Caregivers hold Canadian families together, looking after children, older parents and people with disabilities, often far from their own families. The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots were built to give that work a direct path to permanent residence. They are paused for new applications right now, which is hard news if you have been preparing. This guide explains where things stand, what the pilots require so you are ready when they reopen, and the options open to you today.
The two pilots
| Home Child Care Provider | Home Support Worker | |
|---|---|---|
| Job | Caring for children in a private home (NOC 44100) | Supporting people at home, such as older adults or people with disabilities (NOC 44101) |
| Experience that counts | NOC 44100 or 42202 | NOC 44101 or 33102 |
| Streams | Workers in Canada, and applicants not working in Canada | Workers in Canada, and applicants not working in Canada |
| Where the job must be | Outside Quebec | Outside Quebec |
What the pilots ask for
- Language: CLB 4 or NCLC 4 in all four skills, in English or French.
- Education: the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma, with an education credential assessment for studies done abroad.
- Recent experience or training: IRCC lists 6 months of continuous, full-time, relevant work experience in the past 3 years, and a relevant training credential completed in the past 2 years.
- A full-time (at least 30 hours a week), permanent job offer outside Quebec, paying at least the Job Bank median wage, not in an institution and not from a recruitment agency or a family member.
- For the workers in Canada stream, full-time work authorization; for applicants not working in Canada, proof of funds.
You can bring your spouse or partner, dependent children and dependent grandchildren. Permanent residence fees are $1,590 for you and for a spouse or partner (including the right of permanent residence fee) and $270 for each child. Your employer cannot make you repay recruitment fees, and you can change employers while you wait, as long as you keep a valid job offer.
What you can do while the pilots are paused
- 01
Keep your test and documents current
A language test result and an education assessment are part of every caregiver path. Keeping them valid means you are ready on the day intake reopens.
- 02
Work as a caregiver on an LMIA permit
Employers can still hire caregivers in NOC 44100 or 44101 through the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. From outside Canada, this is only allowed for jobs in Quebec.
- 03
Build Canadian experience
Experience in caregiving can count toward the pilots when they return, and skilled work can count toward other permanent residence programs.
- 04
Look at other routes
Some provincial nominee programs and community pilots welcome home support and health care workers. Check our Pathway finder for the routes open today.
- 05
Watch for IRCC’s announcement
IRCC will announce any new intake on its caregiver pages and notices. Be cautious of anyone who claims to have early or guaranteed spots.
Frequently asked questions
When will the caregiver pilots reopen?
IRCC has not announced a date. It paused intake on December 19, 2025, until further notice, and is processing the applications it already has.
I applied in 2025. Is my application still being processed?
Yes. IRCC is continuing to process applications already received. It said in June 2026 that acknowledgement letters had not yet been sent for all 2025 applications, so some people are still waiting for theirs.
Can I hire a caregiver in Quebec through these pilots?
No. The pilots apply outside Quebec only. In Quebec, employers hire caregivers through an LMIA and the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
I am out of status. Is there anything for me?
IRCC has a public policy for some out-of-status home care workers who entered Canada legally on or before December 16, 2021, have lived here since, and held a work permit at some point. It works through the pilots, so check IRCC’s pages for how the pause affects it before you plan around it.
You don’t have to face the wait alone.
Thousands of people have shared their real timelines so the next person isn’t left guessing in the dark. Add yours, keep your own application and your family’s together in one place, and see a grounded estimate of how long your decision might take, drawn from people who are walking the same path.
- Share your timeline and help the next applicant find their footing.
- Track your own and your family’s applications together, in one calm place.
- See a realistic estimate of your wait, based on people on the same journey.
It’s free, and what you track stays private to you. Sharing your timeline with the community is always your choice.
Key takeaways
- The pilots are for home child care and home support workers with a job offer outside Quebec.
- You need CLB 4, a Canadian high school equivalent, and recent experience or training.
- Intake has been paused since December 19, 2025, with no reopening date yet.
- IRCC: Pausing Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots intake (December 19, 2025) (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Work temporarily in Canada as a caregiver (opens in a new tab)
- IRCC: Fee list (opens in a new tab)
Last reviewed: Nov 8, 2026