Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has unveiled new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, set to launch on March 31, 2025. These pilots aim to provide a streamlined pathway to permanent residence for qualified home care workers, addressing the nation’s growing demand for caregivers.
Streams of the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots
- Workers in Canada: This stream is for caregivers currently residing and working in Canada. Applications for this group will be accepted starting March 31, 2025.
2. Applicants Not Working in Canada: This stream targets individuals outside Canada or those not currently employed in the country. The application intake for this group will open at a later date, which is yet to be announced.
Eligibility Criteria for the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots
- Language Proficiency: Applicants must achieve a minimum Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4 in English or French.
Education: A Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent foreign credential is required.
- Work Experience or Training: Candidates need at least six months of recent, relevant work experience or must have completed a home care training program of at least six months.
- Job Offer: A full-time job offer in the home care sector is necessary. Eligible employers include private households and organizations that directly hire full-time home care workers, such as home health care service providers and personal care services in residential settings. Recruitment or placement agencies are not eligible employers. Notably, a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is not required for these job offers.
Additional Provisions
- Out-of-Status Workers in Canada: Home care workers currently in Canada without valid status may still be eligible to apply under a public policy, with a limited number of spots available.
- Previous Applicants: Individuals who applied to the now-closed Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot before June 17, 2024, and have since gained the required work experience, can submit proof to IRCC to have their permanent residence applications considered.
These new pilots replace the previous Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots, which concluded on June 17, 2024. Applications submitted before this date under the former pilots will continue to be processed.
