Caregivers Program
In the heart of Canada’s immigration landscape lies a program that reflects the nation’s commitment to compassion, support, and familial care – the Canadian Caregivers Program. Designed to address the increasing demand for skilled caregiving professionals, this program stands as a testament to Canada’s recognition of the invaluable contributions made by caregivers to its communities.
The Canadian Caregivers Program provides a pathway for dedicated individuals, both within and outside Canada, to contribute their skills and expertise in providing care for children, the elderly, or those in need of support. This program not only acknowledges the essential role caregivers play in enriching the lives of Canadians but also presents an opportunity for caregivers to find a welcoming home in the diverse and inclusive Canadian society.
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot are innovative 5-year programs designed to facilitate the immigration of skilled caregivers and their families to Canada with the ultimate aim of achieving permanent resident status. If you have received a job offer in Canada as a caregiver or possess prior caregiver experience in the country, you may qualify to apply for permanent residency through these pilot programs. The application process varies based on your specific situation and the extent of your qualifying work experience. These pilots present a unique opportunity for caregivers to establish a permanent home in Canada, contributing to the nation’s workforce and community well-being. You can also explore other immigration pathways more suited to each particular situation. All of our fees and packages are also available!
Our immigration adviser’s dedication to excellence, integrity, and personalized service sets us apart as a trusted partner in your immigration journey. You can visit us at our office, book an initial consultation with our immigration consultants, and start your journey alongside our firm. You can also learn more about our immigration agency’s professional fees. Thank you for considering RightWay Canada as your immigration partner. Apply for permanent residence with confidence.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
PROCESSING TIME
PROCESSING FEES
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
You could qualify to submit an application for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot if you:
- Possess sufficient work experience,
- Attain the required language proficiency level,
- Fulfill the educational criteria,
- Meet the admissibility standards for entry into Canada, and
- Intend to reside outside the province of Quebec.
Depending on the specific pilot you choose to apply for, your qualifying work experience must align with one of these designated National Occupational Classification (NOC) jobs:
- Home Child Care Provider (NOC 44100)
- Home Support Worker (NOC 44101)
The criteria for your qualifying work experience are as follows:
- It must be within one of these NOCs (home child care provider or home support worker).
- A combination of both NOCs is not permissible.
- Your experience should correspond to the NOC job description, and you must have undertaken the majority of the main duties outlined.
- The work experience should have been acquired within the 36-month period preceding the submission of your application.
- While it doesn’t need to be continuous employment for 12 months, the total work experience within that timeframe should amount to 12 months.
- Any experience gained after submitting your application will not be considered.
- The work must be full-time, authorized employment in Canada, requiring a minimum of 30 hours of paid work each week.
- Weeks where you worked less than 30 hours are not counted.
- Work experience during periods of full-time student status is not taken into account.
- The work can be authorized under a work permit, maintained status, or a public policy. Experience gained while working for a business is also considered valid
Candidates are required to reach level 5 of the Canadian Language Benchmark in either English or French.
To be eligible, you must hold a Canadian post-secondary education credential that is completed and extends for a minimum of one year. In the absence of a Canadian education credential, you are required to undergo an assessment of your foreign education credential to establish its comparability to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year.
There are certain caps as to how many applications can be accepted in the Direct to Permanent Residency Category
- Home Child Care Provider Pilot: 1100 applications (open)
- Home Support Worker Pilot: 1100 applications (open)
More applications can be submitted until the cap is reached or until June 17, 2024.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
The Caregiver Program applicant must scan and upload the document checklist with the application (PDF versions won’t be accepted, must be filled out directly in the portal)
- Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
- Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
- Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
- Supplementary Information – Your travels (IMM 5562)
- Photos
- Payment of Application Fees
- Biometrics
The PDF documents that need to be uploaded without signatures include:
- Schedule 19a – Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker – Education and Language Assessment [IMM 5982]
- Schedule 19b – Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker – Work Experience [IMM 5910]
If applicable, these PDF forms will need to be signed and uploaded
- Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union [IMM 5409]
- Separation Declaration for Minors Travelling to Canada
PROCESSING TIME
The average processing time for the Home Child Care Provider: Direct to Permanent Residency Category is 31 months and applicants are advised to keep up with the latest updates regarding the processing times.
PROCESSING FEES
The fee for the Caregivers Program is set at a minimum of $1,085 for the Direct to Permanence Category. It’s crucial to stay informed about fee updates and changes. Applicants are encouraged to check for the latest information to ensure accurate financial planning for their permanent residence application. If you decide to retain us as your representative, some professional fees will be applicable.
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
PROCESSING TIME
PROCESSING FEES
APPLICANT REQUIREMENTS
You have the opportunity to apply under the Gaining Experience category within the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot if:
- You have never been employed full-time as a caregiver in Canada, or
- You possess less than 12 months of work experience in this capacity.
As part of your permanent residence (PR) application, you will submit a work permit application. Upon meeting the eligibility criteria, you will be granted a work permit, enabling you to work as a caregiver for any employer. Once you have accumulated a minimum of 12 months of qualifying work experience, you are required to provide proof, and we will then make a final determination on your permanent residence application. Candidates must meet level 5 of the Canadian Language Benchmark in either English or French. Candidates must also assess their education by acquiring an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA).
In order to acquire or complete the necessary work experience for permanent residence through the Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker Pilot, a valid and authentic job offer is required. The offered position should adhere to the following criteria:
- The offer must be presented using the Offer of Employment IMM 5983 form.
- It must be a full-time position, requiring a minimum of 30 hours of paid work per week.
- The job must be located outside the province of Quebec.
- The offer must come from an employer in Canada that is not categorized as a business, embassy, high commission, or consulate.
- It should be a direct hiring for the care of either the employer themselves or someone with whom they have a personal relationship, such as a parent, spouse, or child.
- The need for hiring must be genuine, reflecting a real necessity to employ you.
- Additionally, the salary stated in the job offer will be reviewed. You must demonstrate your ability to financially support yourself and your family members while working as a caregiver in Canada.
Your eligible work experience must fall within one of these occupations; it cannot be a combination of both. If you already possess some caregiving experience in Canada, it is essential to ensure that the job offered aligns with the caregiving work experience you have already acquired.
There are certain caps as to how many applications can be accepted in the Gaining Experience Category.
- Home Child Care Provider Pilot: 1650 applications (closed as of January 26, 2024)
- Home Support Worker Pilot: 1,650 applications (open, online, or alternate format)
More applications are accepted until the cap is reached or until June 17, 2024.
APPLICATION CHECKLIST
The Caregiver Program applicant must scan and upload the document checklist with the application (PDF versions won’t be accepted, must be filled out directly in the portal)
- Generic Application Form for Canada (IMM 0008)
- Schedule A – Background/Declaration (IMM 5669)
- Additional Family Information (IMM 5406)
- Supplementary Information – Your travels (IMM 5562)
- Photos
- Payment of Application Fees
- Biometrics
The PDF documents that need to be uploaded without signatures include:
- Schedule 19a – Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker – Education and Language Assessment [IMM 5982]
- Schedule 19b – Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker – Work Experience [IMM 5910]
If applicable, these PDF forms will need to be signed and uploaded
- Statutory Declaration of Common-law Union [IMM 5409]
- Separation Declaration for Minors Travelling to Canada
PROCESSING TIME
The average processing time for the Gaining Experience Category is 35 months and applicants are advised to keep up with the latest updates regarding the processing times.
PROCESSING FEES
The fee for the Caregivers Program is set at a minimum of $1,340 for the Gaining Experience Category. It’s crucial to stay informed about fee updates and changes. Applicants are encouraged to check for the latest information to ensure accurate financial planning for their permanent residence application. If you decide to retain us as your representative, some professional fees will be applicable.
WHO CAN APPLY
WORK PERMIT EXTENSION OR CHANGE OF OCCUPATION
WHO CAN'T APPLY
WHO CAN APPLY
You may seek a work permit for a position as a home child care provider or home support worker under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) if any of the following situations apply to you:
- You are presently outside of Canada and intend to work in Quebec.
- You are currently in Canada, and one of the following conditions applies:
- You possess a valid study or work permit.
- You are authorized to work in Canada without needing a work permit (excluding business visitors).
- You intend to work in Quebec and are also eligible to apply for a work permit from within Canada.
WORK PERMIT EXTENSION OR CHANGE OF OCCUPATION
If you are presently employed in Canada and possess a valid work permit, you might qualify to:
- Extend the duration of your existing work permit.
- Switch jobs or employers.
To facilitate these changes, your employer must obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Following the acquisition of a positive LMIA, you can proceed to apply for the extension of your work permit or request alterations to its conditions.
Ensuring that you initiate the extension or modification of your work permit before its expiration is crucial.
WHO CAN'T APPLY
You are ineligible to apply for this category of work permit under the following circumstances:
When applying for a work permit from outside Canada through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and your intended work location is a province or territory other than Quebec.
When applying for a work permit directly at a port of entry.
If you are currently in Canada on a visitor status.
You can exclusively apply for a work permit under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or the Home Support Worker Pilot as part of your permanent residence application.
If you are a home child care provider or home support worker planning to work in Quebec, you might consider applying for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)-based work permit from within Canada, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.
However, if you wish to work in another occupation as a visitor, you may explore alternative options. Assess your eligibility and learn about the application process accordingly.
Program Timeline
Create a profile
Create a Permanent residence portal.
Choose the correct category
There are 4 categories to choose from, applicants may apply to any of these as long as they are eligible and the cap has not been reached.
Fill in forms and upload documents
Fill in all of the necessary digital and PDF forms, pay the biometrics fee, and pay the application processing fee.
Submit your online application
Once you have downloaded the documents, answered to all of the questions, and attached the government fee receipt, it is time to digitally sign and submit your application!
Our Professional Fees
What types of caregiving positions qualify under the program?
- Positions that involve providing care for children, the elderly, or individuals with medical needs may qualify under the Canadian Caregiver Program.
Do I need a job offer to apply for the program?
- Yes, a genuine and valid job offer from a Canadian employer is a key requirement for the Canadian Caregiver Program.
Can I apply for permanent residence through the Canadian Caregiver Program?
- Yes, successful applicants can apply for permanent residence after meeting the required work experience criteria.
Can I bring my family with me under the Canadian Caregiver Program?
- Yes, eligible caregivers can include their immediate family members (spouse or common-law partner, dependent children) in their application.
What is the Live-in Caregiver Program, and is it still available?
The Live-in Caregiver Program was a previous version of the caregiver program. It has been replaced by the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots.
Are caregivers under the Canadian Caregiver Program protected by Canadian labor laws?
- Yes, caregivers are protected by Canadian labor laws, and they are entitled to benefits such as minimum wage, working conditions, and other employment standards.