IRCC announces eligibility for new Home Care PR pathways. IRCC has posted more details on the forthcoming Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP), including reduced language, work experience, and education eligibility criteria for applicants.
The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots are two forthcoming Labor Market Impact Assessment-exempt immigration pathways for foreign home care workers to find employment and obtain permanent residence upon arrival to Canada. They are set to be launched on March 31, 2025.
The immigration department clarified that upon opening, the HCWP will only accept applications from applicants who are presently in Canada. Applicants outside Canada will have the opportunity to apply at a later date.
What Are The Streams For The New Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots?
Foreign nationals can apply to the new HCWP under one of two streams:
- The Workers In Canada Stream
- The Applicants Not Working In Canada Stream
Upon reopening at the end of March, only the Workers in Canada Stream will accept new applications. The Applicants not working in the Canada stream will open their application intake later in the year.
IRCC advises that potential applicants to the Workers in Canada stream take an approved language test and get their education assessed through an Education Credential Assessment (ECA) in anticipation of the HCWP’s opening date in March.
The immigration department has not yet released details on application procedures for the Applicants not working in Canada stream.
IRCC also warns that ‘guidance on how to prepare to apply’ might change at any time and advises those interested to check their web pages regularly for further updates.
Who Is Eligible For The HCWP?
IRCC announces eligibility for new Home Care PR pathways. Below is the eligibility criteria for the same. Take a look!
| Eligibility Criteria | Details |
| Work Experience | – Six months of recent, relevant work
OR – A credential of at least six months of related home care training |
| Language Proficiency | CLB 4 or higher in English or French. |
| Job Offer | Must have a job offer from either
– A private household OR – An organization that directly hires full-time home care workers to provide short-term or occasional home care |
| Education | Secondary school diploma |
Applicants who qualify based on work experience might have gained this work experience either in Canada or abroad.
Job Offer Conditions
Foreign nationals applying to the HCWP might hold a job offer from any of the following organizations:
- Home health care service providers
- Home care support service providers
- Direct care agencies
- Personal care services in residential settings
- Pediatric home health care service providers
Job offers from recruitment and placement agencies are not eligible. Note that an LMIA is not required in support of job offers.
Additional Eligibility For Out-Of-Status Workers And Previous Applicants
IRCC has opened eligibility for the HCWP to home care workers in Canada who are presently out of status. These individuals might still be eligible to apply under the HCWP because of a public policy. A limited number of spots are available to this cohort.
In addition, some previous applicants to the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots might continue to apply under the old pathways. Newcomers who applied under the previous pilots ‘Gaining experience category’ before June 2024, and who have now built up enough eligible work experience might send IRCC proof of their work experience under previous guidelines, to have their permanent residence application considered.
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