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If you are a caregiver working in Canada or thinking of working in Canada, as of June 18, 2019 your options have changed. The Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) is now closed to new applicants, while other options including some pilot programs are newly available. The Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs programs have also been shut down.
If you are a caregiver working in Canada or thinking of working in Canada, as of June 18, 2019 your options have changed. The Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) is now closed to new applicants, while other options including some pilot programs are newly available. The Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs programs have also been shut down.

So, your new options will depend on if you wish to apply for permanent residence or work temporarily for a period and then return home. In general, the new programs encourage caregivers to obtain sufficient work experience to enable them to apply for permanent residence. Let’s take a moment and analyze the options as well as a few key dates you should keep in mind.

 

Permanent Residence – Caregivers

There are now several new pilot programs available for caregivers who wish to apply for permanent residence.

 

I: Home Child Care Provider Pilot & Home Support Worker Pilot

These are 5-year pilot programs that can allow qualified caregivers and their family members to immigrate to Canada to later become permanent residents by accumulating work experience in Canada. There are several paths within these pilot programs depending on your qualifying experience in one of the following two occupations:

  • NOC 4411: Home childcare provider (foster parent work does NOT count)
  • NOC 4412: Home support worker (housekeeper experience does NOT count)

 

Path number 1: You’ve never worked as a full-time caregiver in Canada

Even though you have no Canadian work experience you can still apply as long as you satisfy the remaining requirements:

  • You must have a genuine and valid job offer made on a IMM 5983 Offer of Employment form from a Canadian employer for full-time (30 or more hours a week) work. (No Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required)
  • You must be able to do the job because you have experience, training and skills in these areas.
  • You must meet the language level (CLB 5 for all 4 skills in English and/or French)
  • You must have a post-secondary credential of at least 1 year in Canada or a foreign equivalent (with an educational credential assessment).
  • You must be admissible to Canada (not have any criminal or security or health or other concerns that would result in your being refused entry).
  • You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec as a permanent resident.

 

Step 1:

You must apply to either pilot program and submit a work permit application along with a permanent residence application.

 

Step 2:

If you meet the above requirements you will get a temporary work permit allowing you to work temporarily in Canada. It will also be what is known as an occupation-restricted open work permit. This means you have to work at the occupation (either home child care provider or home support worker) you applied under but you can work for any valid employer in Canada.

 

Step 3:

Obtain at least 24 months work experience in your occupation in order to qualify for permanent residence.

 

Step 4:

Once you have gained 24 months of work experience send proof of the experience to the immigration authorities at your pilot program.

 

Step 5:

Your pilot program authorities will make a final decision on your permanent residence application.

 

Path number 2: You have some work experience but not 24 months worth

This means either you are working right now as a caregiver in Canada or you have recently worked as a caregiver in Canada but do not have 24 months of experience yet.

The steps you follow are exactly the same as those listed in Path number 1, except that you will obtain your 24 months of work experience sooner once you have your work permit.

 

Path number 3: You already have 24 months or more work experience in Canada as a caregiver

In this case you may apply directly for permanent resident status but you must include documented proof of your work experience in Canada, as you must also in path number 1 and path number 2.

 

II: Interim Pathway for Caregivers

This pathway became available on July 8, 2019 and applications will be accepted until October 8, 2019 so you should get your application in as soon as possible if you’re interested.

The following are the eligibility requirements:

  • A valid work permit that is not part of the Live-in caregiver program (see below for more information on the Live-in caregiver program)
  • You must have gained at least 12 months of full-time worker as either a home support worker or a home childcare provider or a combination of the two.
  • You must have a language level of CLB 5
  • You must have at least a secondary school (high school) diploma or foreign equivalent which as undergone an educational credentials assessment.

To apply you will need to download the document checklist which you can do here. Online, you should then fill out IMM 0008 Generic Application form for Canada. Validate by clicking every “validate” button you see and then print, sign, and date the form. Include all required documents from the checklist as well.

Check here to see if you have to give biometrics. Most applicants to Canada will indeed be required to do so. You will have to pay a biometrics fee when you apply and before you actually give biometrics. You will then be given a letter about where and how to give biometrics which are digital fingerprints and digital photographs of your face/eyes. Bring the letter with you when you go to give your biometrics.

Pay your fees which normally include:

  • Processing fees for you and any family member applying with you
  • Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)
  • Biometrics fee (if required).

 

III Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)

The Live-in Caregiver program is closed to new applicants. You can only apply for permanent residence through the LCP if:

  • You’re already working in Canada on an existing LCP work permit, or
  • You were approved for your first LCP work permit with an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) on or before November 30, 2014, and
  • You already have at least 2 years work experience under the LCP program.

 

Temporary Work – Caregivers

 

I: Extending a work permit through TFWP (Temporary Foreign Worker Program)

If you are already in Canada and:

  • you are eligible to apply for a work permit from inside Canada which usually means you’re on a work permit which is still valid, and
  • your employer has applied for a LMIA, OR
  • You live outside Canada, but your employer applied for an LMIA before June 18, 2019, OR
  • You will be working in Quebec

then you can apply through TFWP for an extension.

 

II: New Work Permits

However, as of June 18, 2019 you can no longer apply for a work permit to work as an in-home caregiver if:

  • You’re applying from outside Canada
  • You’re applying through TFWP
  • You will be working outside Quebec
  • Your employer applied for an LMIA on or after June 18, 2019.

 

Caregiver Programs That Have Been Closed Down

The following 2 caregiver programs are no longer accepting applications and are closing down:

 

Caring for Children Program

This program ended on June 18, 2019. If you applied previous to June 18, 2019 your application will continue to be processed. If not, you may consider one of the new pilot programs like the Home Child Care Provider pilot program.

 

Caring for People with High Medical Needs Program

This program also ended on June 18, 2019. If you applied before that date, your application will continue to be processed. If not, consider applying through the Home Support Worker pilot program mentioned above.

 

So as you can see, the caregiver field is shifting towards permanent residence status rather than temporary worker status with the requirements listed above. If you need more information on these new pilot programs and on caregivers in Canada in general, feel free to contact us!

 

More Information For Caregivers:

 

Rules from 2014 to 2019:

As of December 1, 2014, caregivers in Canada can apply for their permanent residence through the following two categories:

  • Caring for Children Pathway
  • Caring for People with High Medical needs Pathway

Applications submitted on or before November 30, 2014 would be processed under the old live-in caregiver program.

Caring for Children Pathway

This category is designed for caregivers who have provided child care in a home and plan to live in any province other than Quebec.

In order to be eligible to apply under this program, you must possess the required education, work experience and language ability. And of course, you must pass the security check and the medical examination.

Education:

A minimum of one year completed Canadian post-secondary education credential is required. If you completed your education outside of Canada, you must provide your foreign education credential and an original Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) by a CIC approved organization to show that it is equivalent to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year.

Work Experience:

You must have cared for children under the age of 18, whether in your own home or in your employer’s home for

  • at least 24 months of full-time work experience in Canada as a child caregiver in the last 4 years before you apply. Work experience gained outside of Canada as a caregiver, such as travelled overseas with employers’ children, will not be considered qualified work experience; and
  • you must have performed the main duties as a caregiver described under the Canadian national Occupational Classification (NOC) 4411.

Language:

You must provide your language test results from CELPIP or IELTS or TEF testifying that you meet the medium language proficiency requirement (CLB 5) for each ability of speaking, reading, listening and writing.

Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway

This program is created for caregivers who have provided care for the elderly or those with disabilities or chronic disease in a health facility or in a home, and plan to live in any province other than Quebec.

In order to be eligible to apply under this pathway program, you must possess the required education, work experience and language ability. And of course, you must pass the security check and the medical examination.

Education:

A minimum of one year completed Canadian post-secondary education credential is required. If you completed your education outside of Canada, you must provide your foreign education credential and an original Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) by an organization approved by CIC to show that it is equivalent to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year.

Work Experience:

You must have worked full-time in one of the following jobs at least 24 months in Canada within the past 4 years before you apply:

  • Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)
  • Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233)
  • Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413)
  • Home support workers and patient service associates (housekeepers are not eligible) (NOC 4412)

You must provide the proof that you are licensed to practice in Canada if you apply under NOC 3012 or NOC 3233.

Language:

You must provide your language test results from CELPIP or IELTS or TEF testifying that:

  • you meet the high proficiency requirement (CLB 7) for each ability of speaking, reading, listening and writing if you apply under NOC 3012; or
  • you meet the medium proficiency requirement (CLB 5) for each ability of speaking, reading, listening and writing if you apply under NOC 3233, NOC 3413 or NOC 3233.

As of November 30, 2014, live-in is not an requirement to apply as an in-home caregiver any more. However, in order to work as a Caregiver, both you and your employer still need to meet the rest requirements of the program.

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

Before hiring you, your employer must apply and obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)/Service Canada (SC). Your employer needs to make recruitment efforts to demonstrate that there are not enough Canadians or permanent residents available for the position. Your employer’s job offer and employment contract with you need to meet ESDC/SC’s requirements too.

Eligibility – Program Now Closed

Because the Live-In Caregiver program is now closed, you will have to satisfy standard work permit eligibility requirements, not the requirements listed below.

Caregivers are individuals who are qualified to provide care for children, elderly persons or persons with disabilities without supervision. In order to obtain the work permit, you will need:

  • A copy of the positive LMIA from your future employer
  • A written contract with your future employer, signed by you and your employer
    • The contract must include employer-paid benefits
    • Job duties
    • Hours of work
    • Wages
    • Accommodation arrangements (including room and board)
    • Holiday and sick leave entitlements
    • Termination and resignation terms
      • Successful completion of the equivalent of at least one year Canadian post secondary school education
      • At least six months’ training or at least one year of full-time paid work experience as a caregiver or in a related field or occupation (including six months with one employer) in the past three years
      • Good knowledge of English or French

If you would like assistance, contact Maxcan Immigration at our office in Markham, Ontario.
So, your new options will depend on if you wish to apply for permanent residence or work temporarily for a period and then return home. In general, the new programs encourage caregivers to obtain sufficient work experience to enable them to apply for permanent residence. Let’s take a moment and analyze the options as well as a few key dates you should keep in mind.

Permanent Residence – Caregivers

There are now several new pilot programs available for caregivers who wish to apply for permanent residence.

 

I: Home Child Care Provider Pilot & Home Support Worker Pilot

These are 5-year pilot programs that can allow qualified caregivers and their family members to immigrate to Canada to later become permanent residents by accumulating work experience in Canada. There are several paths within these pilot programs depending on your qualifying experience in one of the following two occupations:

  • NOC 4411: Home childcare provider (foster parent work does NOT count)
  • NOC 4412: Home support worker (housekeeper experience does NOT count)

 

Path number 1: You’ve never worked as a full-time caregiver in Canada

Even though you have no Canadian work experience you can still apply as long as you satisfy the remaining requirements:

  • You must have a genuine and valid job offer made on a IMM 5983 Offer of Employment form from a Canadian employer for full-time (30 or more hours a week) work. (No Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is required)
  • You must be able to do the job because you have experience, training and skills in these areas.
  • You must meet the language level (CLB 5 for all 4 skills in English and/or French)
  • You must have a post-secondary credential of at least 1 year in Canada or a foreign equivalent (with an educational credential assessment).
  • You must be admissible to Canada (not have any criminal or security or health or other concerns that would result in your being refused entry).
  • You must plan to live outside the province of Quebec as a permanent resident.

 

Step 1:

You must apply to either pilot program and submit a work permit application along with a permanent residence application.

 

Step 2:

If you meet the above requirements you will get a temporary work permit allowing you to work temporarily in Canada. It will also be what is known as an occupation-restricted open work permit. This means you have to work at the occupation (either home child care provider or home support worker) you applied under but you can work for any valid employer in Canada.

 

Step 3:

Obtain at least 24 months work experience in your occupation in order to qualify for permanent residence.

 

Step 4:

Once you have gained 24 months of work experience send proof of the experience to the immigration authorities at your pilot program.

 

Step 5:

Your pilot program authorities will make a final decision on your permanent residence application.

 

Path number 2: You have some work experience but not 24 months worth

This means either you are working right now as a caregiver in Canada or you have recently worked as a caregiver in Canada but do not have 24 months of experience yet.

The steps you follow are exactly the same as those listed in Path number 1, except that you will obtain your 24 months of work experience sooner once you have your work permit.

 

Path number 3: You already have 24 months or more work experience in Canada as a caregiver

In this case you may apply directly for permanent resident status but you must include documented proof of your work experience in Canada, as you must also in path number 1 and path number 2.

 

II: Interim Pathway for Caregivers

This pathway became available on July 8, 2019 and applications will be accepted until October 8, 2019 so you should get your application in as soon as possible if you’re interested.

The following are the eligibility requirements:

  • A valid work permit that is not part of the Live-in caregiver program (see below for more information on the Live-in caregiver program)
  • You must have gained at least 12 months of full-time worker as either a home support worker or a home childcare provider or a combination of the two.
  • You must have a language level of CLB 5
  • You must have at least a secondary school (high school) diploma or foreign equivalent which as undergone an educational credentials assessment.

To apply you will need to download the document checklist which you can do here. Online, you should then fill out IMM 0008 Generic Application form for Canada. Validate by clicking every “validate” button you see and then print, sign, and date the form. Include all required documents from the checklist as well.

Check here to see if you have to give biometrics. Most applicants to Canada will indeed be required to do so. You will have to pay a biometrics fee when you apply and before you actually give biometrics. You will then be given a letter about where and how to give biometrics which are digital fingerprints and digital photographs of your face/eyes. Bring the letter with you when you go to give your biometrics.

Pay your fees which normally include:

  • Processing fees for you and any family member applying with you
  • Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)
  • Biometrics fee (if required).

 

III Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)

The Live-in Caregiver program is closed to new applicants. You can only apply for permanent residence through the LCP if:

  • You’re already working in Canada on an existing LCP work permit, or
  • You were approved for your first LCP work permit with an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment) on or before November 30, 2014, and
  • You already have at least 2 years work experience under the LCP program.

 

Temporary Work – Caregivers

 

I: Extending a work permit through TFWP (Temporary Foreign Worker Program)

If you are already in Canada and:

  • you are eligible to apply for a work permit from inside Canada which usually means you’re on a work permit which is still valid, and
  • your employer has applied for a LMIA, OR
  • You live outside Canada, but your employer applied for an LMIA before June 18, 2019, OR
  • You will be working in Quebec

then you can apply through TFWP for an extension.

 

II: New Work Permits

However, as of June 18, 2019 you can no longer apply for a work permit to work as an in-home caregiver if:

  • You’re applying from outside Canada
  • You’re applying through TFWP
  • You will be working outside Quebec
  • Your employer applied for an LMIA on or after June 18, 2019.

 

Caregiver Programs That Have Been Closed Down

The following 2 caregiver programs are no longer accepting applications and are closing down:

 

Caring for Children Program

This program ended on June 18, 2019. If you applied previous to June 18, 2019 your application will continue to be processed. If not, you may consider one of the new pilot programs like the Home Child Care Provider pilot program.

 

Caring for People with High Medical Needs Program

This program also ended on June 18, 2019. If you applied before that date, your application will continue to be processed. If not, consider applying through the Home Support Worker pilot program mentioned above.

 

So as you can see, the caregiver field is shifting towards permanent residence status rather than temporary worker status with the requirements listed above. If you need more information on these new pilot programs and on caregivers in Canada in general, feel free to contact us!

 

Rules from 2014 to 2019:

As of December 1, 2014, caregivers in Canada can apply for their permanent residence through the following two categories:

  • Caring for Children Pathway
  • Caring for People with High Medical needs Pathway

Applications submitted on or before November 30, 2014 would be processed under the old live-in caregiver program.

Caring for Children Pathway

This category is designed for caregivers who have provided child care in a home and plan to live in any province other than Quebec.

In order to be eligible to apply under this program, you must possess the required education, work experience and language ability. And of course, you must pass the security check and the medical examination.

Education:

A minimum of one year completed Canadian post-secondary education credential is required. If you completed your education outside of Canada, you must provide your foreign education credential and an original Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) by a CIC approved organization to show that it is equivalent to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year.

Work Experience:

You must have cared for children under the age of 18, whether in your own home or in your employer’s home for

  • at least 24 months of full-time work experience in Canada as a child caregiver in the last 4 years before you apply. Work experience gained outside of Canada as a caregiver, such as travelled overseas with employers’ children, will not be considered qualified work experience; and
  • you must have performed the main duties as a caregiver described under the Canadian national Occupational Classification (NOC) 4411.

Language:

You must provide your language test results from CELPIP or IELTS or TEF testifying that you meet the medium language proficiency requirement (CLB 5) for each ability of speaking, reading, listening and writing.

Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway

This program is created for caregivers who have provided care for the elderly or those with disabilities or chronic disease in a health facility or in a home, and plan to live in any province other than Quebec.

In order to be eligible to apply under this pathway program, you must possess the required education, work experience and language ability. And of course, you must pass the security check and the medical examination.

Education:

A minimum of one year completed Canadian post-secondary education credential is required. If you completed your education outside of Canada, you must provide your foreign education credential and an original Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) by an organization approved by CIC to show that it is equivalent to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year.

Work Experience:

You must have worked full-time in one of the following jobs at least 24 months in Canada within the past 4 years before you apply:

  • Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (NOC 3012)
  • Licensed practical nurses (NOC 3233)
  • Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 3413)
  • Home support workers and patient service associates (housekeepers are not eligible) (NOC 4412)

You must provide the proof that you are licensed to practice in Canada if you apply under NOC 3012 or NOC 3233.

Language:

You must provide your language test results from CELPIP or IELTS or TEF testifying that:

  • you meet the high proficiency requirement (CLB 7) for each ability of speaking, reading, listening and writing if you apply under NOC 3012; or
  • you meet the medium proficiency requirement (CLB 5) for each ability of speaking, reading, listening and writing if you apply under NOC 3233, NOC 3413 or NOC 3233.

As of November 30, 2014, live-in is not an requirement to apply as an in-home caregiver any more. However, in order to work as a Caregiver, both you and your employer still need to meet the rest requirements of the program.

Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)

Before hiring you, your employer must apply and obtain a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)/Service Canada (SC). Your employer needs to make recruitment efforts to demonstrate that there are not enough Canadians or permanent residents available for the position. Your employer’s job offer and employment contract with you need to meet ESDC/SC’s requirements too.

Eligibility – Program Now Closed

Because the Live-In Caregiver program is now closed, you will have to satisfy standard work permit eligibility requirements, not the requirements listed below.

Caregivers are individuals who are qualified to provide care for children, elderly persons or persons with disabilities without supervision. In order to obtain the work permit, you will need:

  • A copy of the positive LMIA from your future employer
  • A written contract with your future employer, signed by you and your employer
    • The contract must include employer-paid benefits
    • Job duties
    • Hours of work
    • Wages
    • Accommodation arrangements (including room and board)
    • Holiday and sick leave entitlements
    • Termination and resignation terms
      • Successful completion of the equivalent of at least one year Canadian post secondary school education
      • At least six months’ training or at least one year of full-time paid work experience as a caregiver or in a related field or occupation (including six months with one employer) in the past three years
      • Good knowledge of English or French

If you would like assistance, contact Maxcan Immigration at our office in Markham, Ontario. Maxcan serves the Greater Toronto Area.