An interim immigration pathway for caregivers to live permanently in Canada is now open.
Caregivers who go to Canada to provide care to Canadian families, in the hope of eventually transitioning to become a permanent resident, should apply through the Interim Pathway for Caregivers (IPC).
“Caregivers come to Canada to provide care to families that need it, and it’s time for Canada to care for them in return,” said Ahmed Hussen, Canada’s Immigration Minister. “To demonstrate our commitment, we are finally providing them and their family members the opportunity to apply to become permanent residents.”
Criteria of the IPC include:
– A valid work permit
– One year of work experience as a home childcare provider or home support worker, or a combination of experience in both occupations
– A minimum Canadian Language Benchmark 5 level in reading, writing, listening and speaking in English or French
– A foreign equivalent or Canadian high school diploma.
Caregivers who have already been working in Canada temporarily but who have not qualified for any other current caregiver program are encouraged to review the criteria and begin working on their applications so that they don’t miss the 4th June deadline.
Applicants who either can’t get their Educational Credential Assessment or language test results before the deadline must provide proof that they’ve at least applied to get them.
Applications for permanent residence through the IPC will be processed in 12 months and there is no cap on the number of caregivers, with their spouses/common-law partners and dependent children, who will be accepted.
In June 2019, two new programs – the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot – will launch. These will replace the Caring for Children and Caring for People with High Medical Needs pilots. The new pilots will each have a maximum of 2,750 principal applicants, for a combined total of 5,500 principal applicants per year. Spouses/common-law partners and dependent children will not count against the limit.
Under the new pilots, in-home caregivers will get occupation-specific work permits, which will provide greater flexibility in changing jobs when necessary. Caregivers will also have more opportunity to bring their family with them to Canada, as their spouses/common-law partners will be eligible for an open work permit and their dependent children will be eligible for a study permit.
Article published 18th March 2019