Canada announces new residency opportunities for caregivers of children and the elderly
Rosa Díaz
Immigration Consultant and Founder of Road Map to Canada Immigration Consulting
Over the years, Canada has increased the number of caregivers for children and the elderly, as more and more Canadians try to balance their personal and work lives to support their loved ones, especially those with medical needs. This is why the government is providing them with new residency opportunities.
The caregiver program has changed over the years. Previously, to hire a caregiver as a temporary foreign worker, the employer had to apply through a process called the "Labour Market Impact Assessment," which involved demonstrating that there was no Canadian citizen or resident who could fulfill those roles. After two years of work experience, the worker could apply for permanent residency, demonstrating their work experience and meeting a specific level of English proficiency. Although the Labour Market Impact Assessment process still exists, in 2019, Canada launched a specific program for this segment of caregivers for children and the elderly. This program involved obtaining a position-specific work permit, but it was open to working with any employer. After two years of work experience, they could apply for residency by presenting pay stubs and other documents, but in 2023, this was changed to one year of work experience.
The difference with the previous program was that, in this second program, as part of the initial process, the temporary worker was assessed for residency, not just a temporary work permit, including Canadian admissibility rules, a genuine job offer, a specific level of English, and completion of one year of post-secondary education. The main drawback of the program was the processing times, which could exceed a year, considering that around 1,200 to 1,400 applications were received annually. This pilot program was offered for five years and ended on June 17, 2024.
On June 3, 2024, the Minister of Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship, Marc Miller, announced that a new pilot program for caregivers of children and the elderly would be launched, allowing them to enter Canada as permanent residents upon arrival. They would also be allowed to work for organizations that provide part-time or temporary care for semi-independent individuals or those recovering from an injury or illness. This new pathway means that caregivers can find suitable jobs with reliable employers and have clear and direct access to permanent residency as soon as they arrive in Canada.
“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.”
– The Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship at Government of Canada.
As part of the new requirements, they will need to demonstrate a lower level of English proficiency compared to the previous program, as well as complete high school, prove relevant work experience, and have a full-time job offer.
The program is set to launch later this year. As part of the Immigration Plan, Canada plans to admit 15,000 caregivers for children and the elderly as permanent residents in the 2024-2026 period.
Reference:
Goverment of Canada (2024). Canada announces new pilot programs to support caregivers and Canadian families, intends to make the caregivers program permanent. https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/news/2024/06/canada-announces-new-pilot-programs-to-support-caregivers-and-canadian-families.html