A pathway for foreign caregivers to work in Canada and eventually apply for permanent residency through dedicated child care services
To allow caregivers who provide child care services to work in Canada and transition to permanent residency after meeting specific work and eligibility criteria.
Must have a full-time job offer from a Canadian employer as a home child care provider.
Eligible candidates can apply with or without prior work experience in Canada, but must gain at least 24 months of Canadian work experience in the role to qualify for permanent residency.
Meet minimum language requirements in English or French (Canadian Language Benchmark 5 in reading, writing, speaking, and listening).
Have at least a completed Canadian one-year post-secondary educational credential or equivalent.
Pass medical, criminal, and security checks.
Secure a genuine job offer from a Canadian employer as a home child care provider.
Apply simultaneously for a work permit and for permanent residency through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot.
Engage in the occupation of home child care provider to gain the necessary work experience.
If applicable, ensure that your education credentials meet Canadian equivalency standards.
The initial work permit is occupation-specific, allowing you to work in the childcare profession.
After achieving the required work experience in Canada, applicants can transition to permanent residency.
Family members can join you in Canada and may be eligible for open work permits and study permits.
Eligible candidates must complete 24 months of authorized full-time work experience in Canada as a home child care provider and apply for PR.
This pilot streamlines permanent residence for in-home caregivers by combining the work permit and PR pathway with clearer occupation-specific criteria, so we always confirm which version of the program currently applies to your situation.
Yes, you'll need to meet a minimum language benchmark (typically CLB 5) in English or French, demonstrated through an approved test like IELTS or CELPIP, or TEF for French.
You generally need the equivalent of a completed Canadian high school diploma, or higher, assessed through an Educational Credential Assessment if your studies were completed outside Canada.
Depending on the specific pilot stream, you may apply for permanent residence directly with a valid job offer, or you may need to accumulate a period of qualifying Canadian work experience first. We assess your situation to identify the right route.
Let our experts help you navigate this caregiver pathway to permanent residence.