Canada has announced to reduce work experience requirements for Caregivers and provide pathways to Permanent Residence . On 10 th February 2023 in Scarborough, Ontario, the announcement was made and it will be implemented from April 30th 2023, and will be retrospective for caregivers who have already applied for Permanent Residence.
The work experience amount for a caregiver to qualify for Canada Permanent Residence is being reduced from 24 months to 12 months. For existing Caregiver pathways, Some seats are reserved for those who already have work experience in Canada from a previous work permit so that they are able to apply for Permanent Residence.
IRCC expects that the change will impact approximately 90% of applicants who are in processing for caregivers programs. IRCC Launched both pilot programs in 2019 and it will expire in June 2024. Total 1,600 caregivers and their family members have become permanent residents successfully through the programs.
Minister of Immigration says :
The Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship said “Caregivers are an important option for families in Canada and have played an instrumental role in the lives of many growing children, aging parents, and those who need additional specialized care. By reducing the work experience required in Canada to one year, more caregivers and their families will become eligible to transition to permanent residence sooner, meaning that they can settle down and start the next chapter of their lives here in Canada.”
Salma Zahid, Member of Parliament for Scarborough Centre said “Caregivers are indispensable in assisting Canadian families, and it’s an honour for us to provide them a more expedited route to permanent residence and prosperous integration into Canada. The decreased work experience requirement and reserved pathways to permanent residence recognize the sacrifices that caregivers make and the value of their work to Canadian society.”
Rechie Valdez, Member of Parliament for Mississauga-Streetsville said “It is our responsibility to support caregivers in Canada. Reducing work experience and creating reserved pathways to permanent residence are just a couple of ways we can show our appreciation for the sacrifices and hard work of caregivers. We are committed to improving the process and making changes that are needed to recognize the value that caregivers bring to our community and to Canada.”
