Home Childcare Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots Reset for 2024
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) are set to welcome applications for the Home Childcare Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot: Direct to Permanent Residence category, as they reset the cap on January 1st, 2024.
Originally launched in 2019, both caregiver pilot programs have gained popularity, with nearly 1,100 caregivers and their family members obtaining permanent residency in 2022. However, the programs are scheduled to expire on June 17, 2024, urging interested candidates to apply promptly.
The work experience requirement was reduced by half in the year 2023
In a notable move to support applicants, IRCC halved the work experience requirement for caregivers in February 2023, reducing it from 24 to 12 months of full-time work. This change is expected to impact approximately 90% of caregiver immigration program applicants. Full-time work, as defined by the department, requires 30 hours of paid work each week within the 36 months before submitting the application. Notably, work experience gained as a student is not eligible.
Applicants must meet other specific requirements, such as having work experience falling under National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 4411 or 4412, and their job must align with the NOC job description. Language proficiency, one year of Canadian post-secondary education or its foreign equivalent, and passing an admissibility check (health, criminality, and security) are also prerequisites.
Despite reaching the cap for online applicants in the Home Child Care Provider Pilot in 2023, spaces remain available for the Home Support Worker Pilot, according to the IRCC website.
Temporary resident caregivers
For caregivers not eligible for permanent residency under these programs, an option is to extend their work permit through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP). To do so, their employer must obtain a positive or neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), demonstrating the necessity of hiring a foreign national for an in-demand position. Employees in the TFWP hold closed work permits, restricting them from working for any other employer in Canada.
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