New Canadian Pilot Programs Grant PR to Caregivers on Arrival | Canada Immigrations Updates
Caregivers from abroad are invaluable to Canadian families. Their hard work significantly impacts the lives of children, seniors, and persons with disabilities.
Gurmeet Sharma
As the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot near their end this month, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, announced the launch of new, enhanced caregiver pilot programs.
These new initiatives aim to allow caregivers to continue coming to Canada while working towards making the caregiver pilot programs permanent.
New Pilot Programs: Permanent Residence on Arrival
The new pilot programs will grant home care workers permanent residence (PR) upon arrival in Canada. These workers will also be eligible to work for organizations that provide temporary or part-time care for individuals who are semi-independent or recovering from an injury or illness. This new pathway ensures caregivers can more easily find stable employment with reliable employers and have straightforward access to permanent resident status as soon as they arrive in Canada.
Eligibility Criteria for the New Caregiver Pilots
Candidates interested in working in Canada’s home care sector will be eligible to apply if they meet the following criteria:
- Attain a minimum of level 4 based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB)
- Hold the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma
- Have recent and relevant work experience
- Receive an offer for a full-time home care job
These new PR on arrival pilot programs mark a significant step forward in Canada’s efforts to meet the evolving home care needs of its diverse population. More information, including full eligibility criteria and details on how to apply, will be available before the full launch of the pilots.
Official Statements
“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
“After hearing stories and feedback from caregivers across Canada, I am proud that we are taking concrete action to create policies to support the caregiver community. Generations of women and men have advocated for this important pathway and have cared for our families and loved ones here in Canada. Now is the time to return the care they deserve." – The Honourable Rechie Valdez, Minister of Small Business
Quick Facts
- In June 2014, there was an inventory of over 60,000 persons for the Live-in Caregiver Program. Today, less than 1% of that inventory remains.
- As part of the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will admit over 15,000 caregivers as permanent residents.
- As of April 30, 2024, nearly 5,700 caregivers and their family members have become permanent residents since the launch of the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot in 2019.
