Caregivers Program
Caregivers Program
The Caregiver program is a pilot immigration program launched in 2019 that opens the pathway for Home Child Care Providers and Home Support Workers for permanent residence in Canada. As a caregiver, you may either choose to become a permanent resident or work temporarily in Canada.
Under these new pilot programs, Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker, Canada accepts a maximum of 2,750 applicants per pilot program for a total of 5,500 applicants per year excluding their immediate family members. The Home Child Care Providers are the individuals such as a nanny or babysitter or child care live-in caregiver who provide care for children either in their own home or at an employer’s home whereas Home Support Workers are the individuals such as family caregiver or live-in caregiver - seniors who provide personal care and companionship for seniors, persons with disabilities and recovering clients in the employer’s home.
Through these pilot programs, caregivers get an open work permit which:
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- Is occupation-restricted
- Doesn’t need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- Lets you gain the work experience required for permanent residence.
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Both these pilot programs have two eligibility categories:
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- Gaining Experience category: 1,650 applications, and
- Direct to PR category: 1,100 applications
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Gaining Experience Category
If you have never worked full-time as a caregiver in Canada or have less than 12 months of work experience, you can apply to this category. You have to submit work permit and PR application together. Your work permit application will be processed first in order for you to gain the required work experience for PR. To be eligible to apply under this category, you must:
- Have a valid, full-time job offer either for a Home child Care Provider or Home Support Worker
- Score at least CLB / NCLC 5 in all four skills of an approved language test
- Have completed a post-secondary credential of at least 1 year (or equivalent)
- Not be employed by embassy, high commission, or consulate and the employer must not be in Quebec
- Be able to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the job
Direct to PR Category
Caregivers who have at least 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience within the last 36 months are eligible to apply to this category. To be eligible to apply under this category, you must:
- Have gained at least 12 months of full-time Canadian work experience either as a Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker
- Score at least CLB / NCLC 5 in all four skills of an approved language test
- Have completed a post-secondary credential of at least 1 year (or equivalent)
- Be able to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the job
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