Canada’s new pilots offer immediate permanent residency for Caregivers

Canada has announced new, enhanced caregiver pilot programs as the expiry date for the existing Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot approaches.

The current pilot programs are set to expire on June 17. In their place, the new pilot programs will grant home care workers permanent resident status upon arrival in Canada, eliminating the need for a certain amount of work experience in the country.

Additionally, caregivers will be allowed to work for organizations that provide temporary or part-time care for individuals who are semi-independent or recovering from an injury or illness.

To be eligible, caregivers must:

• Achieve a minimum of level 4 on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)
• Hold the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma
• Have recent and relevant work experience
• Receive an offer for a full-time home care job

This marks a change from the previous pilot programs, which required a CLB of 5 and a year of Canadian post-secondary education (or its foreign equivalent). The previous programs also required at least six months of work experience. The IRCC has yet to clarify the work experience requirement under the new pilot programs, stating that more details will be announced closer to the full launch.

In a news release, Immigration Minister Marc Miller said, “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.”

Caregivers in Canada

According to the 2024-2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada expects to welcome more than 15,000 new permanent residents through caregiver programs. As of April 30, 2024, approximately 5,700 caregivers and their family members have become permanent residents since the launch of the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot in 2019.

The demand for caregivers in Canada is rising as the population ages. It is expected that over the next six years, more than nine million Canadians will retire, increasing the need for additional care at home or in institutions.

Furthermore, the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence recently published a report highlighting the pressing needs for caregivers in Canada. The report notes that many caregivers are 65 and older and may also need care themselves. Nearly one in five caregivers are over the age of 65, and senior caregivers are the least likely to access any services or supports to help with their responsibilities.

Lastly, families in Canada require childcare providers as more women, who traditionally take on more of the caretaking duties for young children, seek to enter the workforce. Statistics Canada data from 2023 found that the labour force participation rate for women aged 15 years and older increased from 58.5% in 1990 to 61.5% in 2022, while the rate for men declined from 76.1% to 72.8%.