Caregiver Pilot Program Process
| Note: This post applies to those who have not worked as a caregiver in Canada but intend to apply for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot program. Therefore, the intention is to explain the process.
Note (Feb 4, 2022): The Home Childcare Provider option reached its cap of 2,750 applications on Jan 17, 2022. IRCC has closed this option and will reopen it on Jan 1, 2023. The Home Support Worker Pilot is still open. |
You could now work and eventually immigrate to Canada via the caregiver pilot program. However, you need to familiarize yourself with the caregiver pilot process first. This program covers the following occupational classifications only.
- Home Child Care Provider: NOC 4411, excluding foster parents
- Home Support Worker: NOC 4412, excluding housekeeping work
If you are not familiar with the concept of NOC, read the following article:
Main topics
Who qualifies for this program?
To familiarize yourself with the necessary qualifications for this program, please read the following article:
The process of caregiver pilot in a glance
The following figure shows the process of caregiver pilot in a glance:
You must intend to live anywhere but in Quebec. Therefore, you may not apply if employment is in Quebec’s province (e.g. in Montreal or Quebec city). The process includes the following steps. The first three steps could occur concurrently.
- Evaluate your education in Canada
- Receive a job offer
- Take a language test.
- Prepare and mail your package.
- Go to Canada and start working.
- Apply for the PR status
Evaluate your education in Canada
You must show at least one year of post-secondary education as part of the pilot caregiver process. If your post-secondary education was outside Canada, you must refer to one of the following organizations to evaluate your education’s equivalency to the Canadian system.
- Comparative Education Service – University of Toronto School of Continuing Studies
- International Credential Assessment Service of Canada
- World Education Services
- International Qualifications Assessment Service (IQAS)
- International Credential Evaluation Service
Visit the following page for more information on ECA reports:
An application without proper Canadian education or an ECA report is incomplete. Consequently, the officer will return the package to you without an official education report.
Receive a job offer
Having a job offer is an essential step for the caregiver pilot process. Of course, a valid job offer must meet the following requirements:
- It is genuine: The employer needs a caregiver.
- The employer has enough financial resources to pay the salary.
- The salary is equal to or higher than the prevailing wage for these positions.
- The employer fills out the form IMM 5983 thoroughly and truthfully.
- The job is full-time (i.e. at least 30 hours per week)
- The employer is Canadian and outside the province of Quebec.
- The employer is not an embassy, consulate or high commission.
You may receive a job offer from your relatives. However, they must show the offer is genuine, not just to help you reach Canada.
Take a language test.
You need to take at least one of the following tests as part of the pilot caregiver process.
- CELPIP: Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (Only CELPIP General! Don’t take General-LS.)
- IELTS: International English Language Testing System (Only IELTS General! Don’t take IELTS Academic.)
- TEF Canada: Test d’évaluation de français
- TCF Canada: Test de connaissance du français
You only need to take one of the tests per language. If you present multiple test results under the same language, the officer considers the latest test results. Consequently, they won’t combine the results. While taking the second language test is not mandatory, it could enhance your chances of success. The following table shows the minimum scores you need to receive under each language ability.
| Test | Language | Speaking | Listening | Reading | Writing |
| CELPIP | English | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
| IELTS General | English | 5.0 | 5.0 | 4.0 | 5.0 |
| TEF Canada | French | 226 | 181 | 151 | 226 |
| TCF Canada | French | 6 | 369 | 375 | 6 |
Prepare and mail your package.
Upon completing the caregiver pilot process’s first essential steps, you need to prepare and submit your package. Of course, a complete package includes the following:
- The ECA report
- The official language test results
- Personal documents (copy of passport, birth certificate, etc.)
- All the forms (e.g. IMM 5983, IMM 0008, IMM 5669, IMM 5562, either Schedule 19A or 19B, IMM 5406, etc.)
- Proof of work experience
- Proof of relevant training
- Family members’ documents (birth certificates, passports, marriage certificate, etc.)
- Police certificates from any country you have stayed for more than six months since the age of 18
- Fee payment receipt
- Passport photos
The preceding list is a guideline. The exact list of the documents could vary. Thus, it would be best to refer to the IRCC document checklist for the official list of forms and documents. Regardless, the exact set of documents depends on your circumstances as well.
Medical examination
Almost everyone who applies under this program needs to go through the medical examination. Therefore, it is in your best interest to take an upfront medical examination instead of waiting for the immigration authorities to ask you. Contact a panel physician to complete the upfront medical examination.
Family members
You may include your family members in the package. However, you must:
- Apply for an open work permit for your spouse or common-law partner
- Apply for an open study permit for your minor children
- Include all necessary forms and documents and pay the processing fees
Fees
You currently need to pay the following fees. However, the fees are subject to change. Each person must pay all their fees separately. For example, if a column says $550 and applies to you and your spouse, it means that if both of you are applying, then you must pay $1,100. Of course, the currency is the Canadian dollar.
| Nature of the fee | Applies to | Amount |
| The open work permit | The principal applicant and spouse or common-law partner | $255 |
| The open study permit | Minor children and spouse or common-law partner (if the spouse prefers studying in Canada rather than working in Canada) | $150 |
| Biometrics | Everyone, unless exempted | $85 per person and a maximum of $170 for the family to be paid both for the PR and the temporary status |
| PR processing fee | The principal applicant and spouse or common-law partner | $550 |
| PR processing fee | Dependent children | $150 |
| Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF) | The principal applicant and spouse or common-law partner – children are exempt | $500 |
Let’s say you are a family of three. You intend to apply under the caregiver pilot program. However, your spouse wants to receive a work permit, and you need to apply for a study permit for your minor child. This is how much processing fee you need to pay.
- The work permit fee for you and your spouse: 2 x $255 = $510
- The study permit fee for your child: $150
- Biometrics fee for the work permits: $170 (assuming you do not have valid biometrics and you are not exempt)
- The PR processing fee for you and your spouse: 2 x $550 = $1,100
- The PR processing fee for your child: $150
- Biometrics fee for the PR applications: $170
- Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF): 2 x $500 = $1,000
- TOTAL = $3,250
- Note: You may pay the RPRF later in the process and only pay $2,250 upfront.
Mailing your application
You must mail your complete package to the following addresses. Of course, the addresses may change at any time.
| Home Children Care Provider Pilot Applicants | Home Support Worker Pilot Applicants |
| Case Processing Centre in Edmonton Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada c/o PR (HCCP Stage 1), Station 806 9700 Jasper Avenue NW, Suite 55 Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3 |
Case Processing Centre in Edmonton Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada c/o PR (HSW Stage 1), Station 808 9700 Jasper Avenue NW, Suite 55 Edmonton, AB T5J 4C3 |
Go to Canada and start working
If the immigration authorities approve your work permit, you will enter a crucial caregiver pilot process stage. Consequently, you need to move to Canada and start working as a caregiver under NOC 4411 or 4412. You may work for any employer. In other words, your work permit does not limit you to the original employer. However, consider the following:
- You must work under the NOC code you see on your work permit.
- Working as a housekeeper or as a foster parent is not an option.
- Respect all the restrictions that appear on your work permit document.
- You must work full-time for at least 24 months to qualify for the next stage of the process.
Apply for the PR status
If you work full-time for at least 24 months as a caregiver, you may move to the next stage of the caregiver pilot process. At this stage, you need to notify the immigration authorities of your progress. Of course, you need to present enough documentation to convince them you meet the PR requirements. Consequently, they will take the following steps:
- Making sure you meet the PR eligibility requirements
- Asking you to go through a medical examination (regardless of the medical examinations for work permits)
- Making sure you are not inadmissible to Canada.
If you pass all these steps, you become a permanent resident of Canada. They usually ask you to go to an inland office for landing, or you may consider flagpoling.
Do you intend to apply under the Caregiver Pilot Program?
If you are interested in the caregiver pilot process, please fill out the following form. We will get back to you as soon as possible.
I will publish more articles to explain the process and other aspects of the caregiver pilot program. Please sign up for our newsletter to receive updates about our articles and videos.
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Al Parsai, MA, DTM, RCIC
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada
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