Canada To Grant Caregivers Permanent Residency Status Upon Arrival

Canada has launched new, improved caregiver pilot programs as the deadlines for the country’s Home Support Worker Pilot and Home Child Care Provider Pilot draw near. The current pilot projects are scheduled to end on June 17.

The new pilot programs will take their place, not requiring a specific amount of work experience in Canada, but instead granting home care professionals permanent residence status upon arrival.

The government’s commitment to addressing the home care requirements of children, elderly citizens, and those with disabilities was emphasized by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Minister Marc Miller when he introduced the programs.

In addition, the new pilot programs will allow caregivers to pursue other careers whenever they choose and provide them permanent residency upon arrival in Canada. This acknowledges the vital role caregivers play in Canadian households and streamlines their employment and social integration.

To qualify, caregivers must:

• Achieve the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) minimum of level 4.
• ⁠Possess the same standing as a high school certificate in Canada.
• ⁠Possess current, and relevant work experience.
• ⁠Receive a full-time home care employment offer

The former pilot programs’ requirements, which included a CLB of 5 and a year of post-secondary education in Canada (or an equivalent program abroad), have been replaced by this new set of criteria. A minimum of six months of work experience was also required for the programs.

The work experience criterion for the new pilot programs has not yet been made explicit by the IRCC, although it is expected to be disclosed closer to the official launch.

According to The Globe and Mail, Miller stated, “Caregivers play a critical role in supporting Canadian families, and our programs need to reflect their invaluable contributions. These two new pilots will ensure families receive the high-quality care they deserve, as well as enhance support for caregivers.”

As part of Canada’s immigration targets, the IRCC intends to admit at least 15,000 caregivers as permanent residents over the course of the next two years.

In addition to giving caregivers a choice in obtaining employment with respectable firms, this status will enable them to work for organizations that offer temporary or part-time care. This will ensure a clear path to permanent residency and improve their stability and integration.

The IRCC said, “With this pathway, caregivers can more easily find suitable work with reputable employers and have clear, straightforward access to permanent resident status as soon as they arrive in Canada.”

The 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan states that Canada anticipates accepting over 15,000 new permanent residents through caregiver programs. As of April 30, 2024, about 5,700 caregivers and their families had obtained permanent residency following the start of the Home Support Worker and Home Child Care Provider Pilots in 2019.

As the population ages, there is an increasing need for caretakers in Canada. It is anticipated that more than nine million Canadians will retire throughout the next six years. This implies that more people will require greater care in their homes or institutions during the next years. In addition, a recent report from the Canadian Centre for Caregiving Excellence outlines urgent requirements for Canadian caregivers.

It mentions that “many caregivers are 65+ and may also need care” is one of them. Approximately 50% of caretakers are older than 65. The least likely group of caregivers to use support or services to assist them in carrying out their duties is senior caregivers.