Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will reset the cap and start accepting applications for the Home Childcare Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot: Direct to Permanent Residence category on January 1st, which are two caregiver pilot programs.
These programs are only open to individuals who have prior caregiving job experience. The two pilot projects were introduced in 2019 and are scheduled to end on June 17, 2024. In 2022, about 1,100 caregivers and their families became permanent residents, demonstrating how well-liked they are.
The IRCC encourages qualified applicants to apply as soon as possible. Although there are still openings for the Home Support Worker Pilot in 2023, the website states that the ceiling of 1,000 online applications for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot in 2023 was met on April 14, 2023.
The 2023 work experience requirement will be decreased.
The IRCC said in February 2023 that the 24-month full-time job requirement for work experience for caregivers will be halved to 12 months. Ninety percent of applications for caregiver immigration programs were predicted to be impacted by the change.
According to the government, full-time employment entails thirty hours of paid labor per week, and the work experience must have been obtained during the 36 months prior to the applicant’s application submission. Experience obtained while still a student is not accepted.
Candidates may also be required to have work experience that corresponds to National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 4411 or 4412. The IRCC points out that experience can only be gained in one of these positions; it cannot be a combination of the two.
In addition, the candidate’s employment must fulfill the majority of the primary responsibilities and align with the NOC job description.
In 2023, there were no changes to the other conditions for candidates. For instance, they need to be able to show
- results of a language exam indicating a 5 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB);
- a year of post-secondary study in Canada or its equivalent abroad; and
- Obtain a positive admissions check for security, criminal history, and health.
Temporary caretakers for residents
Through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), caregivers who are not qualified for permanent residency under these programs can nonetheless seek to extend their work visa.
Their employer must first get a favorable or neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before they can proceed. Employers can demonstrate to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) that they are unable to locate a Canadian citizen or permanent resident with the necessary abilities to fill an in-demand position by submitting an LMIA application.
Employers may choose to hire a foreign national under the TFWP if ESDC determines that doing so would either have no effect at all or a positive impact on Canada’s economy. Workers in the TFWP are prohibited from working for any other company in Canada due to their restricted work permit status.
