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Highlights
1. Applications for the Home Childcare Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot opened on January 1, 2024.
2. A total of 5,500 applications are expected to be accepted in 2024.
3. Both pilots are due to expire on June 17, 2024.
4. IRCC offers various resources and support services to help applicants through the process.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially opened its doors for applications to the 2024 intake of two popular caregiver pilot programs: the Home Childcare Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot. This exciting news offers qualified caregivers and their families a path to permanent residency.
The pilot programs, launched in 2019, are specifically designed to address the growing need for skilled caregivers in Canada. Both programs offer direct-to-permanent residency pathways for applicants with work experience in childcare or home support roles.
What’s new for 2024?
1️⃣Fresh start: The application cap for both programs has been reset, giving everyone an equal chance to apply.
2️⃣Prioritize experience: IRCC encourages applicants with relevant work experience to submit their applications early, as spaces are limited.
3️⃣Two paths: Both pilots offer two application categories: Direct to Permanent Residence and Gaining Experience in Canada. The latter allows individuals to gain experience in Canada before applying for permanent residency.
Eligibility Requirements: Work Experience Halved
In February 2023, the IRCC declared a significant reduction in the work experience prerequisite for caregivers, slashing it from 24 to 12 months of full-time employment. This adjustment has impacted approximately 90% of individuals applying for caregiver immigration programs.
As per the new guidelines, full-time work means 30 hours of paid labor per week. You should acquire the specified work experience within the 36 months preceding the submission of the application. It’s essential to note that work experience gained during one’s time as a student is not considered eligible.
Candidates must also adhere to specific work experience criteria, focusing on occupations falling under National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 4411 or 4412.
IRCC emphasizes that the work experience must be exclusively within one of these designated jobs and cannot be a combination of both.
Moreover, applicants need to ensure their job aligns with the NOC job description, and they must fulfill the majority of the primary duties associated with the position.
Other prerequisites for candidates remained unchanged, including language test results indicating a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5, demonstrating one year of Canadian post-secondary education or its foreign equivalent, and successfully passing an admissibility check encompassing health, criminality, and security assessments.
How to Apply
Interested applicants can find all the details and application instructions on the IRCC website or alternatively set up a consultation call with immigration experts at CanApprove. The application process is entirely online, and IRCC recommends applying as soon as possible, as spaces fill up quickly.
This is a significant opportunity for experienced caregivers seeking to build a new life in Canada. With the application window now open, you can explore this pathway to permanent residency if you possess the necessary skills and dedication.
