Caregiver Program

We are often asked “how can I immigrate to Canada as a caregiver and what skills do I need to qualify for Canadian immigration as a caregiver?”

Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC receives many inquiries about the caregiver program, from both potential employers and foreign workers alike. It is a well-known fact that it is hard to find qualified workers to care for some of the most precious people in our lives: our children and our elders.

The caregiver program has significantly changed in the last decade, from the Live-in Caregiver program to a few other pilots, including the changes to the legislation in 2014 and ending with the most significant amendments implemented in June 2019. There have been a series of improvements, along the way, including no longer requiring mandatory residence in the employer’s home as was previously the requirement. This was related to the fact that the caregiver must travel alone to Canada without the ability to have their families accompanying them to Canada.

It was not rare that after a separation of at least three years, many families were broken, never to be together again.  Or in many cases, after the caregiver went through the program, sacrificed years, the application was refused because one of the family members was inadmissible, medically or criminally. Under the current legislation, there are two programs for caregivers:

  1. Home Child Care Provider and
  2. Home Support Worker

The changes to the program are significant for all caregiver applicants and we will mention a few:

  • The caregiver applies for permanent residence from the very beginning and their family will be included in their application;
  • They will not be restricted to working for a specific employer, thus trying to eliminate abuse and exploitation of the caregivers by their employers;
  • The employer will not need to submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application to Service Canada (ESDC), thus making the job offer more “user-friendly” to the employers in dire need of caregivers;
  • When the work permit as a caregiver is approved, the whole family (qualifying dependents) can accompany them to Canada with immigration status of their own;

Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) established a cap of 2750 visas per year for each of the two categories for a total of 5500 Canadian immigration caregiver visas annually. This year, the cap for the first category (Home Child Care Provider) was reached by the middle of January 2022. The second category of caregivers (Home Support Workers) is still open. The requirements to apply are similar to the requirements for permanent residence and work permits:

  • The application made is for both a work permit and permanent residence, submitted at the same time to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC);
  • The applicant must meet the requirements for a work permit in Canada, meaning mainly that they have experience as caregivers in one of the two streams (National Occupational Classification – NOC CODES 4411 or 4412)
  • The work permit issued by IRCC to the applicant is an “occupation-restricted” open work permit, meaning the caregiver can work for any employer, but only as a caregiver, no other occupation;
  • The applicant must receive a genuine offer of employment from the employer (no LMIA required);
    • the employment will have to be full-time (at least 30 hours /week),
    • paid work, with regular vacation time and at minimum the hourly rate established by IRCC for the occupation;
    • the employment offer must be from a Canadian employer outside of Quebec;
  • Language level requirement: the applicant must pass the General International English Language Testing System (IELTS) that is managed by the British Council (cost is approximately USD 250) or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) language test (English or French) and score a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in each skill: writing, reading, listening and speaking;
  • Education requirement:  the applicant must have had completed a post-secondary program / credential of at least one year. If the degree or diploma was obtained abroad (outside of Canada), the applicant must obtain first the Educational Credential Assessment report, from an organization recognized by the IRCC. The report will show the equivalency of their credential compared to a Canadian credential;
  • Again, the National Occupational Classification (NOC) used for the two streams of caregivers are codes 4411 or 4412;
  • Last, but not least, the whole family that submits the application must be admissible to Canada. IRCC will conduct a background check for every family member of 18 years or older.  The whole family will have also to pass a medical test. A few reasons for inadmissibility might include:
    • Security reasons;
    • Human rights violations;
    • Criminality including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, use or sale of drugs;
    • Misrepresentation;
    • Previous Removal Order from Canada;
    • Financial reasons – meaning you and your family are not able to support yourselves;
    • Medical reasons;
    • If previously been to Canada and not complied with the conditions (example – one overstayed his/her status, studied or worked without a permit, etc.)

IRCC will review the permanent residence and work permit applications and, if the applicant and family meet the eligibility criteria, they will issue an open work permit for one of the two NOC codes, as stated above.

Processing times for Canadian caregiver applications take approximately 12 months or longer, for a successful foreign worker to receive a work permit. Therefore, employers who want to hire caregivers from abroad, must plan ahead, as this might take some time. 

 Contact us today to see how we can help you.

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Monnie Choi
I have a really good experience with Bellissimo Law Group recently. They help me to get the approval of Deemed rehabilitation! I am so frustrated when I got refusal from IRCC. Then I found Bellissimo. They gave me suggestions and guided me step by step. It is lots of work and preparation they need to do. But they did it professionally. And their fees are reasonable too. I will recommend Bellissimo Law Group for the one who need professional law advise.
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Highly recommend Bellissimo Law Group. They really came through for my family and although it was expensive, it was worth every penny. If you’re worried about your immigration application it helps to know you have a great team behind you and that you’re definitely submitting a strong application. Thanks again to Bellissimo law group for their patience and expertise. We will always recommend you to anyone looking to immigrate to Canada.
Steve Felder
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Kanagasabapathy Vijay Kumar
It's been a very good experience working with Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC. The wealth of experience and professionalism they bring to the table is fantastic. Their professional approach, meticulous planning, their relentless push to get everything they want to compile a flawless submission document was amazing. Overall, they work very hard to get positive results and I am impressed with their services.
Irene Greaves
Our special thanks to Ms Keely Anderson and Ms Alexandra Goncharova for their efforts and due diligence in pulling together a compelling submission in support of my husband’s rehabilitation application due to criminal inadmissibility. This was a complex case, refused once because of incompleteness and lack of transparency then put on hold for 2 years due to the covid pandemic. We subsequently reapplied with BLG upon the advice that they were the best. It was a long journey and they don’t come cheap but the result speaks for itself. We were invited to meet with the Reviewing Officer in IRCC London who said the application was so well documented that no questions remained and we were granted approval then and there. It’s been a 5-year journey but the freedom one feels to be able to travel back and forth with my husband to Canada cannot be underestimated. We are now free to apply for my husband’s permanent residency for which we will always be grateful to BLG for making it possible. Thank you.
Charles Andoscia
I was immigrating from the United States to Canada. Whole process went very smooth. Viola Gniadek provided me with very clear Instructions and was there any time I had a question to help me through the process. She deserves more than 5 stars! I would recommend this firm to anyone interested in immigrating.
Arman Hamzehlou Kahrizi
My wife and I worked with Bellissimo Law Group on a very complex spousal sponsorship application. Our relationship started long-distance and lasted three years before we got married, without having met in person. This raised several red flags in the immigration process. From the beginning, we knew we were facing a difficult case that needed serious legal guidance. After doing thorough research, Bellissimo stood out for their experience with complicated immigration cases, and they lived up to that reputation.

Our consultant and main point of contact was Viola Gniadek. She was professional, honest, and very precise. She responded to our concerns whenever something about the case worried us and was always flexible with us in terms of availability. I remember it was during a weekend and she was still double-checking and completing our forms as we had a submission deadline on Monday. You will be lucky to have her handle your case. The firm took time to understand the complexity of our case and worked closely with us over several months to prepare over 300 pages of documentation. What I appreciated most was how careful they were with every word submitted. In immigration law, even one unnecessary detail can be used against you, and Bellissimo knew how to manage that risk with skill and strategy.

With their guidance, we submitted a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) application, even though they had warned us clearly that, due to the circumstances and the country involved, there was a high chance of refusal. But they also had a plan in place from the start to appeal it if that happened. The TRV was refused, as expected, but we followed through on the appeal. IRCC later offered us a settlement, and our application was reopened. We were given a second chance, and even without much new documentation, the TRV was approved within 15 days of reopening. That moment changed everything.

Thanks to that approval, my wife and I have been together in Canada since March 20. Her spousal sponsorship application was finalized and approved shortly after, but had we not pursued and won the TRV appeal, we would likely still be separated due to delays with passport stamping and processing. That TRV win was a turning point not just legally, but personally.

Later, we were invited for a spousal sponsorship interview, which showed that the officer remained skeptical of our case. Bellissimo helped us prepare thoroughly for the interview, which was a separate legal process with additional fees. But the preparation paid off. After seeing how our TRV refusal had been overturned and how well our case had been built, it would have been very difficult for an officer to justify a refusal at that point. It was clear to them that we were not only committed but had the legal backing to defend ourselves through every stage of the system.

One important thing I want to stress is that just because you can apply on your own does not mean you always should. I have seen people succeed without a lawyer, and I have seen many people fail and remain stuck in the system for years due to refusals or misrepresentation. Legal support is expensive, yes, but you need to consider what is truly at stake. Your future, your time, your peace of mind, and your chance to be with the person you love, these are far more valuable than saving a bit of money upfront.

Also, do not assume that a cheaper option means better value. It might cost less, but if they do not understand the complexity of your case or submit something careless, it could cost you far more in the long run. This is your life. Do not cheap out.

If your case is complicated like ours, Bellissimo Law Group is absolutely worth it. They do not make empty promises. They know exactly what they are doing. I am deeply grateful for their work and recommend them without hesitation. Thank you, Mr. Bellissimo and the entire team.
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