Caregivers - Themillenniumimmigration

Canadian Immigration and Work Permit Options for Caregivers

Caregivers are vital to Canada’s economy and society, especially given the country’s aging population and declining birth rate. As a result, Canada offers various immigration and work permit options specifically for caregivers. This overview highlights the available pathways for those looking to contribute to caregiving in Canada.

Overview
Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot
Work Permit Pathways for Caregivers
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Overview

Canada has a longstanding tradition of welcoming caregivers to enhance its economy and society. A key factor in Canada’s successful immigration system is its commitment to modernizing policies and programs. In line with this, Canada has revamped its caregiver pathways for permanent residency in recent years. Currently, there are two pilot programs available for caregivers seeking permanent residency: the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot.

Each of these programs allows for a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants annually, totaling 5,500 applicants each year.

Importantly, starting April 30, 2023, the required work experience for caregivers to qualify for permanent residency has been reduced from 24 months to just 12 months. This change will also apply retroactively to caregivers who have already submitted their applications.

Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot

Both the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot provide pathways to permanent residency for caregivers who fulfill specific criteria:

Eligibility Requirements
As of April 30, 2023, applicants must:

1. Work Experience: Have at least 12 months of full-time qualifying work experience within the 36 months prior to application submission.
2. Language Proficiency: Provide language test results demonstrating a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5.
3. Education: Hold at least one year of Canadian post-secondary education or its foreign equivalent.
4. Admissibility Check: Successfully pass health, criminality, and security checks.

Qualifying Work Experience
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has outlined specific work experience requirements for these pilots:

Duration: Effective April 30, 2023, at least 12 months of full-time work experience is required, which can be cumulative rather than consecutive.
NOC Codes: The experience must fall under National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 4411 (Child Care Providers) or 4412 (Home Support Workers).
Job Specificity: Applicants must have experience solely in one of these categories and demonstrate that their job duties align with the NOC descriptions.
Full-Time Definition: Full-time work is defined as a minimum of 30 hours of paid work per week.

Job-Specific Requirements
For NOC 4411 (Child Care Providers):
Care for children under 18, either in the caregiver’s home or the employer’s home.
Living in the employer’s home is not a requirement, and experience as a foster parent is excluded.

For NOC 4412 (Home Support Workers):
Provide care to individuals needing assistance, either at home or in the employer’s home.
Living in the employer’s home is not necessary, and only roles as home support workers are eligible; experience as a housekeeper does not count.

Language Proficiency
Applicants must take a language test recognized by IRCC and achieve CLB or NCLC level 5 in all four language skills: writing, reading, listening, and speaking.

Education Requirements
Candidates must have completed a post-secondary educational credential of at least one year, which can be from Canada or abroad. If the education is from outside Canada, an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) is required.

Admissibility Checks
IRCC conducts thorough admissibility checks to ensure that applicants do not pose any risks to public health or safety. Depending on individual circumstances, applicants may need to submit:

Biometrics
Medical exams
Police clearance certificates

It’s crucial to carefully review the application requirements provided by IRCC to determine which documents are necessary for your specific situation.

Work Permit Pathways for Caregivers

You may qualify for a work permit if you’re applying for one of the caregiver pilot programs or if you’re already residing in Canada. Here are the key rules regarding work permits for these pilots:

Open Work Permits for Caregiver Pilots

Applicants are classified into two categories based on their Canadian work experience under NOC 4411 or NOC 4412:

1. Category A (0-23 months of eligible work experience):
If you haven’t yet accumulated 12 months of NOC 4411 or NOC 4412 work experience in Canada, you must apply for an occupation-restricted open work permit alongside your permanent residence application.
If you meet all the eligibility criteria for permanent residency, you’ll receive a work permit restricted to NOC 4411 or NOC 4412, allowing you to enter Canada as a temporary resident to gain the necessary 12 months of experience within three years, starting from the date your permit is issued.

2. Category B (12 months or more of eligible work experience):
If you already have 12 months of qualifying work experience under either NOC 4411 or NOC 4412, you don’t need to apply for an occupation-restricted open work permit with your permanent residency application.
Instead, you can apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) either with or after submitting your immigration application. Your BOWP application will only be processed after IRCC evaluates your eligibility for permanent residence.

Spouses and dependents of applicants can also join them in Canada and are eligible for their own open work permits.

In-Home Caregivers Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) Stream

Families can hire foreign caregivers to provide assistance to children, seniors, or individuals with certified medical needs when no Canadian citizens or permanent residents are available for the role. Caregivers must work full-time (at least 30 hours per week) within the private household where care is provided.

Caregivers can support children under 18 (NOC 4411) or assist seniors aged 65 and over, and individuals with disabilities or serious illnesses (NOC 3012, NOC 3233, and NOC 4412).
Families must apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA), and upon approval, the foreign caregiver can then apply for a work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

Important Notes
Caregivers planning to work in provinces or territories outside Quebec must reside in Canada for IRCC to process their work permit. If you’re living overseas, your application will be refused.
For caregivers working in Quebec, you may be residing in Quebec or overseas, and IRCC will process your work permit as long as you meet the eligibility criteria.

Contact us for Assistance

THE MILLEENIUM IMMIGRATION is a premier Canadian immigration law firm with over 11 years of expertise. The firm boasts a dedicated team of more than 60 immigration lawyers, paralegals, and professionals committed to helping you navigate the process of immigrating to Canada.

Their website, themillenniumimmigration.com, serves as a vital online resource for individuals seeking information on Canadian immigration. Since its inception in 2013, it has become one of the most trusted platforms for immigration guidance. If you’re interested in immigrating to Canada through Quebec’s skilled worker programs or other pathways, the first step is to complete a free assessment form on their site. If you qualify for Quebec or Canadian immigration, a member of THE MILLEENIUM IMMIGRATION team will contact you to offer personalized assistance throughout your journey.