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Immigrating to Canada as a Caregiver

In recent years, the average life expectancy of Canadian citizens has increased. Consequently, the elderly and those with disabilities need home caregivers to assist them with personal and daily tasks. Canada is facing a shortage of home caregivers, which is why since 2019, it has introduced two pilot programs, namely the Home Support Worker Pilot Program and the Home Child Care Provider Pilot Program.

These pilot programs have created many job opportunities for foreign caregivers and are generally known as elderly home caregivers and child caregivers. Additionally, these two programs offer many benefits and have relatively simple application requirements. In this article, we will explore the duties of home caregivers and child caregivers, the necessary conditions for applying, and their job market.

Benefits of working as a home caregiver in Canada

Applying for job positions as an elderly home caregiver and child caregiver has many advantages, which we will examine in order.

Plenty of job opportunities and a high acceptance rate

The job position of home caregiver has recently come onto the agenda of Canada’s immigration department, as Canada is facing a shortage of home caregivers. This is why your chances of being accepted and receiving a work permit are very high.

One of the most important benefits of this job position is the possibility of obtaining permanent residency, which you can apply for after 12 months of work experience.

 

The caregiver programs for seniors and children have relatively simple requirements for obtaining work visas because:

You don’t need a positive LMIA.

You don’t need a high level of language skill.

The home caregiver program allows you to study while working as a caregiver or nurse. There are different educational programs with varying durations at universities and colleges in Canada. Continuing your education in Canada increases your chances of getting better job positions.

You can coordinate with your employer to have flexible working hours, allowing you to dedicate your free time to studying or personal matters.

Another advantage of this job opportunity is that you can change your employer without needing a new job offer or changing your work visa.

If you arrive in Canada with a home caregiver visa, your spouse, dependents, and children will be allowed to work and study in Canada. Your spouse is eligible for an open work visa, and your children can attend public schools for free.

The duties of home caregivers in Canada

The duties of home caregivers in Canada refer to those who take care of children, seniors, or individuals with disabilities. These individuals are called caregivers. Home caregivers can work for others on a long-term or short-term basis. They do not provide medical care but assist in fulfilling the daily needs of children, seniors, and disabled individuals.

Given that caregivers take care of seniors and disabled individuals or children, they have various responsibilities, which are as follows:

Duties of caregivers for seniors, disabled individuals, and those with low ability.

Assisting with the individual’s basic needs, dressing, walking, etc.

Helping maintain the personal hygiene of the senior or disabled individual (bathing, etc.)

Monitoring the individual’s medication intake and performing minor medical tasks such as changing dressings or diapers for seniors.

Preparing meals for the individual based on their specific diet.

Assisting with household tasks such as cleaning, shopping, laundry, etc.

Caring for the individual during recovery (for example, post-surgery recovery).

It’s worth mentioning that this category of services and duties is the same for domestic service workers under NOC 4412.

Child caregivers must properly carry out the following responsibilities:

– Behaving with caution and kindness towards children

– Adhering to safety standards in child care

– Respecting family privacy and demonstrating responsible and professional behavior

– Providing helpful educational activities for children

– Teaching personal hygiene and social skills to the child

– Preparing nutritious meals for the child and encouraging them to try new foods

– Assisting the child with personal tasks

– Communicating with the child’s parents and keeping them informed about conditions (even in the event of unfortunate occurrences)

– Bathing and changing the diapers of infants

– Taking the child to school and picking them up

– Taking the child on outings and providing care

– Additionally, knowledge of first aid and medical care is considered an advantage for home caregivers.

Immigration programs for home caregivers to Canada

The Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) allow Canadian employers to hire foreign home caregivers through several immigration programs. However, all previous immigration programs related to home caregivers in Canada are now closed, and new programs are being introduced.

New conditions for obtaining a home caregiver work visa in Canada

– Achieving a minimum language score of CLB 4

– Having at least an educational qualification equivalent to a Canadian high school diploma

– Having relevant work experience

– Having a job offer for full-time work in Canada

Necessary documents for obtaining a home caregiver work visa in Canada

Since applying for a home caregiver work visa requires simultaneous application for permanent residency in Canada, the documents mentioned here include those necessary for both the work visa and permanent residency application:

 

A job offer letter from a Canadian employer (for individuals in Category A who have less than 12 months of relevant Canadian work experience)

A scan of all pages of a valid passport and travel history

A scan of the translated birth certificate

A scan of the translated marriage certificate (if applicable)

A scan of English language test results like IELTS General or CELPIP, or scores

Employment documents demonstrating your ability to work as a home caregiver for children or the elderly, such as a relevant job letter, insurance records, or employment contract (for individuals in Category B who have a minimum of 12 months of relevant Canadian work experience)

A scan of the official translation of academic degrees and transcripts along with the Persian version

An educational credential assessment report or equivalency from WES or ICAS

A criminal background check certificate

Two passport-sized photos (3.5×4.5 cm)

Complete and sign the forms related to the Home Child Care Provider Pilot Program or Home Support Worker Pilot Program.

Complete and sign the forms for the Work Permit Outside of Canada application.

Since you have a job offer, there’s no need to provide proof of funds; you just need to show that you can cover the initial costs for yourself and your family for immigration to Canada.

Steps to obtain a home caregiver work visa and permanent residency in Canada

The steps to obtain a work visa and permanent residency through the home caregiver program were possible through the two categories we discussed earlier. However, these programs are currently suspended.

 

The steps for the new programs will be posted on this page soon.

How much is the salary of home caregivers in Canada in 2024?

The average annual salary for home caregivers in Canada is $30,600, and they earn about $15.69 per hour on average.

The annual salary for newly hired home caregivers is $25,838, while experienced caregivers earn an average of $45,045 per year.

It’s worth noting that:

The average salary for pediatric nurses is about CAD 33,000 per year. The average salary for geriatric nurses is around CAD 28,000 per year. Also, your work experience and skills can greatly influence your salary. In the table below, we will break down the annual average earnings of home care nurses for the elderly and pediatric nurses by province. The amounts are stated in Canadian dollars.

Provinces of Canada Elderly Home Care Nurses Pediatric Home Care Nurses
Ontario
33,280
39,500
British Columbia
39,500
41,600
Alberta
35,360
35,360
Saskatchewan
31,200
41,800
Manitoba
31,200
31,200
Quebec
33,280
35,900

It’s worth mentioning that the amount earned by home care nurses can vary by province, and in this section, we have only referred to the average income of some provinces that are more popular among immigrants.

Labor market for home care nurses in Canada

The job market for home care nurses in Canada is quite broad, and the Canadian government is always on the lookout for home care nurses with various specialties, such as pediatric nurses, professional nurses, geriatric nurses, and more. Right now, the demand for home care nurses is increasing in Canada because the senior population is growing, and they need nurses to meet their needs. Moreover, in some areas of Canada, there’s a higher demand for home care nurses with specific specialties, like pediatric nursing.

Since the job market for home care nurses in Canada is competitive, it’s better to have relevant work experience and education, as well as good English language skills to boost your chances of success in this profession. It is predicted that by the end of 2031, about 34,500 new job opportunities for home care nurses and 10,000 opportunities for pediatric nurses will open up in Canada, making it a great opportunity for immigrants to test their luck for obtaining permanent residency in Canada.

To find job opportunities in the home care nursing profession, it’s best to reach out to job websites related to this field and also to home care nursing hiring committees in Canada. These websites or committees can offer you better job opportunities and guide you to find the most suitable position.

Frequently asked questions

Is it possible to hire a home caregiver in Canada who is a relative of yours?

Yes. All the regulations for assessing the conditions of home caregivers apply equally to relatives and non-relatives. Officers cannot reject the application just because a relative is going to work for you.

Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Ontario, and Yukon.

 

No, these jobs are considered low-skilled positions.

Home caregivers for children or the elderly in Canada are not allowed to perform medical assessments or provide medical advice for the child or elderly person.

No, only caregivers with less than one year of experience need a job offer.

Yes, you can change your employer and seek a new job, but you need to have a positive LMIA and a signed contract from your new employer.

Yes, and your employer is also required to provide suitable conditions for you and respect your requests and preferences, giving you the necessary freedom.

 

Some home caregivers may choose to live in their employer’s home to reduce personal expenses. Your permanent residence in the house of an elderly or disabled person depends on their circumstances, so it’s better to coordinate with them before moving in, or else rent a separate place.

 

Yes, their average working hours are 8 to 10 hours, which is spent on care and service tasks, and the remaining time can be dedicated to their own activities.

 
 

8 hours a day is a long time for home nurses to work, and if your employer requires more care, mention this in your placement agreement.

 
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