Canada just opened two new 5-year pilot programs for caregivers who wish to become permanent residents. Replacing the Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots, the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots opened for applications on June 18, 2019. In order to receive work permits, foreign caregivers need a valid job offer to work in Canada and meet the criteria of the economic immigration programs.
Canada will accept a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants per pilot. In other words, 5,500 applicants and their families can benefit from this new initiative per year. These numbers support the Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, declaration: “Canada is caring for our caregivers. We made a commitment to improve the lives of caregivers and their families who come from around the world to care for our loved ones and with these new pilots, we are doing exactly that.”
According to the Canadian government’s website, initial applications to the new pilots will have a 12-month processing service standard. A 6-month processing standard will apply for finalizing an application after submitting proof that they have met the work experience requirement.
Check if you are eligible to apply for the new Caregiver’s Pilots
Also read: Interim Pathway for Caregivers: a new pathway to Permanent Residence in Canada
Requirements and application process for the new caregivers’ pilots:
Only caregivers with a valid job offer to work in Canada can apply for the new pilot programs. In addition, they must:
- Meet language tests minimum criteria (CLB of 5 in English or NCLC of 5 in French);
- Have one year of post-secondary education in Canada or equivalent;
- Meet the admissibility criteria.
The language tests accepted for these pilots are CELPIP-G (English), IELTS – general training (English) and TEF (French). The test results must be less than 2 years old when submitting the application. Also, the application process will be different depending on how much qualifying work experience the caregiver has. There are three possible scenarios:
- Caregivers with no qualifying work experience;
- Caregivers with less than 24 months of qualifying work experience;
- Caregivers with 24 months or more of qualifying work experience.
Experience as a foster parent doesn’t count for either pilot. For Home Child Care Provider pilot (NOC 4411) experiences as a babysitter, childcare live-in caregiver, childcare provider – private home, nanny or parent’s helper can be considered as qualifying work experience.
While for the Home Support Worker (NOC 412) experiences as an attendant for persons with disabilities – home care, family caregiver, home support worker, housekeeper, live-in caregiver – seniors, personal aide – home support, personal care attendant – home care or respite worker – home support can be considered qualifying work experience.
Check if you are eligible to apply for the new Caregiver’s Pilots
Also read: Why immigration is so important to Canada’s economy?
Benefits from the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots:
With the change from the employer-specific permits to occupation-specific work permits, employers will no longer need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before issuing a job offer for a foreign caregiver under the new pilots. In addition, the occupation-specific work permits allow a faster change of employers when necessary in comparison to the employer-specific permits.
More than open work permits and/or study permits for the caregivers’ immediate family, the new pilots offer a direct path for permanent residence. The Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots will, according to the Canadian government’s website, allow “a clear transition from temporary to permanent status, to ensure that once caregivers have met the work experience requirement, they will be able to become permanent residents quickly”.
Check if you are eligible to apply for the new Caregiver’s Pilots
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Also read: How your relatives can help you to get permanent residency in Canada?
Other opportunities for caregivers in Canada:
The Interim Pathway for Caregivers will re-open on July 8, 2019, and accept applications for three months. Caregivers who wish to apply for the Interim Pathway for Caregivers must have had experience as a home childcare provider or a home support worker or a combination of the two. They must have gained this experience while working on a full-time basis in the Temporary Foreign Worker Program for at least 12 months in Canada.
How to apply for Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots as a caregiver?
If you meet the requirements for the new pilots, you must apply for a Work Permit and Permanent Residence at the same time. Mercan Group will be pleased to help you with the services:
- Guide you towards meeting eligibility requirements;
- Find you a job offer with a genuine job offer at no placement fees;
- Assist you and your family member in applying for your Work Permit and Permanent Residence applications.
Mercan has decades of experience in caregiver recruitment and has successfully processed thousands of Permanent Residence applications. If you are a caregiver and wish to apply, contact Mercan today!
Check if you are eligible to apply for the new Caregiver’s Pilots
[button-red url=”https://forms.mercan.com/caregivers/?lead_source=immigration-news-blog” target=”_blank” position=”center”]Free Assessment[/button-red]
Also read: How having siblings in Canada can help you to immigrate?
For employer inquiries:
If you are an employer and want to hire caregivers to work in your business/household in Canada, Mercan Group can also help you. Please send us an email at employer@mercan.com or call us at:
- For Alberta and British Colombia, call +1 (780) 638-1510.
- For Saskatchewan and Manitoba, call +1 (888) 651-5335.
- For all the other provinces in Canada, call +1 (888) 840-9214.
