Who Qualifies for the Caregiver Pilot Program

Note: This post applies to those people who have not worked as a caregiver in Canada, but intend to apply under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot programs. Therefore, the intention is to see whether you qualify under this caregiver pilot program.

Note (December 6, 2022): IRCC updated the instructions for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot.

You could now work and eventually immigrate to Canada via the caregiver pilot program. However, 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:

The primary conditions for the caregiver pilot program

You may apply under this program if you meet all of the following criteria:

You must also intend to live anywhere but in Quebec. Therefore, you may not apply if employment is in the province of Quebec (e.g. in Montreal or the Quebec city).

Enough experience or training to do the job.

When you apply under this program, you are usually taking care of children under 18. However, you may take care of an elderly or someone who needs care due to medical conditions. Consequently, you may need to have some or all of the following skills and experiences:

  • First aid
  • CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation
  • Administering medication
  • Cooking and housekeeping
  • Managing children
  • Ability to move individuals safely
  • Bathing children, elderly or disabled people
  • Driving (to take a person to school or their appointments)
  • Conduct routine health checks
  • Feed a child, an elderly or a disabled person

Remember, this list is neither exclusive nor inclusive. Regardless, please show formal training alongside experience in these areas. Unfortunately, experience as a foster parent won’t help.

Knowledge of either English or French languages

You need to take at least one of the following tests before applying for the pilot caregiver program.

  • 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

Meet the education requirements

You must show at least one year of post-secondary education for the pilot caregiver program. If your post-secondary education was outside Canada, then you must refer to one of the following organizations to evaluate the equivalency of your education to the Canadian system.

Visit the following article for more information on ECA reports:

Not being inadmissible to Canada

If you are inadmissible to Canada, you may not immigrate or work in Canada. The caregiver pilot program is no exception. Read the following articles for more information:

Have a valid job offer

Having a job offer is probably the essential criteria for the caregiver pilot program. 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

Can I receive a job offer from my relatives in Canada?

Technically speaking, you may still qualify for the caregiver pilot program if you receive a job offer from a relative in Canada. However, the job offer must be genuine and meet all the other validity requirements.

Do I have to work for the same employer?

If IRCC approves the application, you will receive a restricted open work permit. It means you may work for any employer but in the same job category (i.e. NOC 4411 or 4412). However, you may qualify for permanent residence only if you work full-time in Canada for at least 24 months.

The caregiver pilot program process

Visit the following page to know more about the process:

Do you intend to apply under the Caregiver Pilot Program?

If you are interested, please fill out the following form. We will get back to you as soon as possible.

    Your Name (required)

    Your Email (required)

    Have you entered your email address correctly?

    Your WhatsApp Number (Optional)

    Subject

    Caregiver Pilot Program

    Do you have experience or training as a caregiver (other than being a foster parent)?

    NoYes

    Do you currently have a job offer or are you able to receive a job offer from a Canadian employer?

    NoYes

    Have you completed at least one year of post-secondary education?

    NoYes

    Have you received your ECA report if your education is from outside Canada?

    NoYesI don't know

    Have you taken an acceptable language test with a CLB score of 5 or more?

    NoYes

    Do you have any serious medical issues or criminal history?

    NoYes

    Are you willing to hire an immigration consultant to help you with your permanent residency application?

    NoYes

    If you answered No to any of the questions, please provide more explanation below:

    Related Posts

    Are Canadian citizens admissible to Canada?

    Sep 17, 2023

    Foreign record suspensions and Canadian admissibility

    Sep 7, 2023

    OINP Foreign Worker Stream with an Employer Job Offer

    Sep 6, 2023

    Inadmissibility in Canada: Who’s at Risk?

    Sep 4, 2023

    If you wish to visit or move to Canada, please fill out our free assessment form. We will review it for free, but we will contact you only if we find an opportunity for you. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session. Consultation sessions are not free, but you will receive formal advice from a licenced practitioner.

    Al Parsai, MA, DTM, RCIC
    Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
    Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
    Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada

    Fill our Free Canada Immigration Assessment Form in your language!

    Disclaimer:
    This article provides information of a general nature only. Considering the fluid nature of the immigration world, it may no longer be current. Of course, the item does not give legal advice. Therefore, do not rely on it as legal advice or immigration advice. Consequently, no one could hold us accountable for the content of these articles. Of course, if you have specific legal questions, you must consult a lawyer. Alternatively, if you are looking for immigration advice, book an appointment.

    The characters and places in the articles:
    All the characters and locations in the articles are fictional, unless otherwise clearly stated. Therefore, any resemblance in names, dates, and places is coincidental.

    Important Notes:
    For our official addresses, trust this website only. We currently do not have offices outside Canada. Therefore, anyone who claims to be our agent is committing fraud. Also, note that we do not issue any work permits or study permits or similar documents. The government of Canada has the sole authority to issue such material.

    Click to read the disclaimer.

    Al Parsai

    This article has been expertly crafted by Al Parsai, a distinguished Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (L3 RCIC-IRB – Unrestricted Practice) hailing from vibrant Toronto, Canada. Al's academic achievements include an esteemed role as an adjunct professor at prestigious Queen's University Law School and Ashton College, as well as a Master of Laws (LLM) degree from York University. A respected member of CICC and CAPIC organizations, Al's insights are further enriched by his experience as the dynamic CEO of Parsai Immigration Services. Guiding thousands of applicants from over 55 countries through the immigration process since 2011, Al's articles offer a wealth of invaluable knowledge for readers.