Home Care Provider Pilots

Home Child-Care and Home Support Worker

Canada just opened two new 5-year pilot programs for caregivers who wish to become permanent residents. Replacing the Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots, the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots opened for applications on June 18, 2019.

This pilot is designed to bring Home Child Care Providers&Home Support Workers to Canada on temporary work permits, with the ability to apply for permanent residence after gaining enough work experience.

Through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot, caregivers will also benefit from:

• Occupation-specific work permits, rather than employer-specific, to allow for a fast change of employers when necessary;
• Open work permits and/or study permits for the caregivers’ immediate family, to help families come to Canada together; and
• A clear transition from temporary to permanent status, to ensure that once caregivers have met the work experience requirement, they will be able to become permanent residents quickly.
• With the move to occupation-specific work permits under the Home Child Care and Home Support Worker pilots, employers will no longer need a Labour Market Impact Assessment before hiring a caregiver from overseas.
• The new pilots, Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker, will each have a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants, for a total of 5,500 principal applicants per year, plus their immediate family.

New Caregivers’ Pilots Requirements:

Only caregivers with a valid job offer to work in Canada can apply for the new pilot programs. In addition, they must:

• Meet language tests minimum criteria (CLB of 5 in English or NCLC of 5 in French);
• Have one year of post-secondary education in Canada or equivalent;
• Meet the admissibility criteria.

More than open work permits and/or study permits for the caregivers’ immediate family, the new pilots offer a direct path for permanent residence. The Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots will, allow “a clear transition from temporary to permanent status, to ensure that once caregivers have met the work experience requirement, they will be able to become permanent residents quickly”.

Alternatively

Child care and home management experience

• Home Childcare Provider Pilot – if you can show past experience or training in childcare or home support you will also be considered. However, this will then require you to also complete one year of post-secondary school education in Canada. Note that experience as a foster parent doesn’t count.
• Home Support Worker Pilot – if you can show past experience or training in home management you will also be considered. However, this will then require you to also complete one year of post-secondary school education in Canada. Note that former experience as a housekeeper doesn’t count.

First Aid Certification and CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) training

This could be required, but it is highly advised that you undergo this training regardless. Not only will it inspire more confidence in yourself, but it will reflect very well on your application as a professional child-care or home support worker.

Permanent Residence Through the Home Child-care Provider or Home Support Worker Pilot

You will require at least 24 months of work experience of in-home child-care or in-home support before a decision will be made your application for permanent residence.

You will be required to submit your work permit application with your permanent residence application. If you meet the general requirements of the pilot you will receive a temporary work permit to work in Canada, which will allow you to acquire the necessary qualifying work experience needed to apply for permanent residence.

Once you receive your open work permit, which will be occupation-restricted but will also allow you to work for any employer as a caregiver and have at least 24 months of Canadian full-time work experience, you will be able to apply for permanent residence.

Your family members will also be able to immigrate to Canada with you. If they intend to work or study, they can submit their permit applications along with yours.