Immigrate to Canada As A Caregiver in 2024

Manmeet Kaur
[Published 31 Jan, 2024 | 04:19 PM]
About Author - 10 min read
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Do you wish to gain permanent residence and become an integral part of a Canadian family? Then, apply for Canada‘s Caregiver Pilot Programs. This immigration program enables home childcare workers and home support workers to obtain permanent residence in Canada.

The country is going through a shortage of caregivers and is encouraging foreign residents with experience and skills to apply for caregiving jobs in Canada and become permanent residents. But why should you apply for this program? 1) This is a noble profession. 2) There are ample opportunities in Canada for child care, senior care, and home support workers.

Want to know more? Let’s dive in!

Check Eligibility for Caregivers in Canada

Types of Canada Caregiver Programs

These programs are designed for foreign caregivers and nannies to move to Canada and gain PR status. There are mainly two caregiver immigration pilot programs - 

1. Home child care providers (NOC 44100)

Under the Home child care providers program, you have to care for children on an ongoing basis or short term. You have to look after their physical well-being and social development along with helping parents with child care and house chores. You either have to work in your home in Canada or the children’s, which comes with the residence. 

Job titles you can work under this program include Babysitter, Child care live-in caregiver, Child care provider - private home, Nanny, and Parent's helper.

2. Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations (NOC 44101)

Under this program, you have to provide personal supervision and companionship to senior citizens, individuals with disabilities, and recovering clients. You either will be employed in the client’s house, where you can also live, or will be hired by private households, home care, and support agencies and can opt for self-employment.

Job titles you can work under this program include Attendant for persons with disabilities - home care

Family caregiver, Home support worker, Live-in caregiver - seniors, Personal aide - home support, Personal care attendant - home care, and Respite worker - home support.

PR Programs in Canada for Caregivers

The Government of Canada encourages foreign caregivers to apply for Canada PR from India under the Caregiver Program. As for 2024, the Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot are the two pilot programs targeting foreign national caregivers who:

• Have a valid employment offer in Canada as a caregiver
• Have two years of experience in Canada as either Home child care providers or Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations. Note that your foreign caregiving experience does not count.

Note that these programs have a limited number of applications accepted each year and after that limit is reached, no new applications are accepted that year.

IRCC had already set the limit for these applications and started accepting new applications from January 1st, 2024 for the Home Childcare Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot: Direct to Permanent Residence category.

Requirements to Work in Canada As A Caregiver 

To quality for these caregiver pilot programs, there are two eligibility categories:

• The Gaining Experience category - for those with experience less than 12 months
• The Direct to Permanent Residence category - for those with experience of 12 months or more

The eligibility criteria and application processes for both Canada Caregiver Programs are quite similar - the only difference is the NOC category of your work experience.

Gaining Experience category

Here are the eligibility requirements -

• Have a valid, full-time employment offer in either NOC 44100 or NOC 44101.
• Have experience in-home child care or home support - not both.
• Your employer should not be an embassy, high commission, or consulate, and must live in Canada (except Quebec).
• Understand and fulfill your duties required for the job.
• Take a standardized language test like IELTS and achieve CLB/NCLC 5 in all four skills.
• Complete post-secondary education of a minimum of one year. In the case of foreign education, get an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) to prove your credential is at par with Canadian standards.
• Have zero criminal background.
• Must be in good health.

If you go for the Gaining Experience category, submit both a work permit and a PR application. Your work permit application will be processed at the earliest, which will give you time to gain more experience in Canada for permanent residence. Once you have two years of work experience in your pocket, you can contact the IRCC and get your PR application processed.

Direct to Permanent Residence category

Here are the eligibility requirements -

• Have experience in-home child care or home support - not both.
• Work experience gained during the study duration will not count.
• Understand and fulfill your duties required for the job.
• Take a standardized language test like IELTS and achieve CLB/NCLC 5 in all four skills.
• Complete post-secondary credential of a minimum of one year - in Canada or abroad.
• Have zero criminal background.
• Must be in good health.

Steps to Apply for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot

Let’s make one thing very clear - you cannot apply to both programs. Choose the one you have relevant experience in and make that choice clearly before starting the application process.

Both the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot have a Gaining Experience category and a Direct to PR category. You must check your eligibility and see which one you are more likely to qualify for.

Also, the application process is similar for both pilot programs but qualifying criteria and documentation can vary as per the category you choose.

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Application Process for Gaining Experience category for Caregivers

For caregivers with less than 2 years of Canadian work experience, apply for the Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot program under the Gaining Experience category.

Step 1 - Get a Valid Job Offer: Secure a full-time job offer as a home child care provider or home support worker from a Canadian employer. Get a copy of the positive LMIA from an employer that the government issued them.

Step 2 - Fill out the Work Permit and PR Application: Create an account online and submit both applications. Apply for a work permit under the Caregiver Pilot program even if you have a valid work permit.

Step 3 - Pay the Application Fees: Pay the processing fee for yourself and any dependents listed on your PR application. Once the payment is made, apply.

Step 4 - Get a Letter of Introduction: If the work permit is approved, you’ll get a port of entry letter of introduction that will allow you to move to Canada. The work permit will be issued on your arrival in Canada.

Step 5 - Gain Work Experience: Work in Canada on a work permit, which will be an occupation-restricted open work permit. With this, you can work for any eligible employer without an LMIA. Continue working and gain at least 2 years of work experience to qualify for permanent residence.

Step 6 - Submit Proof of Work Experience: Once you have 2 years (24 months) of work experience in Canada as a caregiver, you must send this proof to IRCC and apply for Canada PR. This proof must be submitted within three years of getting your work permit and can be in the form of pay stubs, job contracts, or letters of reference from employers.

Canada PR Visa Approval in 121 Days with Family

Application Process for Direct to PR Category for Caregivers

For caregivers with 2 years or more of Canadian work experience in the last 36 months, apply for the Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot program under the Direct to Permanent Residence category. No employment offer is required if you have the required experience.

Step 1 - Fill out your PR Application: Create an online online or sign in to an existing one. Complete the PR form with the required information about you and your family. 

Step 2 - Pay the Processing Fee and Submit: Pay the processing fee for yourself and any family members you have mentioned on the application. Once paid, apply.

Step 3 - Apply for Bridging Open Work Permit (optional): The PR application takes time to process. However, once IRCC verifies your work experience in the country, they will send you an approval letter. You can use this to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) - to continue working in Canada until IRCC gives you a final decision about your PR application. You don’t need this permit if you have a valid work permit or if you wish to live outside Canada until your PR application is approved.

Step 4 - Confirmation of Permanent Residence: If you have applied for Canada PR from a foreign, you will receive a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) once the application is approved. After this step, you need to submit a valid passport to get a visa stamp and enter Canada before your CoPR and visa expire. But if you are in Canada already, IRCC will connect with you to confirm your PR status.

In 2022, 1,100 caregivers and their families have gained permanent residency under the Caregiver Program. Also, on April 14, 2023, the online application limit for Home Child Care Provider Pilot was achieved.

Both Caregiver pilot programs are set to expire on June 17, 2024. So, if you’re planning to move to Canada as a caregiver, now is the best time. The government may or may not extend the immigration programs.

Don’t wait any longer! Talk to the best Canada Visa Consultants in Bangalore at Nationwide Visas today!

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