Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots
The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots are closed to new applicants. IRCC is processing applications that were already submitted. For current options, book a consultation or run the Free Immigration Scanner.
Table of Contents
The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots are federal economic immigration pilots for eligible home child care and home support workers. IRCC established the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care and the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support on March 31, 2025.
Both application streams are currently closed while IRCC processes existing applications, and intake is paused until further notice. The previous Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot ended on June 17, 2024.
Background
A five-year initiative that offered eligible caregivers and their families a route to permanent residency in Canada was the old Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots. Those pilots ended on June 17, 2024. IRCC established the current Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care and Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support on March 31, 2025.
Current Status of the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots
The current Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots were established on March 31, 2025. Both the Workers in Canada stream and the Applicants not working in Canada stream are currently closed. IRCC announced that intake would not reopen in March 2026 and is paused until further notice while existing applications are processed. Ministerial Instructions effective March 31, 2026 state that IRCC will not accept new applications under the pilots unless the instructions are changed or repealed.
Eligibility Framework for the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots
The pilots are currently closed to new applications. Under IRCC’s current eligibility framework, applicants must meet the requirements that apply to the relevant Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot and stream:
- An offer of employment from a Canadian company
- Applicants must have an eligible job offer as a home child care provider or home support worker that meets current IRCC requirements.
- The job offer must meet the requirements for the applicable pilot and stream.
- Experience at Work
- Applicants must meet IRCC’s current work-experience-or-training requirement: 6 months of continuous, full-time and relevant work experience in the past 3 years, or a relevant training credential completed in the past 2 years.
- Work authorization and temporary resident status are separate from permanent residence eligibility and depend on the applicant’s circumstances and the applicable immigration rules.
- Proficiency in Language
- Applicants must meet a minimum of CLB/NCLC 4 in all four language abilities in English or French.
- Applicants must use a language test accepted by IRCC for the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots.
- Qualifications in Education
- Applicants must have completed education equivalent to at least a Canadian high school diploma or higher.
- Applicants must be admissible to Canada.
- Willing to Live Outside of Quebec
- Applicants must plan to live and work in Canada outside Quebec.
What the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots Are Designed to Provide
1. Direct Permanent Residence Pathway:
The pilots are designed as direct permanent residence pathways for eligible home care workers, but both application streams are currently closed.
2. Job Offer Requirements:
A qualifying job offer must meet the current IRCC requirements for the applicable pilot and stream.
3. Family Members:
Family-member eligibility and temporary status options depend on the applicable immigration rules and the individual circumstances.
4. After Permanent Residence:
Access to provincial or territorial services and benefits after permanent residence depends on the applicable eligibility rules.
What to do now while the pilots are closed
IRCC shows both pilots as Closed on its Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots page (canada.ca, page modified 27 January 2026, checked 20 September 2026), so no new permanent-residence application can be filed under them. If you already submitted an application under the pilots, IRCC says it will continue processing applications already received. Home child care providers (NOC 44100) and home support workers, caregivers and related occupations (NOC 44101) are TEER 4 occupations. That work by itself does not meet the Canadian Experience Class skilled-work requirement, which is limited to TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3. A caregiver may still qualify for Express Entry through other qualifying skilled work or another federal program, but only if that program’s separate requirements are met. If you are looking for a new route now, temporary caregiver work permits and permanent-residence programs have separate eligibility rules. IRCC says some home child care providers and home support workers may be able to apply for an LMIA-based work permit through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program in specified circumstances. Check IRCC’s current temporary caregiver work rules, or book a paid consultation for a case-specific pathway assessment.
Last reviewed: September 18, 2026.
