Caregiver Visa to Canada

Canada offers various immigration programs for caregivers who wish to work and settle in the country. The requirements and application process for caregiver visas in Canada can be complex, with over 100 immigration programs available. Prospective immigrants often need help finding a program that aligns with their skills and needs. While popular programs like Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs have specific job listings, there is a need for visas that cater to lesser-known but essential occupations.

Recognizing this gap, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has introduced immigration visa programs for low-skilled foreign workers, including the Caregiver Visa program. As Canada faces an aging population and a shortage of domestic caregivers, there is a high demand for foreign workers in the caregiving industry. To address this, Home Child Care Provider Pilots and Home Support Worker Pilots were introduced to renew interest in the caregiver immigration program.

Home Child Care Provider Pilot

The Home Child Care Provider Pilot, launched in June 2019, is one of two caregiver pilots designed to meet the needs of foreign nationals with work experience in NOC 44100. This pathway offers Home Child Care Providers an opportunity to come to Canada on temporary work permits and potentially apply for permanent residence based on their work experience.

Ability to Change Jobs

The Home Child Care Provider Pilot addresses a significant concern of previous caregiver programs by providing caregivers with the ability to change employers more easily. This change aims to eliminate the practice of binding caregivers to single families, which has been associated with workplace abuse. With this pilot, Home Child Care Providers have the flexibility to explore different employment opportunities that better suit their needs.

Accompanying Family Members

In previous caregiver programs, it was challenging for caregivers to bring their spouses/partners and children to Canada. However, the Home Child Care Provider Pilot introduces a positive change. Under this program, family members of caregivers are eligible to accompany them to Canada. They can also apply for open work permits and/or study permits, allowing them to pursue their own career or educational goals.

Benefits for Caregivers

• Opportunity to gain work experience in Canada as a Home Child Care Provider
• Possibility of applying for permanent residence based on accumulated work experience
• Flexibility to change employers and explore better job opportunities
• Ability to have family members accompany them and pursue their aspirations

How to Participate

Potential newcomers with work experience in NOC 44100 interested in participating in the Home Child Care Provider Pilot can learn about the application process through the designated immigration authorities. The authorities will outline the eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and application procedures for managing the pilot program.

The Home Child Care Provider Pilot offers a valuable pathway for foreign nationals with work experience as Home Child Care Providers to come to Canada. By addressing the limitations of previous caregiver programs, this pilot ensures greater flexibility for caregivers to change jobs and allows their family members to join them in Canada. It opens up opportunities for professional growth and family unity, ultimately benefiting caregivers and their loved ones.

Caregiver Requirements in Canada - Child Care

To work as a caregiver in Canada, specifically the Child Care route, you will need to meet the following requirements:

In addition to the Home Child Care Support Pilot, the government is also introducing the Home Support Worker Pilot. These two pilots are expected to be similar, with the Home Support Worker Pilot targeting individuals with work experience in NOC 44101 instead of NOC 44100.

These initiatives aim to address the needs of foreign nationals in the caregiving sector and provide pathways for them to come to Canada, gain work experience, and potentially apply for permanent residence based on their qualifications and contributions.

Home Support Worker Pilot

The Home Support Worker Pilot, launched in June 2019, is one of two caregiver pilots aimed at addressing the needs of foreign nationals with work experience in NOC 44101. This pathway allows Home Support Workers to come to Canada on temporary work permits and eventually apply for permanent residence based on their work experience.

Ability to Change Jobs

Much like with child care, The Home Support Worker Pilot addresses a major concern of previous caregiver programs by allowing caregivers to change employers more easily. Home Support Workers can seek employment opportunities that suit their needs.

Accompanying Family Members

The Home Support Worker Pilot allows family members or caregivers are eligible to accompany them to Canada. They can also apply for open work permits and/or study permits, enabling them to pursue their own professional or educational goals.

Benefits for Caregivers

• Opportunity to gain work experience in Canada as a Home Support Worker
• Possibility of applying for permanent residence based on accumulated work experience
• Flexibility to change employers and seek better employment opportunities
• Ability to have family members accompany them and pursue their own goals

How to Participate

To participate in the Home Support Worker Pilot, foreign nationals with work experience in NOC 44101 can explore the application process through the designated immigration authorities. The authorities will outline the eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and application procedures for managing the pilot program.

Caregiver Requirements in Canada - Home Support

To work as a caregiver in Canada, specifically the Home Support route, you will need to meet the following requirements:

The Home Support Worker Pilot provides a valuable pathway for foreign nationals with work experience as Home Support Workers to come to Canada. By addressing the limitations of previous caregiver programs, this pilot ensures greater flexibility for caregivers to change jobs and allows accompanying family members to join them in Canada. It opens up opportunities for both professional growth and family unity, ultimately benefiting caregivers and their loved ones.

Become a Caregiver in Canada

Additionally, you’ll need to make ensure you meet the following general requirements:

Home caregivers qualified to care for children, the elderly, or people with disabilities in private homes without supervision must meet specific requirements to be eligible for the Home Care Provider Pilots in Canada. These requirements include

A Canadian Employers’ Positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

Before an employer can hire a caregiver, he or she must:

• Apply to Employment and Social Development Canada/Service Canada (ESDC/SC) to have his or her suggested job offer reviewed, and
• Receive a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from the ESDC/SC

The ESDC/SC will assess the employer's job offer and the employment contract to ensure it meets specific requirements. This includes an assessment of wages, working conditions, provincial labor, and employment standards.

The assessment must prove that not enough Canadians or permanent residents are available to work as live-in caregivers in Canada. If the ESDC/SC finds the job offer acceptable, they will issue a positive LMIA to the employer.

A Written Contract From the Future Employer, Signed by the Employee and the Employer

The employee and the employer must legally sign a written employment contract. The employee must submit the signed contract with a work permit application, the same employment contract submitted to the ESDC/SC by the employer. The only time they can be different is if there is a good reason, for example, a new start date.

A Successful Completion of the Equivalent of a Canadian Secondary School Education

One of the most caregiver requirements in Canada is that the employee (caregiver) must have completed the equivalence of Canadian High School education (secondary school). Because of the vast difference in schooling systems across Canada, it is impossible to give a precise number of years needed.

However, in most provinces in Canada, it takes twelve years of schooling to obtain a Canadian high school diploma. The immigration officer assessing your application will let you know what is needed.

Work Experience as a Caregiver or Role in a Related Field or Occupation

You are required to have at least six months of training or at least one year of full-time paid work experience as a caregiver or role in a related field or occupation. Six months of your work experience must be continuous employment with one employer.

This experience must also have been acquired within the three years before the day the caregiver applies for the work permit as a caregiver.

Good Knowledge of English or French

The caregiver must be able to speak, read and understand either English or French to function independently in the employer's home. For example, the caregiver must be able to call emergency services if needed and understand the labels on medications because the caregiver will be unsupervised for most of the day.

The Canadian Language Benchmark is a descriptive scale of language ability in the English language. It puts forward the presentation of a benchmark for assessing the language proficiency of non-native speakers of English. It is used extensively by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada to assess language skills for immigration purposes. A CLB is required to apply for all major Canadian immigration programs.

How to Apply as a Caregiver in Canada

Step 1: Receive an Offer of Employment (IMM 5983 E)

To begin the application process, you must first receive an Offer of Employment from a qualified Canadian employer. This offer will serve as the foundation for your caregiver application.

Step 2: Obtain Required IELTS & ECA credentials

As part of the application process, you will need to obtain the necessary language proficiency certification through the IELTS (International English Language Testing System) examination. Additionally, you must have your educational credentials assessed by an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) service to validate their equivalency in Canada.

Step 3: Application for Permanent Residency and Work Permit

Once you have the Offer of Employment and the required language proficiency and educational credentials, you can proceed to file your application for permanent residency and work permit within the appropriate caregiver pilot program in Canada. These applications will be processed simultaneously.

Step 4: Obtain an Open Work Permit

If your application meets the eligibility criteria of the caregiver pilot program, you will be approved to file for an Open Work Permit from your home country. This work permit will be occupation-specific within the same National Occupational Classification (NOC) code but not restricted to a specific employer.

Step 5: Processing of Work Permit and Accompanying Family Members

The processing time for the work permit is typically around 45 days on average. Once approved, you can obtain work and study permits for your spouse or common-law partner and children, allowing them to accompany you to Canada.

Step 6: Work Experience and Permanent Residency

Upon arrival in Canada, you can begin working as a caregiver and start gaining the required work experience. After accumulating two years of work experience, you will become eligible to apply for permanent residency, submitting the necessary documentation as proof of your work experience.

Processing and Decision

Once you have submitted your application for permanent residence, an immigration officer will review it to ensure that all the required forms are correctly filled out, fees are paid, biometrics (if required) are submitted, language requirements are met, proof of qualifying work experience and education requirements are provided, and all other necessary documents and information specified in the application package are included.

The processing time for caregiver applications is typically around six months. However, processing times may vary depending on factors such as criminal or security checks, unresolved family situations, or the need for additional verification from other IRCC offices. Always be sure you know what to do after you've submitted your application. 

Once a decision has been made on your application, you will be notified. If approved, you will be asked to send your passport to the processing office to receive your permanent resident visa, which includes the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) and an entry visa, if applicable.

Qualifying Work Experience

If you meet the eligibility requirements and have a job offer to work as a home child care provider or support worker, you may be able to apply for permanent residence through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot. These pilot programs provide an opportunity for caregivers and their family members to come to Canada to become permanent residents.

When you apply for these pilots, you will receive an open work permit to work temporarily in Canada. It's important to note that this work permit is occupation-restricted, meaning you have to work specifically in the designated occupation of home child care provider or home support worker. However, unlike other work permits, you don't need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) to qualify for this permit.

The work experience you gain through these pilot programs is crucial as it enables you to meet the eligibility requirements for permanent residence. Previously, a minimum of 24 months of qualifying work experience was required. However, under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot, you need only 12 months of qualifying work experience to be eligible for permanent residence.

To be eligible for permanent residence, you must have worked full-time in Canada in one of the following National Occupational Classification (NOC) jobs:

• Home Child Care Provider - NOC 44100)
• Home Support Worker - NOC 44101

By having relevant work experience in these occupations, you can demonstrate your skills and contributions as a caregiver, which are highly valued in Canada's immigration system.

Keeping Your Temporary Resident Status

While working in Canada, it is essential to maintain valid temporary resident status. To ensure continuity in your stay, you must apply to extend your work permit or change its conditions before it expires. Failing to do so may result in a loss of status and impact your eligibility for permanent residence.

Working as a caregiver in Canada offers promising opportunities for individuals who meet the caregiver requirements and are interested in pursuing a fulfilling career. The caregiver requirements in Canada include having a job offer from a qualified Canadian employer and meeting specific eligibility criteria.

To apply as a caregiver in Canada, individuals need to follow a step-by-step process that involves obtaining necessary credentials, submitting applications for work permits and permanent residency, and gaining the required work experience.

Caregiver jobs in Canada come with work visa sponsorship, providing a pathway for caregivers and their families to come to Canada and become permanent residents.

These opportunities aim to address previous challenges caregivers face, such as limited job mobility and the inability to bring family members to Canada. Introducing caregiver pilot programs, such as the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot, has improved the caregiver application process and offers a shorter qualifying work experience requirement.

Applying as a caregiver in Canada requires careful adherence to the specific requirements and procedures. Still, it can lead to a rewarding career and potential permanent residency for qualified individuals and their families.

Why Become A Caregiver in Canada

A Rewarding Career

Becoming a caregiver in Canada offers the opportunity to make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals who require assistance. Caregivers provide essential support, compassion, and care to those in need, allowing them to lead better and more fulfilling lives. The satisfaction derived from helping others and being a source of comfort and support can be incredibly rewarding.

A Route to Permanent Residency

One great advantage of working as a caregiver in Canada is the potential path to permanent residency. Caregiver pilot programs, such as the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot, provide avenues for caregivers and their families to come to Canada to become permanent residents. This can lead to long-term stability and opportunities for growth and development in the country.

Job Security and Visa Sponsorship

Caregiver jobs in Canada often come with job security and visa sponsorship. Qualified caregivers with job offers from qualified Canadian employers can apply for work permits and come to Canada to work in their designated occupation. This offers stability and peace of mind, knowing that there is a secured position and support regarding visa requirements, enabling caregivers to focus on their work and positively impact the lives of those they care for.

Fixed Salary

According to Talent.com, the average salary for a home care worker in Canada is CAD33,150 per year or CAD17 per hour. Entry-level positions typically start at CAD28,839 per year, while highly experienced workers earn up to CAD41,672 annually. These figures are based on 1421 salaries. On the other hand, the average salary for a childcare worker in Canada is CAD34,843 per year or CAD17.87 per hour. Entry-level positions for childcare workers begin at CAD29,315 per year, while those with extensive experience earn up to CAD46,891 annually. These salary estimates provide a general idea of the earning potential for home care and childcare workers in Canada.

FAQs

Can you Immigrate to Canada as a Home Care Provider Using the Express Entry System?

The Express Entry system does not cater to home care providers in its Federal Economic Immigration programs. However, via the Canadian Experience Class one year minimum work experience in Canada eligibility criteria, you can apply for it.

Can you Immigrate to Canada as a Home Care Provider Using the Provincial Nominee Program?

Each Canadian province has a definite but fluid list of in-demand occupations that homecare providers can consult to see if they are eligible to apply.