Maple News reports that Canada is expediting permanent residency for 6,000 caregivers and their immediate family members by the end of 2021, according to recent announcements by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This move is part of an effort to clear backlogs and reunite families who have been separated due to pandemic-related processing delays.
In a statement released on April 15, the IRCC revealed that it is prioritizing applications from caregivers who have completed their in-Canada work experience. In addition, at least 1,500 first-stage decisions for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot will be made by June 30, 2021.
“Immigrant caregivers—who take care of our children, families, and elders—have faced prolonged separations from their loved ones due to the pandemic,” said Immigration Minister Marco Mendicino. “This announcement marks an important step to get the caregiver immigration stream back on track and reunite front-line heroes with their families.”
The IRCC also clarified that applicants from 2020 under the two pilot programs will not be required to reapply. Effective May 3, 2021, the new policy includes improvements to speed up processing, particularly for those affected by delays in paper-based applications as IRCC offices shifted to remote operations during the pandemic. As part of their digital transformation, IRCC is aiming to send acknowledgment of receipt letters to all eligible 2020 applicants by May 31, 2021.
Introduced in 2019, the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilot programs offer occupation-specific rather than employer-specific work permits. This change gives caregivers the flexibility to change employers while staying within their occupation, ultimately easing their path to permanent residence.
Despite pandemic disruptions, about 2,900 caregivers and their family members became permanent residents in 2020. As of March 2021, the IRCC was managing an inventory of roughly 12,000 caregiver applications, including carryovers from earlier programs. By April 8, the Home Child Care Provider Pilot had already received 2,367 applications—nearly 86% of the 2021 intake cap—while the Home Support Worker Pilot had received 516 applications, amounting to 19% of its cap.
In addition to the caregiver programs, many caregivers who are already in Canada may also qualify for permanent residence under new temporary pathways launched for essential workers. These programs aim to recognize and support individuals who have played key roles during Canada’s pandemic response.
With these steps, Canada reaffirms its commitment to supporting immigrant caregivers by reducing delays, modernizing its processes, and ultimately reuniting families.