Canada is reducing the work experience required for caregivers to qualify for permanent residence from 24 months to 12 months in Canada’s two caregiver pilot programs starting April 30, 2023, and is also applicable to those who have already applied.
What does this mean? This means that caregivers who are looking to apply under the Home Child Care Provider (HCCP) and Home Support Worker (HSW) pilot programs will be able to apply for permanent residence as soon as they have at least 12 months of work experience. Caregivers who have just started their careers will be able to apply sooner rather than the previous two-year requirement as well.
“Caregivers are an important option for families in Canada and have played an instrumental role in the lives of many growing children, aging parents, and those who need additional specialized care. By reducing the work experience required in Canada to one year, more caregivers and their families will become eligible to transition to permanent residence sooner, meaning that they can settle down and start the next chapter of their lives here in Canada.”
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship
In addition, some slots under the existing caregiver pathways have been reserved for caregivers who already have work experience in Canada from a previous work permit so that they are able to apply for permanent residence
The change is expected to affect 90% of all applications being processed. Essentially this means that qualified caregivers and their families will have a faster path to permanent residence in Canada.
All other criteria in the caregiver pilot programs remain the same. The two five-year caregiver pilot programs will end in June 2024 but IRCC is already planning for the future of caregiver programs in Canada.
In Summary:
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- Caregivers can now apply for permanent residence in Canada after working for 12 months instead of 24 months.
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- Some spots are reserved for caregivers who have already worked on a previous work permit in Canada.
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- The change will start on April 30, 2023, and is applicable to those who have already applied.
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- Canada wants to process applications faster by reducing the required work experience.
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- This change will help about 90% of applications currently being processed.
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- Caregivers and their families will have a faster way to become permanent residents and settle in Canada.
Want to find out what this means specifically for you? Get assessed by our Immigration Consultant today!