In a significant development for caregivers, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced new pilot programs in June that lower admission requirements and grant caregivers permanent residence upon arrival.
The announcement, made on June 3, came just days before the expiration of the current program on June 17. The new programs will expand the caregiving scope beyond family homes to include both for-profit and non-profit organizations.
“This new pathway means that caregivers can more easily find proper work with reliable employers and have clear, straightforward access to permanent resident status as soon as they arrive in Canada,” the IRCC stated in a news release.
Caregiver rights advocates welcomed the changes, hoping they will reduce the widespread abuse and exploitation many care workers face in homes across Canada.
Filipina nanny Julie Villagracia, 41, recently received her certificate of permanent residence in June, a milestone that came after significant challenges. Julie, who has a nursing background, moved to Canada from La Trinidad, Benguet, in 2023 to work as a caregiver. Despite facing delays and repeated requests for additional documents, she and her family were granted permanent residence on June 19.
“The uncertainty during this period was particularly challenging,” Julie told GMA Online News. “Job opportunities were scarce, and transportation posed a hurdle, with some workplaces inaccessible by bus or requiring a lengthy commute of one to two hours.”
Julie believes many caregivers under the older programs face similar frustrations with the complexity and unpredictability of the process. “There is a strong consensus that the application process should prioritize clarity and timeliness, reducing bureaucratic hurdles and unnecessary delays,” she added.
The IRCC aims to simplify the process and provide homecare workers a clear, straightforward pathway to stay and care for Canadian families. The new pilot programs will reduce language requirements and no longer mandate one year of post-secondary education, accepting a high school diploma instead.
Even though the previous caregiver pilots closed on June 17, the IRCC will continue to process and finalize applications received before this date, ensuring fairness for caregivers transitioning between the old and new programs.
Migrant rights organizations welcomed the changes but expressed concerns about undocumented migrant care workers being left out. Migrante Canada emphasized the need for detailed provisions and clarity, stating, “There is a huge difference between caregivers arriving in Canada as permanent residents and having access to PR under the new pathway as soon as they arrive.”