Canada’s immigration system provides a number of options for caregiver immigration.
The programs currently operating are the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots. Details of these programs are below.
There are also a number of legacy programs, including the Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots, which closed in June 2019, the Interim Pathway for Caregivers, which closed in October 2019, and the Live-In Caregiver Program, which closed to new applications in 2014.
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Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots
Requirements:
- Job offer
- CLB 5 language level
- 1 year of Canadian post
- secondary education or foreign equivalent
- Admissibility
Applying From Outside Canada
Step 1. Get a Work Permit
Submit applications for permanent residence and work or study permit(s) for yourself and your family.
Get an occupation-specific work permit to obtain the work experience you need for permanent residence.
Get work or study permits for your spouse or common-law partner and children to come with you.
Step 2. Permanent Residence Finalized
Once two years of work experience is completed, submit proof to IRCC to get permanent residence.
Applying From Within Canada
Candidates who already have work experience as an in-home caregiver in Canada can choose one of two options:
- Use the 2-step process outlined above, then complete two years of experience to get permanent residence.
- Keep working in Canada with current work permit and apply for permanent residence once 2 years of work experience are complete, provided general requirements are met.
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Interim Pathway For Caregivers
Please note: Canada’s Interim Pathway for Caregivers closed on October 8, 2019.
Eligibility Criteria and Conditions
- Be authorized to work in Canada on a work permit other than a Live-in Caregiver Program work permit.
- Intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec.
- Has obtained:
- a completed Canadian educational credential of at least a secondary school diploma; or,
- a foreign diploma, certificate or credential, along with an equivalency assessment — issued within five years before the date of application— that indicates that the foreign diploma, certificate or credential is equivalent to a completed Canadian secondary school diploma.
- Has attained a level of proficiency of at least benchmark 5 in either official language for each of the four language skill areas, as set out in the Canadian Language Benchmarks or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens.
- Since November 30, 2014, has acquired one year of authorized full-time Canadian work experience on a Temporary Foreign Worker Program work permit in any combination of the following eligible occupations:
- Home child care provider as per the terms of NOC 4411, other than any experience as a foster parent.
- Home support worker or related occupation, but not a housekeeper, under NOC 4412.
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Live-In Caregiver Program
You can apply for permanent residence through the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) if you have at least two years of work experience in the program and:
- You are already working in Canada with an LCP work permit, or
- You were approved for your first LCP work permit based on a Labour Market Impact Assessment submitted to Employment and Social Development Canada on or before November 30, 2014.