2 Canada Immigration Programs Opening To New Applicants In 2024

Last Updated On 4 December 2023, 9:38 AM EST (Toronto Time)

There are two Canada immigration pathways that will start accepting permanent residency applications from new applicants in January 2024, with a limited number of spots.

These pathways offer permanent residency (PR) for applicants meeting certain requirements and have a limited number of spots every year.

It is always good to prepare ahead of time to ensure that applicants meet all the requirements with supporting documents to bag a spot in one of these programs.

Caregivers Pilot Programs

Home Support Caregiver Pilot and Home Childcare Provider Pilot are two much-awaited programs every year, with a limited number of spots.

These spots are filled quite quickly after the program opens for new applications.

Both of the pilot programs had a total cap of 5,500 applications in different categories in 2023.

Furthermore, IRCC has reduced the eligibility requirement to 12-month experience for in-Canada caregiver provider pilots from their previous 24-month experience.

There are two categories under both the caregivers pilots, as listed below:

Gaining Experience Category	Direct to Permanent Residency (PR) Category
This category is for applicants if they have not worked “OR” have less than 24 months of experience in any of the occupations under NOC 44100 or NOC 44101. *For in-Canada caregivers, this requirement is 12 months of experience.	This category is for applicants if they have total of 24 months or more experience (in last 36 months) in any of the occupations under NOC 44100 or NOC 44101 *For in-Canada caregivers, this requirement is 12 months of experience.
Eligible candidates get work permit to accumulate 24 months of experience in Canada and can than apply for Direct Permanent residency after gaining the full experience and becoming eligible under Direct to Permanent Residency Category *For in-Canada caregivers, this requirement is 12 months of experience.	To apply for PR, applicants need: 1. At least 24 months of full-time work experience in Canada in the last 36 months 2. Post-secondary education of at least 1 year 3. Any past experience or training that demonstrates candidate is able to do the work described in job offer. *For in-Canada caregivers, this requirement is 12 months of experience.
To apply for a work permit, applicants need: 1. A valid full-time job offer (IMM 5983 E) 2. CLB level 5 in English or French (IELTS = Reading 4 and rest of the modules 5) 3. Post-secondary education of at least 1 year 4. Any past experience or training that demonstrates the candidate is able to do the work described in the job offer

Occupations Eligible for Caregivers Program

Home child care providers (NOC 44100)	Home Support Worker Pilot (NOC 44101)
Babysitter Child care live-in caregiver Child care provider – private home Nanny Parent’s helper Babysitter – fitness centre Babysitter – shopping centre	Attendant for persons with disabilities – home care Family caregiver Home support worker Live-in caregiver – seniors Personal aide – home support Personal care attendant – home care Respite worker – home support

Occupations eligible for Caregivers

Click here for more information on the caregiver pilot program.

New Change To In-Canada Caregiver Work Experience Requirement

Agri-Food Pilot

The annual cap for another attractive, but with limited spots, immigration program, Agri-Food Pilot, will reset on January 1, 2024.

IRCC processes a maximum of 2,750 permanent residency applications every year under the Agri-Food Pilot.

This pilot will be extended until May 14, 2025, with new changes on May 18, 2023.

Furthermore, family members of applicants who have received an acknowledgement of receipt letter are eligible to apply for an open work permit.

The Agri-Food Pilot Program provides a path to permanent residency for individuals with at least 1 year of cumulative, non-seasonal, full-time work in the past 3 years in one or more of the below-listed occupations.

NOC 63201: Butchers, retail and wholesale
NOC 65202 – Meat cutters and fishmongers – retail and wholesale
NOC 94141 – Industrial butchers and meat cutters, poultry preparers and related workers
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 95106 – Labourers in food and beverage processing
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers
NOC 82030 – Agricultural service contractors and farm supervisors
NOC 84120 – Specialized livestock workers and farm machinery operators
NOC 85100 – Livestock labourers
NOC 85101 – Harvesting labourers

Agri-Food Pilot has quite low language proficiency requirements for CLB Level 4 in English and French.

In terms of education, only a high school diploma is necessary, according to education credential assessment (ECA).

Canada is now also accepting a union reference letter in case an employer is not providing the experience letter.

Click here for more information on Agri-Food Pilot.

Canada Announces New Changes To Agri-Food Pilot Program

What are the two Canada immigration programs opening to new applicants in January 2024?

What is the new Canada immigration levels plan for 2024?

The new Canada immigration levels plan aims to welcome over 485,000 new immigrants in 2024 and 500,000 in 2025.

This includes various immigration programs such as economic, family, and refugee categories.

Click here for a detailed distribution of quotas for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC

Kamal Deep Singh, RCIC (Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant) licensed by CICC (formerly known as ICCRC) with member number R708618. He brings extensive knowledge of immigration law and new changes to rapidly evolving IRCC.