Caregiver Programs
Overview
Canada's caregiver immigration programs provide a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals who work as caregivers. There are two current streams: the Home Childcare Provider stream (for persons caring for children in private homes) and the Home Support Worker stream (for persons caring for seniors, persons with disabilities, or others). Both streams require 2 years of qualifying Canadian work experience in the caregiver occupation, after which the worker can apply for permanent residence. The programs replaced the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) and interim caregiver streams that ran from 2019.
Canada's caregiver programs have undergone significant reforms since the Live-in Caregiver Program was phased out. The current programs do not require caregivers to live in the employer's home (a key change from the LCP), and caregivers are eligible to bring family members to Canada while accumulating work experience toward PR.
Eligibility
Home Childcare Provider stream
For workers providing care for children in private residences (e.g., nanny, babysitter, daycare operator in a home):
- Valid Canadian work permit in a qualifying caregiver NOC (NOC 44100 — Daycare workers and early childhood educators and assistants; NOC 44101 — Visiting homemakers, housekeepers and related occupations)
- Minimum 2 years of work experience in a qualifying NOC within the 4 years before applying for PR
- Language: CLB 5 in all four abilities
- Education: post-secondary credential of at least 1 year, or ECA showing Canadian equivalency at 1-year post-secondary level
Home Support Worker stream
For workers providing support in private residences to seniors, persons with disabilities, or others who need assistance with daily living:
- Qualifying NOC: NOC 44101 (visiting homemakers, housekeepers and related occupations)
- Minimum 2 years of work experience in a qualifying NOC within the 4 years before applying
- Language: CLB 5 in all four abilities
- Education: post-secondary credential of at least 1 year (or ECA equivalent)
No live-in requirement
Unlike the former LCP, the current caregiver streams do not require the worker to live in the employer's home. The worker may work for multiple employers and live separately. The employer does not need to provide or subsidise housing.
Selection criteria
Application process
Work permit stage
- The employer applies for an LMIA (or uses an LMIA-exempt category where applicable) and makes a job offer
- The worker applies for an employer-specific work permit in the caregiver NOC
- The worker begins accumulating qualifying Canadian work experience
Permanent residence stage
- After accumulating 2 years of qualifying work experience in the caregiver NOC, the worker submits a PR application under the relevant caregiver stream
- The PR application is assessed based on work experience, language, and education
- If approved, the worker and their eligible family members (who may have been in Canada on temporary status during the accumulation period) become permanent residents
The caregiver streams are managed through annual intake caps set by Ministerial Instructions. Applicants should verify current intake status and processing times on the IRCC website.