The Recognized Employer Pilot (REP) was made available to qualified employers from September 12, 2023 until September 16, 2024 to lessen paperwork for employers and by doing so still provide easier access for employers to fill their labour needs. Many employers applied for REP status under the SAWP and received an LMIA with a 36 month expiry date. This meant the employer would not need to submit another LMIA for three years. The REP is scheduled to conclude on December 31, 2026.
LMIA’s will be resubmitted by F.A.R.M.S. to the respective source country on an employer’s behalf in the 2nd and 3rd years provided that there are still unused vacancies on the LMIA. The housing inspection, workers name list with requested arrival dates, etc., are still required.
REP Year Two & Year Three (2025 & 2026 Direct Arrivals)
As of January 2025, F.A.R.M.S. has already submitted over 180 REP requests to source countries from employers who are participating on year two of their 36 month REP LMIA.
F.A.R.M.S. will start to accept early 2026 requests for REP year three in August/September 2025. We will send a reminder to employers closer to August 2025.
*Please note that the following instructions are only applicable for REP employers with remaining vacancies on an approved Direct Arrival LMIA valid for 36 months*
If you have not yet submitted your year two REP request to F.A.R.M.S for the 2025 season or you plan to submit an additional year two REP request, please do so by following the instructions and processes outlined below.
1. Create a named/unnamed worker list, you can do this in one of two ways:
a) Click the QR code in any of the emails sent to you by F.A.R.M.S. or go to our website farmsontario.ca/annex to access your 2024 or 2025 Employer Vacancies Summary and indicate the requested start and end date beside each name, make sure you also add the requested unnamed workers and dates, if applicable.
OR
b) Create your own named/unnamed worker list as an MS Word or Excel document, for example. Please include the source country (e.g. Jamaica), worker codes and the requested start and end dates for each worker.
2. Supporting Documents: Please include your housing inspection report and water test results, approved within the last 8 months, in addition to the completed worker name list.
3. Submit Documents: Submit the workers name list and the housing/water inspection report to farmsaccess@farms-canag.com. Please state your LMIA #, REP 2025 and your farm name in the subject line.
4. F.A.R.M.S. Receipt of LMIA Request – Employers will receive an email from F.A.R.M.S. to indicate that the REP LMIA Request has been received. F.A.R.M.S. will also reach out to you if any additional or missing information is required.
5. F.A.R.M.S. Administration Fee – The F.A.R.M.S. administration fee is applicable each year the 36 month REP LMIA is submitted on the number of workers requested for each year. F.A.R.M.S. will contact the employer for payment or we will automatically charge the employer credit card on file where one exists.
6. Submission to Source Country & CanAg Travel – Once all of the documents listed above and the admin fee payment have been received, F.A.R.M.S. will submit your request to the source country for worker processing and CanAg Travel.
IMPORTANT THINGS TO REMEMBER:
• A new SAWP LMIA application must be placed and submitted to F.A.R.M.S. via the usual LMIA Online process to request the following order types, even if you the employer have REP status: Direct Replacements, Transfers, Replacement Transfers, Double Transfers, Double Arrivals (due to employer planning). For an urgent/emergency double arrival requested by the worker, please contact F.A.R.M.S. for direction. REP Employers have access to create a simplified LMIA application in their LMIA Online portal for these types of requests.
• REP employers must continue to commit to the following: participate in random REP check-ins; undertake annual wage reviews to ensure TFWs are receiving the most current prevailing wage for the occupation and work location; make reasonable efforts to hire Canadians/permanent residents through ongoing efforts; complete annual housing inspections, address deficiencies or conditions imposed, meet provincial and municipal housing standards prior to TFWs arrival; and, adhere to TFW Program requirements for fulfilling their obligations under their LMIAs including adequate health and workplace safety insurance applicable to provincial/territorial standards.
• Service Canada may revoke an employer’s REP Status due to suspected non-compliance. If this is the case, the employer will receive a letter from Service Canada indicating that the REP status has been removed. If an employer loses their REP status, any LMIAs that were approved while the employer was eligible for the REP will not be affected. Those previously approved LMIA’s can continue to be used to fill job vacancies. Any LMIA applications received after an employer loses their REP status will be assessed via the regular LMIA application process.