 1: Search for Agricultural Employers
Look for farm, greenhouse, nursery or livestock jobs from legitimate Canadian employers.
Click Here to Search for Agricultural Employers
Step 2: Apply for the Job
Submit your resume directly to the employer and complete its normal interview and recruitment process.
Click Here to Search for LMIA Agriculture Jobs
Step 3: Employer Applies for the LMIA
The employer must normally advertise the position to Canadians and permanent residents for at least 14 consecutive days before applying.
Step 4: Employer Receives a Positive LMIA
Service Canada assesses the employer, recruitment efforts, wage and job offer.
Step 5: Receive Your Employment Documents
If the employer selects you, it sends you the positive LMIA letter and signed employment contract.
Step 6: Apply for Your Work Permit
Submit an employer-specific work permit application to IRCC using the LMIA and employment documents.
A positive LMIA does not guarantee a work permit, entry into Canada or permanent residence.
FAQ
1. Can anyone from outside Canada apply for Agricultural Stream jobs?
Yes. The Agricultural Stream allows employers to hire eligible workers from any country, unlike SAWP.
2. Do farm workers need a college degree?
Many harvesting, livestock and greenhouse labourer positions do not require formal education. Employers may provide on-the-job training.
3. Do workers pay the LMIA fee?
No. Workers should never pay an employer’s LMIA costs. Eligible primary agriculture LMIA applications also receive a processing-fee exemption.
4. Does an Agricultural Stream job provide permanent residence?
Not automatically. The stream primarily supports temporary employment. Workers must separately qualify for an eligible permanent residence pathway.
5. Does the employer provide housing?
Agricultural Stream employers must provide adequate, suitable and affordable housing and follow federal and provincial housing rules