Immigrate to Canada as a Caregiver

Caregivers are highly valued individuals in Canada. By caring for children and the elderly who can no longer properly care for themselves, they fulfill a highly valued need within Canada's labor market. Caring for children and the elderly requires patience, strength and resilience. If your foreign caregiver has these qualities, you are exactly the type of person the Canadian government is looking for!

Ready to make your way to Canada as a Caregiver? Here is a list of available immigration visa pathways to realize your aim to immigrate to Canada as a Caregiver!

Make Your Move to Canada

What Are Caregivers in Canada?

Caregivers in Canada are vital to Canada's healthcare system. They provide essential support services to individuals who cannot care for themselves. Caregivers can work in various settings, including homes, hospitals, and long-term care facilities.

Au pairs in Canada offer assistance with daily activities, such as:

• Bathing,
• Dressing,
• Cleaning,
• Cooking and
• Medication management.

In addition to physical care, caregivers provide patients with emotional support and companionship. Here are a few examples of caregiving occupations in Canada:

• Home care attendant for persons with a visual impairment
• Home care attendant for persons with disabilities
• At-home client care attendant
• Companion
• Domestic Helper
• Doula
• Family Caregiver
• Home care family worker
• At-home healthcare worker
• Home helper
• Home support attendant
• Home support worker
• Home-care worker
• Homemaker
• Live-in caregiver
• Live-in caregiver for people with disabilities
• Live-in caregiver for seniors
• Personal aide at home support
• Home care personal assistant
• At-home personal care aide
• At-home Personal care attendant
• At-home Personal care provider
• At-home Personal support aide
• At-home Personal support worker
• Respite worker - home support
• Teaching homemaker
• Visiting homemaker

Best Ways to Immigrate to Canada as a Caregiver

Caregivers in Canada can immigrate to Canada using the following immigration pathways:

Homecare Provider Pilots

One of the most popular immigration pathways for caregivers in Canada is the Home Care and Child Provider Pilots. The Home Support Worker and Child Provider Pilots is an immigration program that provides a pathway to permanent residency in Canada for in-home caregivers.

The Home Support Worker Pilot and the Home Child Care Provider Pilot are two programs under the Homecare Provider Pilots.

Home Support Worker Pilot

To be eligible to apply for the Home Support Worker Pilot you must have work experience as a Home Support worker or its related occupations under the Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) code 44101.

You can use Canada’s Job Bank Job Finder to find caregiver jobs in Canada.

Home Child Care Provider Pilot

To apply for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot, you must have work experience providing at-home care to children in your own home, the employer’s or the child’s home. Applicants with related occupations under NOC 44100 can also apply.

Please Note

This pilot allows you to change your employer if you are dissatisfied with them. Applicants with a First Aid Certificate and home management experience may have a higher chance of success.

You must meet the following basic requirements to apply to this program.

• A valid job offer from a Canadian employer
• Be admissible to Canada
  • This means that you have no criminal record or will put unnecessary pressure on Canada’s healthcare system due to a medical condition.
  • You can demonstrate this through a medical or police clearance certificate
• Level 5 Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) proficiency in English or French (at least Canadian Language Benchmark level 5)
• Completed 1-year or higher Canadian post-secondary education or equivalent foreign educational qualification with an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report

Both of these programs provide caregivers with the chance to work in Canada while being supported by their employers.

Start Your Canadian Journey

Provincial Nominee Programs for Caregivers

Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) are another excellent option for caregivers looking to immigrate to Canada. PNPs allow individual Canadian provinces and territories (except Quebec and Nanuvut) to nominate candidates for permanent residency based on their specific labor market needs. The most suitable PNP programs for caregivers are as follows:

Ontario Employer Job Offer: In-Demand Skills Stream

This stream is designed for foreign workers with a job offer in an in-demand occupation in Ontario. As Caregivers fall under NOC 44101 (Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations), they are considered in demand in Ontario, meaning they have a good chance of success in this stream.

Prince Edward Island (PEI) Critical Workers Stream

The PEI Critical Worker Stream is employer-driven, allowing Island employers to fill low-skilled positions in Teaching, Education, Experience, and Responsibilities (TEER) level 4 or 5 that they cannot fill from the local labor market. Many caregiving jobs e.g nannies, housekeepers, domestic helpers, and personal aides, are included in TEER levels 4 or 5 nannies, making this an ideal PNP stream for caregivers to apply for permanent residency in Canada.

Yukon Critical Impact Worker Program

The Yukon Critical Impact Worker Program, much like the PEI Critical Worker Stream, allows foreign workers to apply to immigrate to Yukon if they have work experience in an in-demand TEER 4 or 5 jobs that employers in Yukon were unable to fill in from the local labor market.

Since caregivers are categorized under TEER levels 4 or 5, if you possess the required education and caregiving experience outlined by Yukon, you may apply to immigrate to Canada as a caregiver using this program.

Offer pathways for caregivers to apply for permanent residency.

Temporary Foreign Worker Program

The Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) is an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) program that allows Canadian employers to hire foreign workers to fill labor shortages.

To be eligible to apply, your caregiving employer must demonstrate that they were unable to fill your position in the labor market by applying for and receiving a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The most suitable TFWP pathway for caregivers is the Homecare Provider Stream.

Find out more about Canada’s Temporary Foreign Work Program.

Please Note

The Temporary Foreign Work Permit (TFWP) applies only to prospective caregivers who are ineligible to apply to immigrate using the above-mentioned Canadian permanent residency programs.

The TFWP provides you with the opportunity to live and work in Canada and gain the necessary experience needed to apply for permanent residency in Canada using programs such as the Canadian Experience Class and TR to PR pathways.

TR to PR Pathway

The Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway (TR to PR Pathway) is a limited-time immigration pathway toward obtaining Canadian permanent residency. Caregivers with temporary resident status in Canada via a TFWP can use it to apply for permanent residency in Canada for themselves and their families.

Find out more about Canada’s TR to PR Pathway.

Three Best Provinces For Caregivers in Canada

Manitoba

Manitoba is an ideal province for caregivers looking to settle in Canada. The province offers various programs and services to help caregivers integrate into the workforce and community. The province needs caregivers, particularly in its rural areas.

Annual Average Salary: 39, 523.92 CAD.

Ontario

Ontario is the most populous province in Canada, offering a wealth of opportunities for caregivers. The province has a high demand for caregivers, especially in the Greater Toronto Area which includes the municipalities of Durham, Halton, Peel, and York.

Annual Average Salary: 50,063.63 CAD.

Nova Scotia

Nova Scotia is known for its high quality of life and welcoming communities. The Atlantic province has a strong demand for caregivers, particularly in the home support services sector of the industry.

Annual Average Salary: 47,415.36 CAD.

Why Immigrate to Canada as a Caregiver

Among the many benefits you can look forward to as a caregiving worker in Canada, the four described below are among the most prominent.

Amazing Job Opportunities

Canada is experiencing a significant caregiver shortage. This has forced Canadian employers to search for skilled workers overseas to fill the gap. The aging population and low birth rate have consequently increased the need for healthcare services.

Canada Caregiver Employment Benefits

Caregivers in Canada are entitled to various employment benefits that contribute to their overall well-being. Two major employment benefits for caregivers in Canada include:

Compassionate Care Benefit

The Compassionate Care Benefit is an Employment Insurance benefit that provides financial support to caregivers who need to take time off work to care for a family member with a serious medical condition.

Canada Caregiver Credit

The Canada Caregiver Credit offers a non-refundable tax credit to caregiving workers who provide care to a dependent, spouse or common-law with a physical or mental impairment.

Make a Positive Impact on Family and Child Welfare in Canada

By immigrating to Canada as a caregiver, individuals have the opportunity to make a significant impact on family and child welfare in the country. To assist you in carrying out your services as a caregiver to the best of your abilities, Canada’s public education and healthcare system is well-equipped with both human and infrastructural resources (relevant equipment and buildings.

You’ll be able to gain access to books, medicine and professional expertise free of charge and at your disposal in a timely and efficient manner. All of these aspects of the job combined with Canada’s generous social support services will realize your potential to positively contribute to the country’s society.

Ready to Start Your Journey?

FAQs

What Documents do I Need to be a Live-in Caregiver in Canada?

To be a live-in caregiver in Canada, you will need:

• A valid Canada work permit
• A written contract with your employer
• Proof of completion of a recognized caregiver training program
• A medical examination clearance document

Additionally, you may be required to provide a police certificate and proof of language proficiency.

Find out more if you want you need via the Canadian immigration document checklist.

Can I Extend my Work Permit Under the Caregiver Pilots?

Yes, caregivers who are working in Canada under the Homecare Provider Pilots can apply to extend their work permits. The extension allows caregivers to continue working in Canada while they pursue the pathway to permanent residency.