Current program status
IRCC lists every caregiver permanent-residence pathway as closed. The two Home Care Worker Immigration pilots, for home child care workers and home support workers, opened in 2025. On December 19, 2025, IRCC paused their intake "until further notice" because interest kept exceeding the available spaces and wait times were growing. IRCC said the pilots would not reopen in March 2026 and that any future updates would be shared publicly.
IRCC continues to process applications it has already received. Prospective applicants should not rely on announcements, intake dates or eligibility summaries published before the pause.
Programs to distinguish
| Program | Status | Key date |
|---|---|---|
| Home Care Worker Immigration pilots (child care and home support) | Closed (intake paused) | Paused December 19, 2025 |
| Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot | Closed | Last day to apply: June 17, 2024 |
| Live-in Caregiver Program | Closed to new applicants | Only for people who already held a work permit under the program based on an LMIA submitted before December 2014 |
| Caring for Children Pilot and Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pilot | Closed | Last day to apply: June 17, 2019 |
| Interim Pathway for Caregivers | Closed | Last day to apply: October 8, 2019 |
When the Home Care Worker pilots were open, IRCC described them as a route for skilled workers with a full-time job offer in home care, relevant work experience or training, and the required language skills and education.
Temporary caregiver work
Working temporarily as a home care worker is a separate process. It usually requires an employer and a work permit, often supported by a labour market impact assessment (LMIA). It does not lead to permanent residence automatically. Some in-home caregiver positions have special treatment in the LMIA rules, so employers should check the current Employment and Social Development Canada requirements.
If you have already applied
- Keep your proof of submissionKeep your application number, confirmation of receipt and copies of everything you sent.
- Protect your statusKeep your temporary status and work authorization valid while the application is processed. Apply for extensions before your documents expire.
- Answer IRCC requests on timeRespond to requests for biometrics, medical exams, police certificates or documents by the deadline given.
- Report changesTell IRCC about changes to your address, employment, family or contact information.
If a future intake opens, verify
- The exact stream and whether intake is open on the day you apply
- A genuine, qualifying full-time job offer in home care
- Relevant work experience or training
- The required language and education levels
- Whether the rules differ for applicants inside and outside Canada
- Any application cap and the submission method
Do not use an earlier intake guide for a future reopening unless IRCC confirms it still applies.
Important points
- A caregiver job offer does not create a permanent-residence pathway while the pilots are closed.
- The names and rules of the older pilots are often confused with the newer, now-closed pilots.
- Recruitment and employment must follow Canadian employment and immigration law.
- No representative or employer can guarantee that a closed stream will reopen or accept a future application.
- Other permanent-residence routes, such as Express Entry or a provincial program, are assessed under their own rules.
Official sources
- IRCC: Caregivers
- IRCC: Home Care Worker Immigration pilots
- IRCC notice: Pausing Home Care Worker Immigration pilots application intake (December 19, 2025)
- IRCC: Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots (closed)
- IRCC: Bridging open work permit
This page is general information about Canadian immigration law and policy as of the date above. It is not legal advice for your situation. Programs, forms and fees change often; check the official sources before you apply.