Canada has several immigration and work permit options for caregivers who wish to work and live in Canada. Here are some of the options:

1. Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) – Caregivers who have a job offer from a Canadian employer can apply for a work permit under the TFWP. To be eligible, caregivers must meet certain requirements, such as having a valid job offer, meeting language proficiency requirements, and passing a medical examination.

2. Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot – These two pilot programs provide a pathway to permanent residency for caregivers who have at least 24 months of Canadian work experience as a home child care provider or a home support worker. The pilot programs have specific requirements for education, language proficiency, and work experience.

3. Express Entry – Caregivers who have at least one year of Canadian work experience in an eligible occupation, such as home child care provider or home support worker, may be eligible to apply for permanent residency through the Express Entry system. To be eligible, caregivers must meet the eligibility criteria for one of the Express Entry programs, such as the Federal Skilled Worker Program or the Canadian Experience Class.

4. Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) – Some Canadian provinces and territories have PNPs that offer immigration pathways for caregivers. These programs have specific requirements and may have different eligibility criteria than other immigration programs.

Caregivers who are interested in immigrating to Canada should research these programs to determine which one is best suited to their needs and qualifications. They should also consult with a licensed immigration consultant or lawyer to assist them with the application process.

Open Work Permits for applicants to the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot

IRCC classifies applicants under these pilots into two categories. The categories depend on whether the applicant has obtained 12 months of eligible Canadian work experience under NOC 4411 or NOC 4412.

1. Category A (If you have between 0-23 months of eligible Canadian work experience): If you do not yet have 12 months of NOC 4411 or NOC 4412 work experience in Canada, you need to apply for an occupation-restricted open work permit when you submit your permanent residence application under either pilot. If you meet all permanent residence eligibility criteria you will receive a work permit restricted to NOC 4411 or NOC 4412 to allow you to come to Canada as a temporary resident so you can obtain 12 months of work experience within three years. The three-year period starts the day the work permit is issued.
2. Category B (if you have already completed 12 months of eligible Canadian work experience under either NOC 4411 or NOC 4412): You are not required to apply for an occupation-restricted open work permit when submitting your permanent residence application under either pilot. You are eligible to apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) with or after your immigration application is submitted. The BOWP application will not be processed until IRCC assesses your permanent residence eligibility.

Your spouses and dependants are eligible to join you in Canada and obtain open work permits themselves.

In-Home Caregivers Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) Stream

Families can hire foreign caregivers to assist children, seniors, or persons with certified medical needs, when there are no Canadians and permanent residents available to do the job. The caregiver must provide care on a full-time basis (at least 30 hours per week) and work in the private household where the care is being provided.

The caregiver can assist with children under 18 years of age in roles such as NOC 4411. They can also assist with seniors that are 65 and over, and people with disabilities or serious illness. They can serve in roles such as NOC 3012, NOC 3233, and NOC 4412.

Families submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application to the Canadian government and get it approved. The foreign caregiver can then apply to get a work permit from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

It is important to note however that work permits to caregivers under NOC 4411 and 4412 will only be issued under the following conditions:

Caregivers who will be working in any province or territory except Quebec must be residing in Canada for IRCC to process their work permit. IRCC will refuse to process the work permit if you are living overseas.

Caregivers who will be working in Quebec can be residing in Quebec or overseas. IRCC will go ahead and process the work permit so long as eligibility criteria is met.