Pathways for caregivers

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

This section provides instructions on processing both permanent residence and temporary residence applications for caregivers.

Permanent residence pathways

Temporary residence pathways

Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot

Launched on June 18, 2019, the Home Child-Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot are 2 economic pilot programs targeted to foreign national caregivers who

Caregivers who meet all the requirements but do not have 12 months of Canadian work experience are issued an occupation-restricted open work permit.

Interim Pathway for Caregivers

Note: Permanent residence applications for the Interim Pathway for Caregivers were accepted from March 4 to June 4, 2019, and then again from July 8 to October 8, 2019. It is now closed to new applications.

Caregivers can apply for permanent residence through the Interim Pathway for Caregivers if they

Caregivers who have received a positive eligibility assessment decision on their permanent residence application are eligible for an open work permit under Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) exemption code A70.

Caring for Children Pilot and Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pilot

Note: The Caring for Children Pilot and Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pilot are closed to new applications as of June 18, 2019. We are not accepting any applications received on or after this date.

Those eligible to apply are foreign nationals who

Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)

Note: Since November 30, 2014, the Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) has been closed to new applications.

Caregivers can apply for permanent residence through the Live-in Caregiver Program only if they have at least 2 years of work experience in the program and have been either of the following:

Live-in caregivers whose permanent residence application has been submitted may be eligible for an open work permit under LMIA exemption code A71.

Work permit applications received under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP)

Caregivers can apply for an LMIA-required work permit under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) if they are not subject to the refusal to process that came into effect through Ministerial Instructions on June 18, 2019.

Bridging open work permits for caregivers

Caregivers can apply for a bridging open work permit if they meet the eligibility requirements of their respective permanent residence category:

Page details

Date modified: