The Caregiver Pilot Project is a program under the Canadian immigration system that allows qualified caregivers to apply for permanent residency in Canada. The program aims to attract and retain experienced caregivers in Canada to meet the increasing demand for their services. The pilot project replaced the previous caregiver immigration programs that were in place before June 2019.
Under the Caregiver Pilot Project, there are two categories that applicants can apply for:
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot:
This stream is for individuals who plan to work as caregivers in a private home, providing care for children under the age of 18 years old.
The Home Support Worker Pilot:
This stream is for individuals who plan to work as caregivers in a private home, providing care for seniors or those with disabilities.
To be eligible for the Caregiver Pilot Project, applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Language proficiency: Applicants must meet the minimum language requirements in either English or French. They must take a language test approved by Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
- Education: A Have a Canadian high school diploma or equivalent foreign credential.
- Work experience: Applicants must have at least 24 months of full-time work experience as a home childcare provider or home support worker within the past 36 months. The work experience must be in a job that meets the National Occupational Classification (NOC) 4411 or 4412.
- Admissibility: Applicants must be admissible to Canada, which means they must not have a criminal record, a serious medical condition, or be a risk to national security.
- Job offer: Applicants must have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer for a full-time position as a home childcare provider or home support worker.
Once applicants meet the eligibility criteria, they can apply for permanent residency through the Caregiver Pilot Project. The processing time for permanent residency applications under the program can vary, but IRCC aims to process 80% of complete applications within 12 months.
The program has a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants per year, as well as their immediate family members. It is important to note that the pilot project is currently scheduled to end in June 2024, but may be extended or made permanent in the future.