Canada Introduces New Permanent Residency Path for Caregivers
Canada’s Immigration Minister, Marc Miller, has unveiled an exciting new initiative that will allow caregivers to secure permanent residency upon their arrival in the country. This new program, expected to launch by late 2024 or early 2025, will replace the current Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot programs, which are set to expire.
The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has yet to specify the exact work experience requirements for the new programs, but more details will be available as the launch date approaches.
To qualify for the new caregiver program, applicants will need to meet the following criteria:
- Achieve a minimum of level 4 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB)
- Hold a high school diploma equivalent to the Canadian standard
- Possess recent and relevant work experience
- Secure a full-time home care job offer
This revamped initiative offers a significant improvement over the current pilot programs, which required specific work experience in Canada. Under the new scheme, caregivers will be granted permanent residency as soon as they arrive, aligning with Canada’s growing need for home care professionals and acknowledging their crucial role.
Miller emphasized the importance of this change, stating, “Caregivers play a vital role in supporting Canadian families, and our programs need to reflect their invaluable contributions. As we transition to a permanent caregivers program, these new pilots will enhance support for caregivers and ensure families receive the high-quality care they deserve.”
The updated programs, which will replace the existing pilots expiring on June 17, 2024, will also allow caregivers to work with organizations providing temporary or part-time care for semi-independent individuals or those recovering from illness or injury. This is a shift from previous requirements, which included a CLB of 5, a year of Canadian post-secondary education or its foreign equivalent, and at least six months of work experience.
The need for caregivers in Canada is growing as the population ages. The 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan projects that Canada will welcome over 15,000 new permanent residents through caregiver programs. Since the launch of the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot in 2019, around 5,700 caregivers and their families have become permanent residents as of April 30, 2024.
A recent report from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence highlights the pressing need for caregivers, noting that many are over 65 and may require care themselves. “Nearly one in five caregivers are over the age of 65; senior caregivers are least likely to access any services or supports to help with their responsibilities,” the report revealed.
The growing demand for childcare providers is also driven by the increasing number of women entering the workforce, who have traditionally been the primary caregivers for young children.
