The Canadian immigration department, IRCC, on January 1, reset the program’s cap and opened applications for the 2024 Caregiver Pilot Program. Read on to learn about the program and what it means.

2024 Caregiver Pilot Program

IRCC opens the applications for two 2024 Caregiver Pilot Programs including:

  • The Home Childcare Provider Pilot and
  • The Home Support Worker Pilot under the Direct to Permanent Residence category.

These programs are particularly launched for applicants who have work experience in caregiving. These pilot programs were started by IRCC in 2019 and are scheduled to end on June 17, 2024.

The programs have been proven popular among immigrants. Notably, 1,100 caregivers and their family members attained Canadian permanent residence in 2022.

As per the 2023 data, the cap for one of these pilots, the Home Child Care Provider Pilot for online applicants, i.e., 1000, was reached on April 14, 2023, although, as per the site, there are still spaces available for the Home Support Worker Pilot in 2023.

Thus, IRCC suggested that these programs have high demand or limited spots, so interested candidates in these programs must submit their applications as early as possible to secure a place before the cap is reached for the current intake year.

2024 Caregiver Pilot Program: Work Experience Requirement

Last February, the Canadian immigration department announced the reduction of the work experience requirement to half. It was reduced from 24 to 12 months of full-time work. This change, according to the department, was believed to influence almost 90% of the caregiver immigration program applicants.

As per the department, full-time work for the Caregiver Pilot Program is described as 30 hours of paid work each week, and applicants must acquire work experience within 36 months or three years before applying for the Caregiver Pilot Program.

Notably, the work experience earned as a student is not eligible for this program. 

In addition, candidates are also required to have other work experience that fits within the National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 4411 or 4412.  

Per IRCC, the work experience must be in one of these jobs and can not be combined with the two. 

Moreover, candidates’ employment must match the NOC job description and complete most of the primary duties.

Other requirements for candidates are identical to the 2023 requirements, Which include the following. The candidates must:

  • Pass a Language test, and the results must be of a Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of 5;
  • Have at least one year of Canadian post-secondary education or its international equivalent; and
  • Pass an admissibility check for health, criminality, and security.

Temporary Resident Caregivers

Caregivers who are ineligible for Canadian PR under these caregiver pilot programs are still able to opt to apply for an extension of their work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP).

For this, their employer must obtain either a positive or neutral Labour Market Impact Assessment, often called LMIA. 

A Canadian employer is required to submit an LMIA or an application to Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). This will demonstrate that they could not find a Canadian or a PR with the needed skills to fill an in-demand role in its firm.

After that, if the ESDC believes that the recruitment of overseas workers under the TFWP will have a positive or neutral influence on the Canadian economy, they allow employers to hire foreign employees.

Note that the employees with a TFWP are on closed work permits. This means that they can only work for a specified employer. They do not have permission to work under any other Canadian employer.