After two years working as a caregiver in Canada, you can apply for permanent residence under the Government of Canada’s Caregiver Program.

On November 29, 2014, Citizenship Immigration Canada limited permanent residence applications through the Live-in Caregiver Program to foreign nationals whose initial entry to Canada was supported by a Labour Market Impact Assessment. At the same time two new pathways were established to allow permanent residence for foreign nationals with Canadian work experience in caregiving occupations.

The three pathways are:

• Caring for Children Pathway: if you have provided child care in a home, while living either in or outside the home.
• Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway: if you have cared for the elderly or people with disabilities or chronic diseases in a health facility or a home.
• Live-in Caregiver Program: if you have provided care for children, the elderly or people with a disability while living in the home.

The most notable difference between the programs is that the Caring for Children Pathway and Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pathway have similar criteria as the Live-in Caregiver Program, but without the live-in requirement.

[spacer height=”15px”]Caring for Children Program

You can apply through this program if you have:

• Provided full-time child care in a home in Canada for at least two years.
• You plan to live outside the province of Quebec.  
• Your work must match the description in Canada’s National Occupational Classification (NOC) Group 4411.
• You must have cared for children under the age of 18, in your own home or in your employer’s home.
• You do not need to have lived in your employer’s home to qualify.
• Have completed a one-year Canadian post-secondary credential or equivalent foreign credential.
• Pass a minimum threshold of language ability for one of Canada’s two official languages, either English or French. The minimum language ability is Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5.
• You must not be inadmissible to Canada for criminal, security, health or financial reasons.

[spacer height=”15px”]Caring for People with High Medical Needs Program

You can apply through this program if you have:

• Been working in Canada for at least two years full time as a registered or licensed practical nurse, nurse aid or orderly, home support worker.
• Your work experience must be in one of these jobs listed in the Canadian National Occupational Classification: Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012); Licensed practical nurses (3233); Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (3413); Home support workers and related occupations (4412).
• You are licensed to practice in Canada.
• You are registered with the applicable regulatory body, as required, in your province or territory at the time you apply.
• Have completed a one-year Canadian post-secondary credential or equivalent foreign credential.
• Pass a minimum threshold of language ability for one of Canada’s two official languages, either English or French. The minimum language ability is Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5.
• You must not be inadmissible to Canada for criminal, security, health or financial reasons.

[spacer height=”15px”]Live-in Caregiver Program

You can apply for this program if you have:

• At least two years of work experience in Canada.
• Have completed a one-year Canadian post-secondary credential or equivalent foreign credential.
• Pass a minimum threshold of language ability for one of Canada’s two official languages, either English or French. The minimum language ability is Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5.
• You must not be inadmissible to Canada for criminal, security, health or financial reasons.

Contact us to book a consultation and find out how you may qualify under the Caregiver Program, for permanent residency status in Canada.