Update (October 2026): The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot — the two caregiver programs launched in June 2019 — permanently closed on June 17, 2024, and IRCC is no longer accepting applications under them. Canada replaced them with the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots, which opened on March 31, 2025. The caregiver details below describe the original 2019 pilot and are kept for reference only; do not use them to apply.
Two caregiver programs were launched in June 2019. The Home Child Care Provider Pilot was one of them. (Historical: this pilot closed on June 17, 2024; home child care provider is now listed under NOC 44100, not NOC 4411.) The purpose of introducing this pilot is to hire Home Child Care Providers for Canada and give them temporary work permits. The worker can apply for Canadian permanent residency once they have earned enough experience.
What does this Pilot Program offer?
The two new Caregiver Programs have made some changes with the previous caregiver pilot programs:
- Ability to change employer: Caregiver programs are criticized by the public as they bound the caregivers to work with one family, they are often abused in the workplace and can’t change their employer. But in the new pilot programs, caregivers can easily change their employer if they are not comfortable.
- Accompanying family members: In the previous caregiver programs, spouses, children, or family members cannot accompany the caregiver to Canada. Newly introduced programs allow family members to accompany caregivers and they are even eligible to apply for work permits or study.
Eligibility and Requirements for Home Child Care Provider Pilot
Applicants who are interested in this pilot should meet the given requirements:
Job Offer
A job offer from a valid occupation at the time of application submission for a work permit. (Historical — the pilot is closed.)
Work Experience
Under the original pilot, a minimum of two years of work experience was required to apply for permanent residency. (Historical — this pilot no longer accepts applications.)
Language Requirements
The candidates should provide proof of Canadian Language Benchmark level 5.
Educational Requirements
The candidate should have at least one year of post-secondary education from a Canadian institute or equivalent from a foreign institute.
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New Brunswick Skilled Worker Applicants with Employer Support
The New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) has introduced many streams, the New Brunswick Skilled Worker Applicants with Employer Support is one of them. The province of New Brunswick is responsible for operating a Provincial Nominee Program (PNP). The purpose of designing this stream is to find foreign high-skilled workers who have a valid employment offer from a New Brunswick employer. The successfully nominated candidates through the New Brunswick Skilled Worker Applicants with Employer Support will have a chance to automatically forward their application to IRCC for Canadian permanent residency. The province of New Brunswick organizes new immigration events for foreign nationals. New Brunswick has also organized information sessions and job expos for candidates. If you successfully pass these information sessions, you can migrate to Canada as per the Atlantic Immigration Program (the former pilot became a permanent program) and the New Brunswick PNP.
Eligibility Requirements for the New Brunswick Skilled Worker Applicants with Employer Support
Job Offer
A valid employment offer from a New Brunswick employer is required to be eligible in this stream. The employment offer must be for full-time, non-seasonal work that meets the job requirements of the applicable National Occupational Classification (NOC) — note that Canada’s NOC 2021 replaced the old Skill Level 0/A/B/C/D and Skill Type framework with TEER categories.
Language Proficiency
Candidates should provide proof of language proficiency in French or English with Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) level 4.
Level of Education
Candidates should have a high school diploma from a Canadian institute or a foreign equivalent. Some additional education, qualification, or license is also needed to accept and perform the duties of employment in New Brunswick.
Work Experience
Candidates should have enough required work experience to perform the duties of offered employment from a valid employer in New Brunswick.
Age Limit
Candidates must be at least 19 years old; New Brunswick no longer sets an upper age limit of 55 for this stream.
Points Assessment Grid
The old 60-point assessment grid no longer applies. Candidates now submit a free expression of interest and must receive an invitation to apply before submitting a nomination application, choosing one of three pathways: New Brunswick Experience, New Brunswick Graduates, or New Brunswick Priority Occupations.
Employer Requirements for New Brunswick Skilled Worker Applicants with Employer Support
If you want to apply to the New Brunswick Skilled Worker Applicants with Employer Support stream, you should have a job offer from a valid and eligible New Brunswick employer. There are specific eligibility requirements an employer should meet before considering their job offer valid in this stream.
Job Offer Requirements
The employer should provide a full-time job offer, good position in the company with a salary that meets industry standards.
Business Requirements
The supporting employer must have been actively operating in New Brunswick for the past 24 months, providing goods or services.
Recruitment Requirements
Employers should provide proof that they were unable to find employees with Canadian permanent residency and citizenship.
Points-Assessment-Grid
A minimum score of 60 points is required to be eligible for this stream.
Application Procedure for the New Brunswick Skilled Worker Applicants with Employer Support
The stream works through expressions of interest (free of charge); invited candidates then submit a nomination application, which requires a non-refundable application fee of $250 CAD. Note that as of May 2026, new invitations under the New Brunswick Experience pathway are limited to health care, education, and construction occupations.
Process Time-Frame
The applicant will get a notification if successful. Their application will be forwarded to IRCC by the NBPNP for Canadian permanent residency. Processing times vary and the old ’18 months minimum’ figure is outdated — check IRCC’s current published processing times before applying.
