Canada has a number of immigration pathways to facilitate permanent residence in Canada for eligible foreign caregivers.
- Three-month Interim Pathway for Caregivers scheduled to run until June 4, 2019.
- New Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots will launch later in 2019 to replace the current Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots, which expire in November 2019.
Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)
Although the LCP is officially closed to new applicants, individuals can apply for permanent residence through the program if they have at least two years of work experience in the program
- They are already working in Canada with an LCP work permit; or
- They were approved for their first LCP work permit based on an employer’s positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)application submitted on or before November 30, 2014.
Caring for Children
In order to qualify for Canadian Immigration under the Caring for Children program, caregivers must:
- Have a minimum of 24 months (within the past four years, or 48 months) of full-time work experience (at least 30 hours per week) in Canada as a home childcare provider, with a valid work permit;
- Note: Applicants can have breaks in employment (for example, periods where you were not employed, sick leave, parental leave)
- Meet the description of a home childcare provider as defined by NOC 4411;
- Applicants will need to show they performed the duties in the job description, including most of the main duties listed.
- Have completed a one-year Canadian post-secondary credential, or equivalent foreign credential proven with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- Prove minimum language ability of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for one of Canada’s two official languages, English or French.
Applicants must have cared for children under the age of 18, in their own home or in their employer’s home. Caregivers do not need to have lived in their employer’s home to be considered eligible. Foster parents are not eligible to apply under this program.
Caring for People with High Medical Needs
In order to qualify for Canadian Immigration under the Caring for People with High Medical Needs program, caregivers must have:
- A minimum of 24 months (within the past four years, or 48 months) of full-time work experience (at least 30 hours per week) in Canada as:
- Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
- Licensed practical nurses (3233)
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (3413)
- Home support workers and related occupations (4412)
- Housekeepers are not eligible under this occupation classification.
- Demonstrate a license to practice in Canada if work experience in Canada was as a registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse (NOC 3012) or as a licensed practical nurse (NOC 3233);
- Have completed a one-year Canadian post-secondary credential, or equivalent foreign credential proven with an ECA; and
- Prove minimum language ability for one of Canada’s two official languages, English or French.
- NOC 3012 must demonstrate CLB 7
- NOC 3233, 3413, OR 4412 must demonstrate CLB 5
Note: Applicants can have breaks in employment (for example, periods where you were not employed, sick leave, parental leave).
Interim Pathway for Caregivers
Scheduled to run between March 4, 2019 and June 4, 2019, the three-month Interim Pathway for Caregivers is for caregivers who:
- Are authorized to work in Canada on a work permit other than a Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) work permit (at the time of applying);
- Intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec;
- Have acquired at least one year of full-time Canadian work experience in an eligible caregiver occupation, since November 30, 2014;
- Eligible caregiver occupation includes: Home child care provider — National Occupational Classification (NOC) Group 4411; and/or Home support worker — NOC Group 4412
- Have a Canadian high school diploma, or equivalent foreign credential proven with an ECA; and
- Have a minimum proficiency in English or French equivalent to a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 for all four language abilities (reading, writing, speaking and listening).
Candidates whose educational credential was obtained outside Canada and who cannot obtain an ECA before the Interim Pathway for Caregivers closes on June 4, 2019, are still eligible if they provide proof that they have applied to get an ECA. This proof includes written confirmation from an IRCC-approved agency that they have submitted a request for an ECA and/or receipt of payment.
There is no maximum number of applications that IRCC will accept through the Interim Pathway for Caregivers.
Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots
These two new pilots, which are set to launch later in 2019, will replace the currently active Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots. These pilots will expire in November 2019.
These programs will accept a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants each, for a total of 5,500 principal applicants, per year.
Pilots will provide:
- Occupation-specific work permits for caregivers, providing the ability to change jobs quickly if necessary.
- Open work permits for spouses/common-law partners and study permits for dependent children, to allow the caregiver’s family to accompany them to Canada.
Comparison of Canada Caregivers Permanent Residence Pathways
| Criteria | Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) | Caring for Children (expires November 2019) | Caring for people with High Medical Needs (expires November 2019) | Interim Pathway for Caregivers (expires on June 4, 2019) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Work experience | Experience as an authorized full-time live-in caregiver in the LCP. | Canadian experience as ahome childcare provider. Note: Experience as a foster parent doesn’t count. | Canadian experience in oneof these jobs:
Note: Experience as a housekeeper doesn’t count. | Canadian experience as a:
Your work experience must have been gained while working on a valid temporary work permit. Note: Experience as a foster parent or housekeeper doesn’t count. |
| Length of Work Experience | Within 4 years from the day an applicant entered Canada through LCP, applicant must have at least:
| 24 months of full-time work in Canada in the 48 months before you apply. | 24 months of full-time work in Canada in the 48 months before you apply. | 12 months of full-time work in Canada since November 30, 2014. |
| Language Skills (English or French) | Language would have been assessed when applying for the first LCP work permit | CLB 5 | CLB 7 if registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse CLB 5 if licensed practical nurse, nurse aide, orderly and patient service associate, or home support worker. | CLB 5 |
| Education | Education would have been assessed when applying for the first LCP work permit. | Completed a:
| Completed a
Note: Review ECArequirement. | Completed a:
Note: Review ECA requirement. |