The Caregiver Program in Canada is a special immigration program designed to help Canadian families hire foreign workers to provide in-home care for children, elderly individuals, or individuals with disabilities. The program is also known as the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot.
To be eligible for the Caregiver Program, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer for a caregiving position
- Have the necessary qualifications and experience to perform the caregiving duties
- Meet the language requirements for the job
- Have a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
- Meet the admissibility requirements, including security and medical checks
Once individuals are approved for the program, they can apply for a work permit to come to Canada and work as a caregiver. They can also apply for permanent residence through the Caregiver Program after they have gained enough work experience in Canada.
The Caregiver Program has undergone several changes in recent years, and the eligibility criteria and application process may vary depending on the specific program and application stream. It’s recommended to check the Government of Canada’s website for the latest information on the Caregiver Program and how to apply.
Interim pathway for caregiver
The Interim Pathway for Caregivers is a special immigration program that was launched by the Government of Canada in 2019 to help caregivers who came to Canada through the previous Caregiver Programs, but were not able to meet the eligibility criteria for permanent residency under those programs.
The Interim Pathway for Caregivers has two streams: one for caregivers who have work experience in Canada as a home child care provider, and another for those who have work experience as a home support worker.
To be eligible for the Interim Pathway for Caregivers, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Have acquired work experience in Canada as a caregiver under the previous Caregiver Programs
- Have a valid job offer for at least 6 months in Canada as a caregiver, or have a Canadian post-secondary degree or diploma in early childhood education or a related field, if applying under the home child care provider stream
- Meet minimum language requirements in English or French
- Meet admissibility requirements, including security and medical checks
Once individuals are approved for the program, they can apply for permanent residence in Canada.
The Interim Pathway for Caregivers is a time-limited program, and the application window may close without notice. It’s recommended to check the Government of Canada’s website for the latest information on the program and how to apply.
Home child care provider pilot
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot is a special immigration program that allows eligible foreign caregivers to come to Canada and work as in-home child care providers. The program provides a pathway to permanent residence for qualified caregivers and their families.
To be eligible for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer to work as a home child care provider
- Have at least 24 months of full-time work experience in the past 48 months as a home child care provider or a related occupation
- Meet minimum language requirements in English or French
- Have a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent
- Meet admissibility requirements, including security and medical checks
Once individuals are approved for the program, they can apply for a work permit to come to Canada and work as a home child care provider. They can also apply for permanent residence through the program after they have gained enough work experience in Canada.
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot has a limited number of spaces available and may close without notice. It’s recommended to check the Government of Canada’s website for the latest information on the program and how to apply.
Home support worker pilot
The Home Support Worker Pilot is a special immigration program that allows eligible foreign caregivers to come to Canada and work as in-home support workers for elderly or disabled individuals. The program provides a pathway to permanent residence for qualified caregivers and their families.
To be eligible for the Home Support Worker Pilot, individuals must meet the following criteria:
- Have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer to work as a home support worker
- Have at least 24 months of full-time work experience in the past 48 months as a home support worker or a related occupation
- Meet minimum language requirements in English or French
- Have a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent
- Meet admissibility requirements, including security and medical checks
Once individuals are approved for the program, they can apply for a work permit to come to Canada and work as a home support worker. They can also apply for permanent residence through the program after they have gained enough work experience in Canada.
The Home Support Worker Pilot has a limited number of spaces available and may close without notice. It’s recommended to check the Government of Canada’s website for the latest information on the program and how to apply.
Past caregiver Programs
There were two previous Caregiver Programs in Canada:
- The Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP): This program was launched in 1992 and allowed eligible foreign caregivers to come to Canada and work as live-in caregivers for children, elderly individuals, or individuals with disabilities. Under the LCP, caregivers were required to live with their employers and were eligible to apply for permanent residence after completing two years of work as a live-in caregiver.
- The Caring for Children Program and the Caring for People with High Medical Needs Program (CCP and CPMN): These programs were launched in 2014 and allowed eligible foreign caregivers to come to Canada and work as home child care providers or home support workers. Under these programs, caregivers were required to work in a private home and were eligible to apply for permanent residence after completing two years of work as a caregiver.
The Live-in Caregiver Program stopped accepting new applications in 2014 and was replaced by the Caring for Children Program and the Caring for People with High Medical Needs Program. However, these programs were criticized for long processing times and restrictive eligibility criteria, which led to the launch of the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot in 2019.
