How to become a nanny or caregiver In Canada
The caregiver or nanny program is an initiative that allows immigrants to become caregivers for the elderly, people with disabilities or children in Canada.
In recent years, the Canadian program has undergone some changes to encourage foreigners to come to work as caregivers in the country and facilitate the application and visa process.
Recently, the government of Canada disclosed a new standard related to work experience requirements for nannies who hope to qualify for permanent residency.
Previously, you had to have at least 24 months of work experience in Canada to qualify for the caregiver program.
With the new measure announced, the required experience time will be reduced by half, to 12 months.
As officially announced, the change to work experience requirements for caregivers who qualify for permanent residence in Canada will take effect on April 30, 2023.
The new measure will be retroactive for caregivers who previously enrolled and affects both the Home Child Care Provider (HCCP) and Home Support Worker (HSW) pilot programs.
The measure aims to recognize the importance of caregivers and provide a more accessible path to permanent residence in Canada.
In addition, the Canadian government has increased the number of places for applicants to the program in order to meet the growing demand for care services in the country.
The application process for the program has also been streamlined, with the aim of making it easier for qualified applicants to access the program.
Applicants can now apply directly for the work visa, without the need for an intermediary.
The visa processing process has been expedited so applicants can start working as quickly as possible.
How much does a Caregiver make in Canada?
The salary of a nanny in Canada depends on a number of factors:
- average rate for the district,
- experience,
- qualification,
- the number of children and their ages,
- time and duration of work,
- additional services provided by a nanny (for example, cooking, housekeeping, cleaning).
However, there are statistical averages that can be used as a guide. According to official information provided by Immigrant. Today, nannies in Canada earn 14 Canadian dollars per hour.
Candidate requirements
According to stat. Getting a job as a caregiver or nanny in Canada is easier than finding work in many other profession however, there are still requirements to be met. Including:
- The candidate must be over 18 years old. But in practice, older people who have work experience and a relevant profession are hired for work.
- Representatives of this profession do not necessarily have a higher education, but it is necessary to complete a school program. Of course, a diploma in teaching specialty will increase your chances many times and will allow you to claim a higher salary.
- The presence of proven experience is a great guarantee of employment. All places of work can and should be indicated in the resume.
- Additional certificates. Successful employment can also be affected by the presence of special certificates, and in some cases this is a mandatory condition.
The main additional certificates include:
- CPR/AED (confirms the skills of providing cardiopulmonary resuscitation);
- First Aid Certificate (confirms first aid skills).
Another important condition is knowledge of languages. As mentioned earlier, caregivers seeking to work in Canada must understand at least one of the official languages (English or French). In order to meet the requirements of immigration programs, your level must be at least 5 points according to the CLB system.