Better caregiver pathway to Canada
ome-care workers arriving in Canada under a new pilot program will be granted permanent residence upon arrival in Canada. The new pilot program was announced in June of 2024 by Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Marc Miller. It will begin shortly. The new initiative replaces the five-year pilot programs that ran from June 2019 to June 2024 to provide pathways to permanent residence for caregivers. In making the announcement, Miller described the new pilots as “enhanced”, with essentially a one-step to permanent residence for caregivers. Although the full details of the enhanced program have not yet been announced, it is widely anticipated that these initiatives will be less cumbersome and onerous for candidates to come to Canada and achieve permanent residence. Said the Minister:
“Caregivers play a critical role in supporting Canadian families, and our programs need to reflect their invaluable contributions. As we work to implement a permanent caregivers program, these two new pilots will not only improve support for caregivers, but also provide families with the quality care they deserve.”
As part of the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will admit more than 15,000 caregivers as permanent residents. It is expected that each of the two pathways under the new pilot program will be allocated quotas like previous numbers.
Important questions answered
Eligibility criteria
- Candidates must have attained CLB English language level 4;
- Be holders of the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma;
- Have at least six-months of relevant work experience;
- Have an employment offer for a full-time home care job.
These changes have lowered the level of each criterion that had formed the core of the outgoing five-year pilot programs and have eliminated the need for a work permit to gain experience in Canada.
Gaining work experience
As of June 25, 2024 participants in the recently ended pilot program (June 17, 2024) who were under the “gaining experience” pathway may submit evidence of having completed six months (full-time) of their work experience to complete the processing of their permanent residence application. Evidence they need to submit include:
- CRA’s Notice of Assessment;
- Reference letter from their employer with details of their employment and their employer;
- Job offer or Job contract;
- Pay stubs; T4 Statement, Employer’s payroll information relating to the employee.