Immigration Announcement
IRCC Starts 2024 Caregiver Pilot Program Applications
As the curtain rises on the new year, an unparalleled opportunity emerges for caregivers aspiring to call Canada home. The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot will swing their doors wide open for Canada’s caregiver Pilot program applications on January 1st, 2024, commencing at 9 a.m. EST.
The opening of the Canada Caregiver Program 2024 on January 1st signifies more than a mere application process; it represents a life-changing opportunity for caregivers to weave their stories into the tapestry of Canada. The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) on this date, will reset the cap, and applications will be received for two caregiver pilot initiatives:
- The Home Childcare Provider Pilot.
- The Home Support Worker Pilot under the Direct to Permanent Residence category.
In the landscape of 2024, these five-year pilot programs are slated to offer 5,500 available applications, serving as conduits to permanent residency for qualifying family members and caregivers. There is the categorization of applicants into two streams:
- Those aiming for direct entry into permanent residence.
- Those seeking valuable caregiving experience.
IRCC encourages eligible applicants to apply promptly. While the cap for online applicants in the Home Child Care Provider Pilot (1,000) for 2023 was reached on April 14, 2023, spaces are still available for the Home Support Worker Pilot in the same year, as per the website.
Qualification Standards
To qualify for these pilot programs, candidates must:
- Possess either an offer to work as a caregiver in Canada or;
- Have prior experience in caregiving within the country.
- Meet specified National Occupational Classification (NOC) job criteria, such as Child Care Provider in the Home (NOC 44100) and Home Health Aide (NOC 44101).
These programs target applicants with caregiving work experience and were first launched in 2019, with an expiry date set for June 17, 2024. Notably successful, these pilot programs witnessed approximately 1,100 caregivers and their family members attaining permanent residency in 2022.
Caregiver Pilot Programs 2024
In essence, these programs carve out a unique pathway for caregivers to Canada, offering the prospect of obtaining permanent residency without the need for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Instead, applicants require a job offer from a Canadian family to embark on this transformative journey.
Prospective caregivers can take their first steps by meeting specific qualification standards. A pivotal prerequisite is a job offer, setting the stage for the application process. A distinctive feature is the chance to apply for an occupation-restricted work permit after accepting the job offer, enabling caregivers to accrue valuable experience through temporary employment.
After amassing two years of experience, caregivers become eligible to apply for permanent residence—a defining moment in their journey toward making Canada their permanent home.
Reduction in the Work Experience Requirement in 2023
In a significant development in February 2023, IRCC announced a reduction in the work experience requirement for caregivers from 24 to 12 months of full-time work. This impactful change affects around 90 percent of caregiver immigration program candidates. Full-time work constitutes 30 hours of paid work per week, and the work experience must be acquired within 36 months before applying. Work experience gained as a student is not eligible.
Applicants must fulfill other criteria, including showing language proficiency with Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5, having one year of Canadian post-secondary education or its foreign equivalent, and passing an admissibility check covering health, criminality, and security.
For caregivers ineligible for permanent residency (PR) under these programs, an alternative is to apply for a work permit extension through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). To do so, the employer must secure a positive or neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), demonstrating the need for a foreign national to fill a specific position. TFWP employees operate under closed work permits, restricting them from working for any other employer in Canada.
