As a caregiver, you have the option of working temporarily or immigrating to Canada with permanent residency. The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot will commence accepting applications for permanent residency from caregivers. There will be a limited number of available positions.
IRCC anticipates 5,500 submissions from these two pilot programs that provide caregivers with Canada PR pathways. Hence, it is critical that prospective candidates make adequate preparations in advance, as the capacity limits for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot tend to be reached rapidly.
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot, for which the IRCC accepted 1,650 applications, attained its maximum of 1,500 online applications. The maximum number of applications in the alternate format was exhausted precisely one month later. The limit of 1,650 applications received in alternative formats or online for the Home Support Worker Pilot was exhausted.
Check Also: How to Migrate to Canada as a Healthcare Worker 2024
In 2024, it is evident that the caregiver pilot applications will be filled even more rapidly, given that, Ottawa reduced the minimum work experience required for foreign national caregivers in Canada to apply for permanent residence from two to one year.
An expedited transition to permanent residence for caregivers and their families would be possible through the reduction of the work experience requirement in Canada to one year. This would enable them to establish themselves and embark on subsequent phases of life in Canada.
With this modification, the IRCC expects that the processing timeframes for these applications will be substantially improved, benefiting up to 90% of applications that are presently undergoing development. The objective of this adjustment is to offer a benefit to both novice caregivers embarking on their caregiving careers in Canada and those who have already been involved in the field.
In light of the aforementioned pattern of the upper limit on applications being reached so rapidly, foreign nationals would do well to prepare everything in advance prior to submitting an application via one of these two caregiver pilots by performing the following tasks prior to the cap being reset:
Establish an account on the portal for permanent residence if you have not already done so.
Those with an existing account will be unable to utilize any applications they initiated prior to the limit reset. This is because, once a limit is reached, online applications expire approximately 30 days later. You will be required to submit a fresh application when the limit is reset. Additionally, immigration minister Sean Fraser proposed that beginning in June 2024, the current Canada caregiver pilot programs could be converted into permanent initiatives.
Canada Permanent Residence for caregivers
Keeping your temporary resident status
While working in Canada, a valid temporary resident status is required at all times. It is necessary to register to
- Change the conditions of your work permit prior to its expiration or extend it beforehand.
Applicants who submit a new work permit application prior to the expiration of their current permit may continue working under the same conditions as they did with their original permit while they await a decision. This was formerly referred to as “implied status” but is now termed “maintained status.” See further details below.
- Work permit applications associated with an application for permanent residence
- Applications for work permits unrelated to permanent residence programs (e.g., the Home Support Worker Pilot or the Home Child Care Provider Pilot)
Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot
If you qualify, you might be eligible to apply for permanent residence via the Home Support Worker Pilot or the Home Child Care Provider Pilot.
- satisfy the eligibility criteria.
- possess an employment offer for one of the following positions:
By participating in these pilot programs, you will obtain an open work permit to temporarily work in Canada. This permit to labor
- is occupation-restrictive, meaning that employment is limited to that particular profession.
- doesn’t need a labor market impact assessment (LMIA)
- enables you to gain the necessary employment experience to qualify for permanent residence.
Your experience as a support worker or provider of in-home child care may be considered in determining your eligibility for permanent residence.
The Home Support Worker Pilot and the Home Child Care Provider Pilot are five-year pilot initiatives that permit family members of qualified caregivers to immigrate to Canada with the intention of establishing permanent residency.
Possessing experience working in Canada as a caregiver or having been offered a position as a caregiver in Canada, you may qualify to apply for permanent residence under one of these pilot programs.
The application procedure will vary in accordance with your particular circumstances and the extent of your qualifying work experience.
Canada Caregiver Programs Accepting New PR Applications
Qualifying work experience
Possessing full-time experience in Canada in one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) occupations constitutes qualifying work experience:
Home child care provider (NOC 44100)
- You are required to provide child care at either your personal residence or the private residence of your employer.
- Daycares and other institutional settings are not permitted.
- Living in the residence of your employer is not a prerequisite for eligibility.
- No experience as a foster parent is considered.
Home support worker (NOC 44101)
- An individual requiring assistance from a home support worker must be cared for in the private residence of your employer.
- A nursing home or another institutional environment is not permissible as the location.
- Living in the residence of your employer is not a prerequisite for eligibility.
PR Eligibility Requirements
In order to qualify for permanent residence under the Canada Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot, applicants must satisfy the following criteria:
- An employment offer, a CLB 5 language proficiency, and one year of postsecondary education in Canada or an equivalent program abroad are required.
Applicants For Canada Caregiver Pilot Programs Must Have Valid Job Offers
Initiating or completing the required work experience to qualify for permanent residency in Canada under the Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker Pilot requires a legitimate and valid job offer.
Utilize the Offer of Employment IMM 5983 (PDF, 2.33 MB) to formally accept this job offer. It should be noted that once downloaded, this form can be accessed on a desktop computer.
It is of the utmost importance that the offer originates from a reputable organization and verifies a sincere necessity for your employment, be it for your own care or the care of a family member, including a spouse, parent, or child.
A compensatory examination by the Canadian immigration department ensures that the remuneration outlined in your employment offer is commensurate with the services rendered.
Furthermore, the offer ought to demonstrate how employment as a caregiver in Canada will contribute to the maintenance of your family’s and your own financial stability.
It is mandatory that the offered position be of a full-time nature, with a minimum requirement of 30 hours of paid labor per week, and its location must be distinct from Quebec. It is necessary for the offer to originate from a Canadian individual or family, with the exception of corporate entities, embassies, high commissions, or consulates.
Occupations eligible for Canada Caregiver Program
Those who have held full-time employment in Canada and have worked in one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) positions are eligible to apply their work experience towards permanent residency:
| Home child care providers (NOC 44100) | Home Support Worker Pilot (NOC 44101) |
|---|---|
| Babysitter Child care live-in caregiver Child care provider, private home Nanny Parent’s helper Babysitter, fitness center Babysitter, shopping center | Attendant for persons with disabilities—home care Family caregiver Home support worker Live-in caregivers: seniors Personal aide and home support Personal care attendant (home care) Respite worker: home support |
How to Apply for Canada PR as a CareGiver
Two categories fall within the purview of these pilot programs:
| Gaining Experience Category | Direct-to-Permanent Residency (PR) Category |
|---|---|
| This category is for applicants if they have not worked “OR” have less than 12 months of experience in any of the occupations under NOC 44100 or NOC 44101. | This category is for applicants if they have a total of 12 months or more experience (in the last 36 months) in any of the occupations under NOC 44100 or NOC 44101. |
| Eligible candidates get a work permit to accumulate 12 months of experience in Canada and can then apply for direct permanent residency after gaining the full experience and becoming eligible under the Direct to Permanent Residency Category. | To apply for PR, applicants need: 1. At least 12 months of full-time work experience in Canada in the last 36 months 2. Post-secondary education of at least 1 year 3. Any past experience or training that demonstrates the candidate is able to do the work described in the job offer |
| To apply for a work permit, applicants need: 1. A valid full-time job offer (IMM 5983 E) 2. CLB level 5 in English or French (IELTS = Reading 4 and the rest of the modules) 3. Post-secondary education of at least 1 year 4. Any past experience or training that demonstrates the candidate is able to do the work described in the job offer |
If you have applied under the Gaining Experience category with less than 12 months of experience but have more than 12 months of experience, then
Less than 12 months
You may register under the Gaining Experience category if you have less than 12 months of work experience or have never worked full-time as a caregiver in Canada.
12 months or more
Candidates who have accumulated a minimum of 12 months of full-time caregiving experience in Canada within the previous 36 months are eligible to submit an application under the direct-to-permanence category.
Depending on your particular circumstances, consult the official IRCC guide for home childcare providers and home support workers to apply.
Application submission for eligible individuals is facilitated via the online application gateway that has been integrated into the new permanent residence portal.
Crucial Note:
It is not uncommon for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot to rapidly reach capacity. Please click on this link for instructions on how to submit your application and prepare.
Frequently Asked Questions:
What is the new program for caregivers in Canada?
The Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot are the two pilot programs targeting foreign national caregivers who: have a valid employment offer in Canada as caregivers.
Is Canada still accepting caregivers?
The Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs programs will no longer accept new applications.
Can I apply for PR as a caregiver in Canada?
You can come to Canada to become a permanent resident or work temporarily as a caregiver.
