News release
Toronto, June 3, 2024—Caregivers from abroad play a crucial role in the lives of Canadian families, providing essential support for children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
With the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot concluding later this month, the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, has announced the launch of new, improved caregiver pilot programs. These enhancements will ensure caregivers can continue to come to Canada, as the government moves towards making these pilot programs permanent.
The new pilot programs will grant home care workers permanent residence (PR) upon arrival in Canada. These workers will be allowed to work for organizations offering temporary or part-time care for semi-independent individuals or those recovering from injuries or illnesses. This new pathway enables caregivers to secure appropriate employment with trustworthy employers and provides straightforward access to permanent resident status immediately upon their arrival in Canada.
Candidates interested in working in Canada’s home care sector can apply for these new pilot programs if they meet the following criteria:
- Achieve a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4
- Possess the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma
- Have recent and relevant work experience
- Obtain a full-time job offer in home care
These PR on arrival pilot programs represent a significant advancement in Canada’s efforts to address the evolving home care needs of its diverse population. Additional information, including full eligibility criteria and application details, will be released prior to the full launch of the pilots.
Quotes
“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, the Live-in Caregiver Program had an inventory of over 60,000 individuals. Today, less than 1% of that inventory remains.
- As outlined in the 2024–2026 Immigration Levels Plan, Canada will admit over 15,000 caregivers as permanent residents.
- By April 30, 2024, nearly 5,700 caregivers and their family members have achieved permanent resident status since the launch of the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot in 2019.
