What will be changed in today’s announcement?
Canada has continually provided opportunities to obtain permanent residency to caregivers coming from abroad in recognition of their immense sacrifice and dedication over the last few decades. Today, members of Parliament Salma Zahid and Rechie Valdez, On behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship have announced that in order for caregivers to qualify for permanent residency in Canada, the period of work experience required is being reduced from 24 months to 12.
Furthermore, some spots under the existing caregiver pathways have been reserved for caregivers who already have work experience in Canada. The change will be retrospective for caregivers who have already applied prior to when the policy comes into effect on April 30, 2023.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), approximately 90% of caregiver applicants that are currently being processed will benefit from this change. Since 2019, it is estimated that nearly 1,600 caregivers and their family members have already become permanent residents through both Home Child Care Provider (HCCP) and Home Support Worker Pilot (HSW) programs. Further, between these two pilot programs, approximately 1,100 caregivers and their families have already become permanent residents in 2022.
How about other eligibility criteria?
Eligibility criteria remain the same for caregiver applicants in either the Home Child Care Provider (HCCP) or Home Support Worker (HSW) pilot. Successful applicants must be able to demonstrate the criteria listed below:
- Language results that indicate a Canadian Language Benchmark(CLB) rating of 5;
- IELTS General: Reading 4.0, Writing 5.0, Listening 5.0, Speaking 5.0
- CELPIP General: Reading 5, Writing 5, Listening 5, Speaking 5
To learn more about CLB, please check the official Language test equivalency charts here.
- One year of post-secondary education in Canada or the foreign equivalent;
- And successfully pass a criminal background check, security check, and medical check
As for work experience, candidates must be able to show:
- Work experience with 24 months that falls into the category of National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 4411 or 4412. It cannot be a mix of both jobs.
- An Occupation-Restricted Open Work Permit(OROWP) is available to applicants who are otherwise eligible but who do not yet have 24 months of qualifying Canadian work experience.
- Applicant’s job responsibilities need to match the NOC job description and most of the main duties.
- A candidate must have at least 30 hours of paid work per week to qualify for full-time employment.
Check more detailed eligibility criteria and qualification of work experience from the government’s official website.
Source: Canada to reduce work experience requirements for caregivers and provide pathways to permanent residence(Canadian government official website), CIC news, Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot: Assessing the application against selection criteria
Disclaimer: The information is obtained directly from the websites that appear in the source section. The information has been gathered as accurately as possible at the time of writing, but we cannot guarantee its accuracy or completeness. For the most accurate and up-to-date information, please check their official website and digital channels.
