By Preet Gill, Associate Lawyer
Special to The Post

As Canada's population continues to grow, evolve and age, the demand for skilled home care workers has never been higher. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), has demonstrated through their programs over the years that caregivers play an essential role in Canada to support vulnerable populations, including children, seniors and individuals with disabilities. Home care workers also enable families to continue working while ensuring that their loved ones are well cared for. The previous Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot programs ended on June 17, 2024, and were based on the amount of qualifying work experience an applicant had.

To address Canada’s ongoing need for home care workers, IRCC has introduced the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots. As an experienced home care worker, these new pilots may be the perfect opportunity for you if you’re looking to build a future in Canada. The goal of these pilot programs is to make it easier for qualified caregivers to become permanent residents of Canada, offering opportunities for workers, while providing vital services within communities in Canada. The new pilots will facilitate the process for home care workers in both home support and home childcare fields to become permanent residents and find work with a range of employers. IRCC announced that there will be two streams: the “Workers in Canada” stream and the "Applicants not working in Canada” stream.

The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot for Workers in Canada is scheduled to open on March 31, 2025. IRCC will begin by accepting PR applications for the Workers in Canada stream and will announce the opening of the Applicants not working in Canada stream in the near future.

Furthermore, if you're a home care worker in Canada without valid status, the Workers in Canada stream will also open a limited number of spots for applicants who are out-of-status. At the moment, IRCC has not provided any details of this feature of the program.

Essential Aspects of the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots:

Permanent Residence in One Step: Qualified applicants can directly get Canadian permanent residence, no prior work experience in Canada is needed. As long as they meet the program qualifications, they can become permanent residents without having to work in Canada first.

Reduced Language and Education Requirements: Under the new pilots, applicants will need to demonstrate that they have an education that is equivalent to a high school diploma and show their language proficiency meets Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4, or higher. This change makes the program more accessible to individuals who may not have high-level language skills or post-secondary education but are still qualified with the necessary experience to work in home care occupations.

For more information on taking an IRCC-recognized language test, please see: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/immigrate-canada/caregivers/home-care-worker-immigration-pilots/language-test.html.

No In-Canada Work Experience Required: Applicants are not required to have prior Canadian work experience to qualify under the new pilots. Instead, they will need to demonstrate recent and relevant work experience OR provide evidence of completing at least 6 months of related home care training. This process eliminates the need for Canadian work experience, meaning home care workers from other countries can apply directly if they meet the program's requirements.

Job Offer: All applicants must have a full-time job offer in-home care within Canada, outside of the Province of Quebec. Under the new pilot programs, home caregivers with a job offer can choose from a variety of employers, including private households; home health care service providers; organizations providing personal care services in residential settings; and pediatric home health care services. This flexibility ensures that home care workers can find employment that suits their skills and experience.

Are You Prepared for March 31, 2025?

If you’re a home care worker in Canada and interested in applying for permanent residency through the Workers in Canada stream, you will need to satisfy the following criteria:

1. Meet the Job Offer Requirement: Do you have a secure job offer from an eligible Canadian employer as a caregiver or a home care worker?

2. Ensure You Meet the Language Requirements: Have you taken an approved language test? Do you have a minimum CLB of 4? Please refer to the link above for details on taking an IRCC-recognized language test.

3. Demonstrate Relevant Work Experience: Do you have supporting documents, such as a reference letter from your previous employer(s), or other employment documents that prove your relevant work experience? Reference letters for immigration purposes are very specific and should correspond to the specific duties listed in the National Occupation Code (NOC) description for the position. It is advisable to specify the type of related and relevant work experience you have in the field. For example, did you work with children, seniors or both?

For details on the importance of reference letters, please see our former blog here: https://canadian-visa-lawyer.com/immigration-essentials-getting-the-reference-letter-right/

4. Demonstrate Relevant Education: Do you have an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)? ECA's are used by IRCC to verify an applicant's foreign education equivalency in Canada. It is advisable to obtain an ECA to confirm your education, as not all high school or secondary education credentials are considered equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma. The best and most reliable way to ensure that you meet the requirements is by confirming your education equivalency through an ECA.
For information on IRCC-recognized ECA service providers, please visit: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/partners-service-providers/foreign-educational-credential-assessment.html

The new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots present a unique opportunity for caregivers looking to build a future in Canada. With a path to permanent residency, reduced language and education requirements, and flexible work options, these pilots are designed to support both caregivers and the Canadian community. Ensure that you are prepared for the program's opening on March 31, 2025 and are able to adequately demonstrate that you meet the minimum requirements, placing you in a strong position to submit a complete application at the outset of the program. It is advisable to check IRCC’s website regularly, as they will be updating the program details to provide prospective applicants with the full eligibility criteria before the pilots open.

Preet Gill is an Associate Lawyer at Sas & Ing Immigration Law Centre in Vancouver, BC. She is committed to assisting clients with their immigration and residency goals in Canada. You can reach Preet by email at preet@sasanding.com or call her at 1-604-689-5444.