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Canada will open a new interim pathway for caregivers, who came to Canada after November 30, 2014 but did not qualify for permanent residence. The new pathway will come into effect on March 4, 2019 and will remain open till June 4, 2019. The three-month pathway is specifically meant for individuals who have acquired work experience in Canada since November 30, 2014, as a home childcare provider, home support worker or a combination of both through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program of Canada.
Besides the interim pathway for caregivers, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has also announced two improved five-year pilot programs for caregivers that will allow them to obtain permanent residence after two years. Their spouses and dependent children would also be allowed to join them.
Interim Pathway for Caregivers
In order to be eligible to apply for permanent residence through the interim pathway, the work experience of the applicant must match the initial description and list of main duties for Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) Group 4411 or 4412. The applicant must also be planning to reside outside Quebec. Other requirements are:
- Authorization to work in Canada on a work permit other than a Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) work permit; or
- The candidate must have applied for a renewal of his/her work permit, which must not be a Live-in Caregiver Program work permit; or
- The candidate must have applied and must be eligible for restoration of status, and held a work permit other than a Live-in Caregiver Program work permit as their most recent work permit
- Language proficiency of at least CLB/NCLC 5 in English or French
- At least 12 months of full-time work experience in Canada since November 30, 2014, in a relevant occupation
- A Canadian high school diploma or non-Canadian educational diploma, certificate or credential equal to Canadian high school diploma.
If the applicant has obtained his/her educational credentials from outside Canada, they will have to submit an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) which must have been issued within five years before the date of application.
IRCC has not set any limit to the number of applications that it will accept through the Interim Pathway for Caregivers.
Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots
The Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots, the two new pilot programs that will come into effect later this year, will allow foreign caregivers to gain two years of work experience after which they get access to a “direct pathway” to permanent residence. The work experience in Canada must be obtained with an occupation-specific work permit for caregivers and not an employer-specific work permit. It means the caregivers are allowed to switch employers.
Under the new pilots, family members will be allowed to accompany caregivers to Canada. The s spouse or common-law partner of a caregiver can apply for an open work permit and dependent children would be granted a study permit.
IRCC is planning to accept a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants each year under the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots. Further details on the new pilots will be released before the two current caregiver pilots expire, IRCC has informed.
Interested in migrating to Canada? Contact us for a free assessment to know your eligibility.
