Mark Your Calendar for January 1 - New Applications for Caregiver Programs Open Soon!

Starting on January 1st at 9 a.m. Eastern Standard Time (EST), you can apply for two caregiver programs in Canada: the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot. A total of 5,500 applications will be accepted in 2024 for these programs.

Now, there are two groups for applicants in these pilot programs: one for direct permanent residence entry and another for gaining work experience.

Canada has also reduced the minimum work experience requirement for in-country caregivers applying for permanent residence. Before, caregivers needed 24 months of experience, but now it’s lowered to 12 months.

WHAT ARE CANADA CAREGIVER PROGRAMS?

There are two programs called the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot. If you qualify, you and your family can come to Canada to work. The idea is to eventually become a permanent resident.

To apply for these programs, you need a job offer from a Canadian family, and you don’t need an LMIA.

Once you get the job offer, you can apply for a work permit that is limited to a specific occupation. Then, you can come to Canada, work temporarily, and gain one year of experience.

After that year, you can apply for permanent residence. If you’re offered a caregiving position in Canada or have previous caregiving experience there, you might be eligible for these programs.

OCCUPATIONS ELIGIBLE FOR CANADA CAREGIVER PROGRAM.

If you’ve worked full-time in Canada in one of these jobs (National Occupational Classification – NOC), you can use that work experience to apply for permanent residency.

HOME CHILD CARE PROVIDER (NOC 44100)

• You must care for children in your own home or in your employer’s private home.
• The location can’t be an institutional setting such as a daycare.
• You don’t need to live in your employer’s home to qualify.
• Experience as a foster parent doesn’t count. 

HOME SUPPORT WORKER (NOC 44101)

• You must care for someone who needs help from a home support worker in your employer’s private home.
• The location can’t be an institutional setting such as a nursing home.
• You don’t need to live in your employer’s home to qualify.

THERE ARE 2 CATEGORIES UNDER THESE PILOT PROGRAMS.

WHAT KIND OF JOB OFFER IS NEEDED FOR THE CANADA CAREGIVER PILOT PROGRAM.

To qualify for permanent residency through the Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker Pilot, you need a genuine and valid job offer. No Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) or Labour Market Opinion (LMO) is required for caregiver programs.

The job you’re offered should be full-time (at least 30 hours per week) outside of Quebec, and it must come from an individual or family in Canada, not a company, embassy, high commission, or consulate.

You’ll need to use the Offer of Employment IMM 5983 form to extend the job offer, and make sure to download and open it on a desktop.

The job offer must come from someone reliable, showing a real need to hire you for caring, like for a family member. The immigration department also checks the pay you’re offered, making sure it helps you and your family stay financially stable while working as a caregiver in Canada.

HOW TO APPLY?

To get ready for January 1st, check the official guide for home childcare providers and home support workers by IRCC, depending on your situation.

Submit your application through the new permanent residence portal online if you’re eligible.

Note: The Home Child Care Provider Pilot fills up quickly, so click this link to learn how to prepare for January 1st and apply.