Canada to reduce work experience requirements for caregivers to qualify for permanent residence

Caregivers and employers welcomed the recent announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada or IRCC that Canadian work experience required for a caregiver to qualify for permanent residence is being reduced from 24 months to 12 months. This means that caregivers and their families will now benefit from a faster path to permanent residence. Those who have applied under the Home

Child Care Provider Pilot (HCCP) and Home Support Worker Pilot (HSWP) will now need 12 months

Canadian work experience to qualify for permanent residence. This change will be effective as of April 30, 2023, and will be retrospective for caregivers who have already applied.

According to IRCC, nearly 1,600 caregivers and their family members have become permanent residents. In 2022 alone, nearly 1,100 caregivers and their family members became permanent residents through the two pilots. With the change in the work experience requirement, it is expected to benefit around 90% of applications currently in processing.

As per IRCC’s website, current processing time under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot direct to permanent residence category is 31 months. Applicants are hoping for a shorter processing time to benefit from a faster permanent residence and successful settlement in Canada.