Everything You Need to Know About Canada's Caregiver Programs
Are you interested in becoming a caregiver in Canada? If so, read the information we have provided below to learn how to do so. Fill out our immigration assessment form and we will get back to you to discuss your eligibility and immigration options.
If you have experience as a caregiver you may qualify for one of the three Caregiver Programs in Canada. As a caregiver, you have several options to work temporarily or become a permanent resident of Canada. Select one of the programs below to find out which one is best for you and your work experience. If you need assistance in applying for one of the programs, book a consultation with our immigration consultants.
Canada Live-In Caregiver Program
Who Can Apply to be a Live-In Caregiver?
Canada’s Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP) is for foreign nationals who wish to be employed by a Canadian citizen as a caretaker/nanny for their children or someone with disabilities in the home. This would provide a direct pathway to permanent residence. After just two years of experience with the LCP work permit, foreign nationals are able to apply for permanent residence.
Who is Eligible For the Live-In Caregiver Program?
To be eligible for the live-in caregiver program, applicants must:
- Have a valid work permit, or have applied to extend your work permit, or have applied to restore your status as a worker in Canada.
- Have work experience in Canada as either a Home Child Care provider or a Home Support Worker.
- Have at least 1 year of full-time work experience since November 30, 2014 which can be cumulative rather than continuous but cannot include work experience while a student.
- Have been working in a job that matches your NOC code’s listed duties.
- Have tested language skills equivalent to Canadian Languages Benchmark (CLB) 5 or NLCL (French language) 5 in all four areas of reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
- Have a minimum Canadian High School Diploma or a foreign diploma, certificate, or credential that’s equivalent.
Rules to Follow When Working in the LCP
There are certain rules a foreign national must follow while working as a Live-In Caregiver. These consist of:
- person should be able to work at least 30 hours of full-time care to children aged less than 18 years, a person with disabilities or an elderly person in said home
- must live and work professionally in said home without any supervision or help
- must meet all requirements set by CIC and human resources and skills development Canada which include:
– The employee must show some fluency levels to prove that he can communicate and live independently in an unsupervised environment and
– The employee should get full-time training for at least 6 months. The live-in caregiver should have worked for at least 1 year as a full time caregiver or in related occupation within last 3 years.
How to Apply for the Live-In Caregiver Program
The Live-In Caregiver Program is currently closed for new applicants. If you don’t already have an LCP work permit and would like to work as a caregiver in Canada, you must apply for a regular work permit.
You can only hire a caregiver through this program if you have:
- found a caregiver who already has a work permit in the Live-in Caregiver Program and who is looking for a new employer, and
- been approved for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) that shows the caregiver has agreed to live in your home
Applying for Permanent Residence as a Live-In Caregiver
You may be eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada under the Live-in Caregiver Program if you meet the following requirements:
- Have worked for at least 2 years of authorized full-time live-in employment in Canada, or
- Have worked 3900 hours of authorized full-time live-in employment, this may include 390 hours of overtime duty, and
- The work experience must be acquired within four years of your date of arrival.
Your application will be affected if:
- you, your spouse or common-law partner, or any of your family members have a criminal record or a serious medical problem or pose a security risk.
- you didn’t provide truthful information to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada
Other Options for Becoming a Caregiver in Canada
Home child care providers help busy parents watch after children and also may be required to help out with household duties. Care can be provided either in the employee’s own home or in their employer’s homes.
This pilot is open to applicants who are interested in jobs such as a(n):
- Babysitter
- Au pair
- Live-in child caregiver
- Private home child caregiver
- Nanny
- Parent’s helper
- Foster parent
- Child caregiver in a public setting such as a gym or shopping centre
Home support worker providers are aimed to help senior citizens, people with disabilities and individuals going through rehabilitation. Responsibilities typically include preparing meals, feeding, bathing, changing dressings, administering medications and other routine housekeeping duties.
This pilot is open to applicants who are interested in jobs such as a(n):
- At-home attendant for persons with disabilities
- Family caregiver
- Home support worker
- Housekeeper
- Live-in caregiver for seniors
- Personal aide (home support)
- Personal care attendant (home care)
- Respite worker (home support)
- Doula
- Home visitor (infant care)
Home Child Care Provider Pilot
Who Can Apply for Home Child Care Provider Pilot?
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot is a 5-year pilot program that allows qualified caregivers and their family members to come to Canada with the goal of becoming permanent residents.
If you have been offered a job in Canada as a caregiver or have experience working in Canada as a caregiver, you may be able to apply for permanent residence through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot. Find out what the requirements are to see if you are eligible.
home child care provider – NOC 4411
Eligibility Requirements for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot
You will be eligible to apply for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot if you have:
- enough work experience
- meet the language level
- meet the education requirement
- are admissible to Canada
- plan to live outside the province of Quebec
Work Experience Requirement
You must have at least 24 months of full-time work experience in Canada in the 36 months before you apply.
Depending on which pilot you apply for, your work experience must be in 1 of these National Occupational Classification (NOC) jobs:
Home child care provider (NOC 4411)
- You must care for children under the age of 18 in your own home or in your employer’s home
- You don’t need to live in your employer’s home to qualify
- Experience as a foster parent doesn’t count
Language Level Requirement
You need to take a language test to prove you meet the minimum language skills.
To measure your English or French skills, we use:
- Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English
- Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for French
The minimum language skill is CLB 5 in English or NLCL 5 in French for all 4 language skills:
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
Education Requirement
You must have a completed post-secondary education credential of at least 1 year in Canada. If you don’t have a Canadian education credential, you need to get your foreign education credential assessed to show that it’s equal to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least 1 year.
How to Apply to the Home Child Care Provider Pilot
The application process for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot is different depending on your situation and how much qualifying work experience you have. Select the work experience category that fits you best, below, to find out how to apply.
You have never worked full-time in Canada as a caregiver.
You have or are working full time as a caregiver in Canada but you don’t have 24 months of experience yet.
In the last 36 months, you have worked full-time as a caregiver in Canada for a total of at least 24 months.
Home Support Worker Pilot
Who Can Apply for Home Support Worker Pilot?
The Home Support Worker Pilot is a 5-year pilot program that allows qualified caregivers and their family members to come to Canada with the goal of becoming permanent residents.
If you have been offered a job in Canada as a caregiver or have experience working in Canada as a caregiver, you may be able to apply for permanent residence through the Home Support Worker Pilot. Find out what the requirements are to see if you are eligible.
home support worker – NOC 4412
Eligibility Requirements for the Home Support Worker Pilot
You will be eligible to apply for the Home Support Worker Pilot if you have:
- enough work experience
- meet the language level
- meet the education requirement
- are admissible to Canada
- plan to live outside the province of Quebec
Work Experience Requirement
You must have at least 24 months of full-time work experience in Canada in the 36 months before you apply.
Depending on which pilot you apply for, your work experience must be in 1 of these National Occupational Classification (NOC) jobs:
Home child care provider (NOC 4411)
- You must care for children under the age of 18 in your own home or in your employer’s home
- You don’t need to live in your employer’s home to qualify
- Experience as a foster parent doesn’t count
Language Level Requirement
You need to take a language test to prove you meet the minimum language skills.
To measure your English or French skills, we use:
- Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English
- Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for French
The minimum language skill is CLB 5 in English or NLCL 5 in French for all 4 language skills:
- writing
- reading
- listening
- speaking
Education Requirement
You must have a completed post-secondary education credential of at least 1 year in Canada. If you don’t have a Canadian education credential, you need to get your foreign education credential assessed to show that it’s equal to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least 1 year.
How to Apply to the Home Support Worker Pilot
The application process for the Home Support Worker Pilot is different depending on your situation and how much qualifying work experience you have. Select the work experience category that fits you best, below, to find out how to apply.
You have never worked full-time in Canada as a caregiver.
You have or are working full time as a caregiver in Canada but you don’t have 24 months of experience yet.
In the last 36 months, you have worked full-time as a caregiver in Canada for a total of at least 24 months.
Why Seek Professional Immigration Help?
The LCP application process can be very complex, time consuming and difficult. It is therefore essential that if you are considering applying for Canadian Visas, you get professional immigration help. The last thing you want is to be told your application is refused after months (or sometimes years) of waiting.
Are You Interested in Immigrating to Canada as a Caregiver?
We have over 15 years of experience and have helped thousands and thousands of people immigrate to the Canada, and we are certain we can help you too!