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Immigration Options to Canada for Caregivers
Overview
Caregivers who would like to live and work in Canada have several pathways to become permanent residents or to work in the country temporarily.
Eligibility criteria and specific requirements vary per program, so make sure you understand what stream you qualify under if you’re willing to provide child support or home care assistance in Canada.
Temporary work for caregivers
If you are willing to work in Canada temporarily or do not meet the requirements for permanent residence, you may be able to apply for a work permit.
If you’re already working as a nanny or caregiver in Canada, you can apply to extend your work visa under the temporary foreign worker program.
In this case, your employer will need to obtain a positive labor market impact assessment to support your application. You can also apply for a work permit if you will be working in Quebec.
However, if you are going to get a new work permit to provide caregiver support, you will not be allowed to apply under this program any longer.
It is pertinent for all new applications from outside of Canada, for applications submitted through the temporary foreign worker program, for candidates who want to work outside of Quebec, for candidates whose employer applied for an LMIA after June 18, 201
Home Support Worker and Home Childcare Provider Pilots
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot were launched on June 18, 2019, to replace the previous caregiver programs in Canada.
They will also provide qualified candidates with direct pathways to become permanent residents once they acquire two years of Canadian work experience. These pilots will run for five years.
To qualify under one of these pilots, you will need to meet the eligibility criteria and have a valid job offer to work in one of the following occupations:
- Home Child Care Provider (NOC 4411), excluding foster parents
- Home Support Worker (NOC 4412), excluding housekeepers
If you have a job offer to work as a caregiver in Canada or have recently worked in one of these occupations, your work experience may count towards your eligibility for permanent residence.
Depending on your situation and the work experience you have, you might have to follow a slightly different application process. The factors that determine your qualification for the pilot are the following:
- You don’t have any satisfactory work experience. It means you have never worked as a caregiver in Canada.
- You have less than 24 months of satisfactory work experience.
- You are working under one of the previous in-home caregiver programs in Canada right now, or you have recently worked full-time as a caregiver but haven’t yet accumulated 24 months.
- You have 24 months or more of satisfactory work experience.
Minimum Eligibility Requirements
If your work experience is not enough, you can still apply to become a permanent resident through the Home Childcare Provider Pilot or the Home Support Worker Pilot provided that you meet other eligibility criteria.
To qualify for the program, you will need to follow the steps listed below:
- Depending on the occupation you choose to work in, you should apply either for the Home Childcare Provider Pilot or the Home Support Worker Pilot.
- You need to apply for a work permit together with your application for permanent residence.
- In case you are found eligible, you will receive a work permit that will allow you to work temporarily.
- With the issued permit, you will be able to work as a caregiver for any employer in Canada.
- Obtain a minimum of 24 months of work experience required for permanent residence.
- Submit proof of your work experience to the IRCC.
If you have 24 months of work experience or more, you can apply for permanent residence together with your family members right away. Be prepared to submit the documents that prove your qualifying work experience.
Other eligibility criteria
To qualify for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot, you need to meet the following requirements:
- Valid and genuine job offer:
The employer needs to demonstrate the need to hire you. Employers hiring caregivers will no longer need a labor market impact assessment. The employment should be full-time with at least 30 hours per week. The job must be located - Ability to perform the work duties:
You will need to show with your previous work experience and training that you are capable of performing the duties of the job. Check the NOC description of your occupation to learn more. - Language requirements:
The minimum language requirements under these pilots are CLB 5 in English or NLCL 5 in French for all language skills. You will be required to provide an approved language test to prove your level. - Education:
You should have at least one year of post-secondary education in Canada. If you haven’t studied in Canada, you will need to submit a foreign education credential assessment report that would show your level of training is equal to Canadian post-secondary education of at least one year.
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot will accept a maximum of 2,750 applications each per year. The pilots will also issue work permits for caregivers who don’t have enough hours to qualify for permanent residence. They will also issue open work permits and study permits for the principal applicant’s family members so that the caregiver’s family can accompany them to Canada.
Live-in Caregiver Program
The Live-in Caregiver Program in Canada is closed to new applicants.
The only candidates who are allowed to apply for permanent residence under the Live-in Caregiver Program are those who are already working in Canada with a live-in caregiver work permit and have a minimum of two-year work experience in the program.
Another scenario is when you were approved for your previous live-in caregiver work permit based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment submitted on or before November 30, 2014.
If you have been working as a caregiver in Canada but don’t fall into any of the categories mentioned above, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residence under a different program.
Discontinued programs
These are some of the discontinued Caregiver programs:
Caring for Children
The Caring for Children Program was discontinued on June 18, 2019. If you have submitted your application before this date, the IRCC will process it.
If you have working experience on a nanny visa in Canada, you can apply for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot.
Caring for People with High Medical Needs
The IRCC stopped accepting applications for the Caring for People with High Medical Needs Program on June 18, 2019. If you have submitted your application before this date, the IRCC will process it.
If you have working experience as a home support worker in Canada, you may qualify for the new pilot program for Home Support Workers.
Interim Pathway for Caregivers
The Interim Pathway for Caregivers program ended on October 8, 2019. If you have submitted your application before this date, the IRCC will process it.
