Work as a Seasonal Agricultural Worker

An agricultural worker is a person who has the know-how to work in the country doing agricultural job. Unfortunately, knowing how to work on a farm it is not enough. The government of Canada has placed some rules to allow employes to hire agricultural workers. We will talk about it from the point of view of the worker.

Requisites to Work as a Seasonal Agricultural Worker

Let's start with the basic requisites that the government of Canada asks:

• You must be a citizen of one of the following countries:
  • Anguilla
  • Antigua and Barbados
  • Barbados
  • Dominica
  • Grenada
  • Jamaica
  • Mexico
  • Monserrat
  • St Kitts-Nevis
  • St Lucia
  • St Vicent and the Grenadines
  • Trinidad and Tobago
• At least 18 years old
• Experience working in farming or in agriculture
• Satisfy the Canadian immigration laws (for starters, no criminal record, good health)
• Be hired under one of the following NOC's: 
  • 0821 Managers in agriculture also known as an animal breeder, animal farmer, apiarist, apiculturist, apple grower, apple producer, bean sprout farmer, bean sprout grower, beef cattle farmer, beef producer, beekeeper, bird breeder, broiler chicken producer, broiler producer, cat breeder, cattle rancher, cereal and oilseed grower, cereal and oilseed producer, cereal farm manager, cereal grower, cereal producer, chicken farmer, cow-calf operator, crop farmer, dairy cattle breeder, dairy farm manager, dairy farmer, dog breeder, domestic animal breeder, egg producer, farm manager, farmer (except nursery and fish farm), feedlot farmer, forage crop farmer, fruit farm operator, fruit farmer, fruit grower, fruit producer, fur farmer, fur-bearing-animal farmer, ginseng grower, goat breeder, grain and oilseed farmer, grain and oilseed grower, grain and oilseed producer, grain farm manager, grain farm operator, grain farmer, grain grower, grain producer, grape grower, grape producer, hatchery manager, hatchery operator, hog breeder, hog farmer, hog producer, hop grower, hop producer, horse breeder, kennel operator, livestock farmer, maple syrup producer, market gardener, mixed farmer, mushroom grower, mushroom producer, organic grower, pheasant breeder, potato farmer, potato grower, potato producer, poultry breeder, poultry breeder – egg production, poultry farm manager, poultry farmer – egg production, poultry producer, rabbit breeder, rancher, ranchman/woman, rodent breeder, rodent raiser, seed farmer, seed grower, seed producer, sheep farm operator, sheep farmer, sod farmer, sugar beet farmer, sugar maple grower, tobacco farmer, tomato grower, tropical fish breeder, turf farmer, turkey producer, vegetable gardener, vegetable grower, vineyard manager, viticulturist, wheat farmer, wheat grower, wheat producer,
  • 0822 Managers in horticulture also known as aerial crop dusting service contractor, agriculture foreman/woman, animal farm foreman/woman, animal husbandry foreman/woman, apple orchard foreman/woman, artificial insemination service contractor, artificial inseminator, beef cattle herds person, caponizing service contractor, cattle feedlot foreman/woman, cattle herds person, cattle ranch foreman/woman, contractor – agricultural service, corral boss, crop dusting contractor, crop dusting service contractor, crop harvesting contractor, crop harvesting service contractor, custom combine contractor, custom combine operator, custom harvester, dairy farm foreman/woman, dairy farmworkers foreman/woman, dairy herds person, dehorning service contractor, dressage and stunt horse trainer, egg grading station manager, farm boss, farm business foreman/woman, farm foreman/woman, farm irrigating system contractor, farm machinery custom operator, farm operation foreman/woman, farm operation supervisor, farm produce grading service contractor, farm produce packing service contractor, farm supervisor, farmworkers supervisor, feedlot foreman/woman, feedlot herd attendant, fertilization service contractor – agriculture, field crop and vegetable workers foreman/woman, field crop foreman/woman, field-grown crop foreman/woman, field-grown crop workers foreman/woman, fruit farm foreman/woman, fruit farm workers foreman/woman, grain crop foreman/woman, grain custom harvester, hatchery foreman/woman, hatchery workers foreman/woman, herd attendant, herd superintendent, herdsman/woman, herds person, hog farm foreman/woman, hog farm supervisor, hog farm workers supervisor, hog operation supervisor, hop farm foreman/woman, horse stable foreman/woman, horse trainer, irrigation supervisor – agriculture, livery stable foreman/woman, livestock attendant, livestock breeding service contractor, livestock exchange contractor, livestock farmworkers foreman/woman, livestock foreman/woman, livestock raising foreman/woman, maple products foreman/woman – agriculture, milking services contractor, mink farm supervisor, mink ranch supervisor, orchard foreman/woman, pasture-managing supervisor, planting and cultivation contractor, pork production technician, pork production technician apprentice, poultry farm foreman/woman, poultry farm workers foreman/woman, poultry operation supervisor, poultry-hatching services contractor, racehorse trainer, ranch foreman/woman, seed cleaning service contractor, seeding contractor, sheep handler, sheep herds person, sheep shearing contractor, shepherd, soil preparation contractor, soil-testing service contractor, stable boss, stockyard and herdsmen foreman/woman, sugarbush operation foreman/woman, swineherds person, tobacco farm foreman/woman, tobacco farming workers foreman/woman, turkey farm foreman/woman, turkey farming workers foreman/woman, vegetable farm foreman/woman, vegetable farm workers foreman/woman, vineyard foreman/woman, vineyard workers foreman/woman, weed control service contractor – agriculture, wool shearing contractor,
  • 8252 Agricultural service contractors, farm supervisors, and specialized livestock workers are also known as aerial crop dusting service contractor, agriculture foreman/woman, animal farm foreman/woman, animal husbandry foreman/woman, apple orchard foreman/woman, artificial insemination service contractor, artificial inseminator, beef cattle herds person, caponizing service contractor, cattle feedlot foreman/woman, cattle herds person, cattle ranch foreman/woman, contractor – agricultural service, corral boss, crop dusting contractor, crop dusting service contractor, crop harvesting contractor, crop harvesting service contractor, custom combine contractor, custom combine operator, custom harvester, dairy farm foreman/woman, dairy farmworkers foreman/woman, dairy herds person, dehorning service contractor, dressage and stunt horse trainer, egg grading station manager, farm boss, farm business foreman/woman, farm foreman/woman, farm irrigating system contractor, farm machinery custom operator, farm operation foreman/woman, farm operation supervisor, farm produce grading service contractor, farm produce packing service contractor, farm supervisor, farmworkers supervisor, feedlot foreman/woman, feedlot herd attendant, fertilization service contractor – agriculture, field crop and vegetable workers, foreman/woman, field crop foreman/woman, field-grown crop foreman/woman, field-grown crop workers foreman/woman, fruit farm foreman/woman, fruit farm workers foreman/woman, grain crop foreman/woman, grain custom harvester, hatchery foreman/woman, hatchery workers foreman/woman, herd attendant, herd superintendent, herdsman/woman, herds person, hog farm foreman/woman, hog farm supervisor, hog farm workers supervisor, hog operation supervisor, hop farm foreman/woman, horse stable foreman/woman, horse trainer, irrigation supervisor – agriculture, livery stable foreman/woman, livestock attendant, livestock breeding service contractor, livestock exchange contractor, livestock farmworkers foreman/woman, livestock foreman/woman, livestock raising foreman/woman, maple products foreman/woman – agriculture, milking services contractor, mink farm supervisor, mink ranch supervisor, orchard foreman/woman, pasture-managing supervisor, planting and cultivation contractor, pork production technician, pork production technician apprentice, poultry farm foreman/woman, poultry farm workers foreman/woman, poultry operation supervisor, poultry-hatching services contractor, racehorse trainer, ranch foreman/woman, seed cleaning service contractor, seeding contractor, sheep handler, sheep herdsperson, sheep shearing contractor, shepherd, soil preparation contractor, soil-testing service contractor, stable boss, stockyard and herdsmen foreman/woman, sugarbush operation foreman/woman, swine herdsperson, tobacco farm foreman/woman, tobacco farming workers foreman/woman, turkey farm foreman/woman, turkey farming workers foreman/woman, vegetable farm foreman/woman, vegetable farm workers foreman/woman, vineyard foreman/woman, vineyard workers foreman/woman, weed control service contractor – agriculture, wool shearing contractor,
  • 8255 Contractors and supervisors, landscaping, grounds maintenance and horticulture services also known as cemetery foreman/woman, country club grounds supervisor, greenhouse foreman/woman, greenhouse supervisor, greenhouse worker crew chief, grounds maintenance contractor, grounds maintenance park supervisor, grounds maintenance supervisor, groundskeeper supervisor, groundskeeping foreman/woman, groundskeeping supervisor, groundskeeping supervisor – cemetery, groundsman/woman supervisor, grounds person supervisor – campground, horticultural contractor, horticulture workers supervisor, interior plantscaping contractor, landscape design contractor, landscape maintenance contractor, landscape service contractor, landscaping contractor, landscaping foreman/woman, landscaping supervisor, lawn care contractor, lawn care service contractor, lawn care supervisor, lawn maintenance contractor, lead grower – cannabis, maintenance worker supervisor – campground, nursery foreman/woman, nursery supervisor, nursery worker crew chief, nursery worker foreman/woman, nursery workers supervisor, park caretaker, park labourers supervisor, park maintenance head, park maintenance supervisor, park section head – arboriculture, plantscape maintenance contractor, public works grounds maintenance labourer supervisor, public works grounds maintenance worker supervisor, section grower – cannabis, tree removal contractor
    tree service contractor, tree service supervisor, weed control foreman/woman,
  • 8431 General farmworkers also known as apiary technician, apiary worker, baler – agriculture, baling machine operator – farm, barn worker, bee farm worker, beef cattle farm worker, beekeeping technician, binder operator – agriculture, cattle ranch labourer, cattle ranch worker, chick sexer, chicken catcher, chore hand – agriculture, combine operator, cowboy/cowgirl, cowhand, cowpuncher, crop sprayer machine operator, cultivator operator, custom harvest crewperson, dairy farm labourer, dairy farm worker, dairy hand, egg candler, egg collector, egg gatherer, egg grader, egg grading machine tender, egg grading station labourer, egg packer – farm, egg picker – poultry, egg processing machine tender, farm equipment operator, farmhand, farm labourer, farm machinery operator, farmworker, farrowing technician, feedlot assistant, feedlot worker, feed yard assistant, feed yard worker, field and vegetable crop labourer, field crop and vegetable-growing worker, fruit examiner – agriculture, fruit farm labourer, fruit farm worker, fruit farming labourer, fruit tree pruner, fruit tree thinner, fur farm worker, fur farming worker, fur ranch labourer, general farm worker, grafter – orchard, grain farm labourer, grain farm worker, groom – farm, harvester machine operator, hatchery worker, hay baler operator – agriculture, herd hand, herder – stockyards, hog farm worker, honey farm worker, hop-picking machine operator, horse breaker, incubator tender – agriculture, irrigation worker – agriculture, irrigator – agriculture, lamb feedlot worker, livestock driver, livestock labourer, livestock weigher, livestock yard attendant, livestock yardman/woman, maple syrup maker, maple tapping worker, market garden worker, milk production labourer, milking machine tender, mushroom farm worker, oilseed crop worker, orchard worker, organic farm worker, pasture rider, pen rider, pheasant farm worker, poultry farm labourer, poultry farm worker, poultry yard cleaner, racehorse exerciser, ranch hand, ranch worker, sheep feedlot worker, sheep shearer, soya bean crop worker, stable assistant, stable hand, stable worker, stableman/woman, stock attendant, stockyard attendant, sugar bush worker, sugar-beet farm worker, swine technician, threshing machine operator, tobacco curer, tobacco farm worker, tobacco harvesting machine operator, tobacco primer, tractor operator – farm, vegetable farm worker, vegetable thinner, vineyard pruner, vineyard worker,
  • 8432 Nursery and greenhouse workers, also known as cannabis trim worker, cannabis trimmer, Christmas tree shearer, Christmas tree trimmer, forest assistant nursery, forest nursery worker, greenhouse worker, grower – cannabis, hand sprayer – greenhouse, horticulture worker, horticulturist helper, hothouse worker, hydroponics worker, interior plantscaper, nursery worker, plant propagator – greenhouse or nursery, tree grafter – nursery, and
  • 8611 Harvesting labourers also known as apple picker, berry picker, crop farm labourer – harvesting, cucumber picker, field-grown crop farm labourer – harvesting, fruit harvest worker, fruit harvester, fruit harvesting labourer, fruit or vegetable picker, fruit packer – farm, fruit picker, fruit sorter – farm, harvest hand, harvest worker, harvesting labourer, mushroom picker, small fruit picker, tobacco cutter – tobacco harvesting, tobacco picker, tobacco stripper – tobacco harvesting, tomato picker, vegetable packer – farm, vegetable picker, vegetable sorter – farm, worm harvester, worm packer, worm picker, worm picker-packer.

Also please note that you should satisfy the NOC requirements. Labour positions do not require any language level, however, it is always a plus to be able to communicate in English or French.

Your home country may add more requirements. You must satisfy them all. For example, the Mexican government ask for the following:

• to be a farmer, a day labourer or that your current occupation is related to agriculture,
• to be between 22 and 45 years old,
• to have a minimum education of a third grade of primary school and a maximum of the third grade of secondary school (9th grade)
• to be a man or woman married or living in common-law, and preferably with children. Likewise, single persons who demonstrate having economic dependents may be candidates, and
• to live in a rural area.

We will add the other countries requirement as we find them. If you are familiar with that, you could help us with such information.

Rights as an Agricultural Worker

Some of your rights are:

• roundtrip from your home country to Canada. Please note that employers may recover a part of them in the payroll deductions in all provinces except British Columbia
• day-to-day transportation as no-cost transportation to and from the on-site/off-site housing location to the work location
• adequate, suitable and affordable housing as defined by the Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation
• provincial/territorial health insurance
• provincial/territorial workplace safety insurance or equivalent private insurance if the law requires it
• free protective equipment and appropriate formal and informal training if using chemical substances
• a contract:
  • for Mexicans, there is an English and a Spanish version
  • for Caribbeans, only an English version is available
• a fair wage as a Canadian citizen or a permanent resident. Such wage can't be below the following tables:
  • apiary products, 
  • fruits, vegetables (including on-farm canning/processing of these products if grown on the farm),
  • mushrooms,
  • flowers,
  • nursery-grown trees including Christmas trees, greenhouses/nurseries,
  • pedigreed canola seed,
  • sod,
  • tobacco,
  • bovine,
  • dairy,
  • duck,
  • horse,
  • mink,
  • poultry,
  • sheep, and
  • swine,

How to Apply as a Seasonal Agricultural Worker

If you are ready, you just need to go to your local government job agency to apply. If you are Mexican, you can go to the local offices of the National Employment Service. We will add more information as we find it, if you are familiar with Caribean countries, please help us out.

Please note that by applying, you are included in a pool. Your local government has no control over the worker's demand, it depends on the Canadian employer's. If you must know, the wait is around three years.

Please be ready with basic documentation, such as:

• valid ID,
• education records,
• birth certificate,
• marriage certificate,
• birth certificate of your children,
• proof of address