Caregiver Permanent Residency Applications
A quicker route to permanent residency for caregivers
Two Pilot Programs for Caregivers
The original Live-in Caregiver Program has closed to all new applications, but was replaced by 2 new pilot caregiver programs:
- Home Child Care Provider Pilot
- Home Support Worker Pilot
Both programs are designed for applicants with either:
- a genuine, valid job offer or
- have already gained experience working as a caregiver in Canada.
What are the Requirements for Caregiver Applications?
Work Experience
If you have 24 months of caregiving work experience inside Canada in the last 36 months, you may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through one of the two caregiver streams. You must have work experience which is related to caregiving. Your prior job duties must be closely related to the following National Occupation Classifications (NOC). These are specific job categories classified by the Government of Canada. Each NOC lists specific job duties.
NOC 4411 (home childcare provider)
You must care for children under the age of 18 in your own home or in your employer’s home.
NOC 4412 (home support worker)
You must have cared for someone who needs help from a home support worker either.
If you cannot demonstrate that your prior work experience closely resembles one of the two NOC codes, you may not be eligible for either pilot program.
Additional Work Experience Requirements
If you think you already have 24 months of valid experience, it must be eligible experience:
- It must have been full time (minimum 30 hour weeks)
- Time spent working while enrolled as a full-timer student will not count
- You must have gained 24 months of caregiving experience in the last 36 months. It does not need to be consecutive.
- You will need to demonstrate that your work experience matches one of the two appropriate NOC codes. How is this done? By providing any of the following:
- Confirming of Employment Letter listing your length of employment and duties
- Employment Contracts
- Pay Stubs
- Tax Documents (i.e. T4, Notice of Assessment)
work experience In Canada?
- Work Permit
- Permanent Residence
If your work permit is granted and you are admissible to Canada, you can begin working right away. Once you complete your 24 months of experience within Canada, you can then submit your proof to IRCC for a final decision on your permanent resident application.
Language Skills Requirement
You must meet a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score of 5 in all four categories: speaking, reading, writing, and listening.
Education Requirement
You must have completed either :
- a minimum of one-year post-secondary education in Canada, or
- If you completed your education outside Canada, you must obtain an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) which equates to one-year of Canadian post-secondary education or higher
Advantages of the Caregiver Programs
LMIA Exempt Occupation-Specific Work Permit
Caregiver work permits are occupational specific work permits which allow you to work for any eligible caregiver employer, and switch without having to make a new application or for the employer to have a Labour Market Impact Assessment
Visas for Spouse and Children
- Any accompanying children or other dependents may be eligible for an open work permit, study permit or visitor visa
- Unlike the previous Live-in Caregiver Program, you do not need to live in the home of the person or people you are caring for
Disadvantages of the Caregiver Programs
Work Experience must be specifically related to caregiving
- Any work experience as a housekeeper or foster parent will not be counted, or experience outside Canada
- You must be working as a caregiver in one of the two NOCs for your work permit, and cannot switch to another
- Job Offer (if you have under 24 months of caregiving experience) You must have a valid job offer before applying if you do not have at least 24 months of qualified caregiver experience
Have a Question?
How We Can Help
At VisaPath, our representatives are highly experienced with caregiver applications and can guide you through each step of
the process.
There are a number of forms that you will need to fully complete and sign in your application. At VisaPath, we will provide you guidance on completing these complex forms. As with any immigration application, false or incomplete information may lead to delays at a minimum, to a finding of misrepresentation that could lead to be being banned from further applications for five years. With our expertise, we can help you avoid such negative outcomes.
Our representatives understand all the potential pitfalls of these applications and can help you get into the mind of an immigration officer to ensure you compile a complete, strong and convicting application to give you the best chances of success. With VisaPath’s help, you can become a permanent resident that much faster.
Contact us at 416-477-2570 for a consultation to get started!
To get started, contact our office at
Testimonials
My thanks to you and your team, Shabnam. My wife and I have just entered Canada and received our documents. I am now a Federal Skilled Worker 😉 We couldn’t have done this without you.
Ernesto D
My thanks to you and your team, Shabnam. My wife and I have just entered Canada and received our documents. I am now a Federal Skilled Worker 😉 We couldn’t have done this without you.
Ernesto D
Frequently Asked Questions
What type of NOC is this program under?
The applicant’s work experience must be full time in Canada under the following:
- Home child care provider – NOC 4411
You must be willing to take care of children under the age of 18 in the designated household. You are not obligated to live with the employer in order to qualify. If you have previous experience as a foster parent, unfortunately it would not count as work experience under this category.
- Home Support Worker – NOC 4412
You must be willing to take care of a senior or someone who needs physical assistance from a home support worker. You are not obligated to live in the household of the employer. Housekeeping experience is not counted towards this category.
What are the requirements needed for the applicant to get a work permit?
The requirements associated with a live in caregiver work permit include:
- Having a job offer from an employer in Canada, who is a Canadian citizen or PR, who is able to offer you the job to you
- Ability to do the respective jobs as a child care provider or a home support worker
- The candidates must have work experience as a caregiver
- They must undergo a language test and get a certain score in order to be eligible for a Live-In Caregiver work permit.
- They must have at least one year of post-secondary education or foreign education that is equivalent to one year post-secondary in Canada.
If I get a work permit as a caregiver, do I have to apply for a permanent resident after thetwo years of work experience?
Your permanent resident application is included in the live in caregiver application. You are only eligible for permanent resident only after you completed two years of work experience in Canada, working as a caregiver. That is why it is important that you have a valid live in caregiver work permit first and then work in Canada for two years and then receive your permanent resident status.