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While permanent residency (PR) isn’t granted immediately upon arrival for caregivers in Canada, the country offers several pathways for them to attain PR after fulfilling certain work experience requirements within Canada.
These pathways underscore Canada’s acknowledgment of caregivers’ significant contributions to Canadian families and society, particularly in caring for children, the elderly, or individuals with disabilities.
Caregiver Immigration Pathways
1. Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots
Canada ushered in the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots in 2019, replacing expiring caregiver programs. These pilot initiatives provide eligible caregivers with a specialized route to permanent residence.
Eligibility Requirements:
- Work Experience: Applicants are not obligated to possess Canadian work experience at the time of application. However, they must secure a job offer in Canada and commit to acquiring two years of work experience in the relevant occupation to meet the criteria for permanent residence.
- Language Proficiency: Demonstrate a certain level of language proficiency in English or French (CLB/NCLC 5).
- Educational Requirement: For eligibility, applicants must possess either a Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year or an equivalent foreign credential, backed by an Educational Credential Assessment.
- Admissibility: Must be admissible to Canada.
Process:
Applicants meeting these requirements are eligible for an occupation-specific work permit, granting them the freedom to work in Canada without being tied to a single employer. Upon accumulating two years of qualifying work experience, they can then pursue permanent residency.
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2. Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)
Although the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) is closed to new applicants, individuals with prior work experience through this program remain eligible to apply for permanent residence. To qualify, they must fulfill certain requirements, such as completing 24 months of authorized full-time live-in employment within four years of their arrival in Canada.
Application Process for Permanent Residence
Upon fulfilling the required work experience in either the new pilot programs or the old LCP, caregivers become eligible to apply for permanent residence. The application process entails submitting evidence of work experience, language proficiency, and meeting other eligibility criteria. Processing times may vary depending on individual circumstances and the backlog of applications.
Advantages of Caregiver Pathways
- Job Security: Initial work permits under the new pilots are issued for three years and are occupation-specific rather than employer-specific, offering greater job mobility.
- Family Inclusion: Caregivers can include family members in their applications. Spouses/common-law partners are eligible for open work permits, and dependent children can receive study permits.
Quick facts
- In June 2014, there was an inventory of over 60,000 persons for the Live-in Caregiver Program. Today, less than 1% of that Live-in Caregiver Program inventory remains.
- As part of the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will admit over 15,000 caregivers as permanent residents.
- As of April 30, 2024, nearly 5,700 caregivers and their family members have become permanent residents since the launch of the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot in 2019.
Final Thoughts On Caregiver Jobs
While caregivers in Canada don’t receive permanent residence immediately upon arrival, the established immigration pathways acknowledge their invaluable contributions. These pathways offer a structured process, allowing caregivers to transition from temporary foreign workers to permanent residents, showcasing Canada’s commitment to integrating these essential workers into society.
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