Importantly, the new pilot programs offer more flexibility for candidates by expanding occupational requirements beyond traditional roles in private homes. Caregivers will now be allowed to work for organizations that provide temporary or part-time care for people who are semi-independent or recovering from an injury or illness. More details are expected to be released by IRCC closer to the full launch of the new pilot programs. These new programs will play an important role in helping to reach Canada’s immigration objectives, with plans to admit over 15,000 caregivers as permanent residents according to the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan.

The new pilot programs represent a significant advancement in Canada’s ongoing efforts to meet the changing home care needs of its diverse population and demonstrate learnings from past pilot programs. These programs aim to provide a clear pathway toward permanent residency for caregivers, ensuring transparency and predictability in their immigration journey. Importantly, the programs also aim to address the persistent gap in the labor market, providing Canadians with more options for home care services.

Canada Launches New Caregiver Pilots Granting Immediate PR on Arrival On June 3rd, 2024, the Canadian government announced the launch of new caregiver pilot programs offering permanent residency (PR) upon arrival. This significant development replaces the existing Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot, which are set to expire on June 17, 2024. These new pilots aim to address the growing demand for home care workers in Canada by providing a clear and streamlined path to permanent residency. This not only allows qualified caregivers to build a life in Canada but also ensures Canadian families have access to the high-quality care they need.

To be eligible, caregivers must meet the following criteria: attain a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level of 4 (reduced from the previous requirement of CLB 5), hold the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma, demonstrate recent and relevant work experience, and obtain a full-time home care job offer in Canada. Caregivers can now work for organizations offering temporary or part-time care to individuals who are semi-independent or recovering from injuries/illness, providing greater employment opportunities.

These new pilots represent a significant shift from the previous programs. The lowered CLB requirement and broader work opportunities provide increased accessibility for qualified caregivers. Furthermore, the immediate PR eliminates the need for the caregiver to apply for a work permit before coming to Canada and prior Canadian work experience, offering a more direct path to residency.

Canada’s aging population is leading to a significant need for skilled home care workers. The 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan aims to welcome over 15,000 new permanent residents through caregiver programs, with over 5,700 already having obtained PR since 2019. Reports from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence highlight the rising demand, with projections of over nine million Canadians needing care in the next six years.

Canada is showing its commitment to caregivers by rolling out these new programs. Minister Marc Miller emphasizes, “These two new pilots will not only assist caregivers but also provide families with the quality care they deserve.” It’s all part of Canada’s strategy to meet the evolving needs of its people. With more Canadians needing care as they age, these new programs will help meet the need for caregivers in Canada.

Preparing for Caregiver Pilot Programs

Caregiver immigration programs to Canada are re-opening on Jan. 1 and immigration officials are advising potential applicants to prepare as much as possible ahead of time because the caps on the Home Child Care Provider Pilot (HCCP) in particular tend to be reached very quickly. In 2023, the IRCC accepted 1,650 applications for the HCCP but the cap of 1,500 online applications was reached on the very first day, on Jan. 1. The cap of 150 alternate format applications was reached exactly a month later, on Feb. 1. The Home Support Worker Pilot’s (HSWP) cap of 1,650 applications received either online or in alternate formats was reached on Nov. 28.With the upper limit on applications being reached so quickly, Canadian immigration officials are advising foreign nationals to get everything ready ahead of time before they attempt to apply through either of these two caregiver pilots. You may want to prepare as much as possible before the cap resets. You can create an account in the permanent residence portal if you don’t already have one. If you already have an account, you won’t be able to access any applications you started before the cap reset. This is because online applications expire about 30 days after a cap has been reached. You’ll need to start a new application once the cap resets on Jan. 1.

In 2024, the caregiver pilots may fill up even more quickly as Ottawa has slashed the amount of experience foreign nationals need to apply for permanent residence under these programs in half, reducing that work experience requirement to only one year instead of two years. Caregivers are an important option for families in Canada and have played an instrumental role in the lives of many growing children, aging parents, and those who need additional specialized care. By reducing the work experience required in Canada to one year, more caregivers and their families will become eligible to transition to permanent residence sooner, meaning that they can settle down and start the next chapter of their lives here in Canada.

The IRCC is hoping the change would dramatically improve processing times for these applications, benefiting up to 90 percent of applications that were then in processing and providing an advantage for both the caregivers who are just starting out and those who have been providing care in Canada already. The immigration minister also hinted the current pilot caregiver programs could become permanent programs starting in June 2024. Caregivers are indispensable in assisting Canadian families and it’s an honor for us to provide them a more expedited route to permanent residence and prosperous integration into Canada.

The decreased work experience requirement and reserved pathways to permanent residence recognize the sacrifices that caregivers make and the value of their work to Canadian society. The caregiver pilots are part of Ottawa’s strategy to tackle the labor shortage challenges facing Canadian employers. Under the HCCP and HSW candidates must meet the following requirements to be eligible to apply for permanent residence: a job offer, CLB 5 language level, and one year of Canadian post-secondary education or its foreign equivalent.