Pilot Immigration Programs

Pilot programs are limited term immigration programs designed to address the needs of specific Canadian regions and communities. The objective of such programs is to bring skilled, semi-skilled, and unskilled workers in to address skill shortages by creating a path to permanent residence for those who want to live and work permanently in Canada.

Pilot programs are usually employer driven and therefore, a job offer from a designated Canadian employer is one of the main requirements to apply under such programs.

Pilot programs currently available in Canada

Atlantic Immigration Pilot

The pilot is for employers in Atlantic Canada (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Newfoundland & Labrador, and Prince Edward Island) who wants to hire foreign skilled workers & international graduates.

Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot

This is a community-driven pilot program designed to spread the benefits of economic immigration to smaller communities by creating a path to permanent residence for skilled foreign workers who want to work and live in one of the participating communities

Agri-Food Pilot

This pilot is to address the labour shortage of the Canadian agri-food sector. The pilot provides a pathway to permanent residence for experienced, non-seasonal workers in specific industries and occupations. It will run until May 2023.

Caregiver Pilot

The Government launched two pilot programs (Home Child Care Provider Pilot & Home Support Worker Pilot) on June 18, 2019 by replacing the Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots, which have been criticized for keeping some workers stuck in abusive workplaces and apart from their families abroad.