In a major update announced on December 19, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has paused new applications for the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (both Child Care and Home Support streams) until further notice. This decision, published in the Canada Gazette and confirmed on IRCC’s website, means the pilots originally set to reopen in March 2026 will not accept fresh submissions as anticipated, allowing IRCC to prioritize processing existing inventories amid overwhelming demand.

At Worldbridge, we’re supporting affected caregivers and employers with alternative pathways. This pause aligns with the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan’s focus on sustainable growth and backlog reduction. Here’s what you need to know.

Background on the Pilots and the Pause

Launched on March 31, 2025, the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots replaced earlier caregiver programs, offering direct PR upon arrival for qualified home child care providers and home support workers. Each stream had ~2,750 spots annually, but caps filled within hours, leading to over 34,000 pending applications by late 2025.

The pause addresses:

• Excessive Demand: Applications consistently exceeded spaces, causing long wait times.
• Inventory Management: Focus on clearing backlogs (part of ~1 million total pending apps).
• Sustainability: Supports reducing temporary residents to <5% of population by 2027.

Existing applications (submitted before the pause) continue processing—no disruptions for those in the queue.

Implications for Caregivers and Employers

• No New Intake: Prospective applicants (in or outside Canada) cannot apply until IRCC announces reopening potentially years away.
• In-Canada Workers: Those with valid permits can extend status and pursue other PR routes (e.g., CEC, PNPs).
• Families/Employers: Pivot to Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) for hiring, though live-in requirements are restricted.
• Alternatives: Explore PNPs (e.g., OINP In-Demand Skills for NOC 44101 home support workers) or general economic streams.

IRCC notes disappointment but emphasizes preventing further growth in inventories.

Looking Ahead

This pause signals redesign for future caregiver programs likely more targeted and backlog-resistant. In the interim, in-Canada experience remains key for PR transitions.

Let Worldbridge Immigration Services be your guide to a successful future in Canada
Contact us:

Website: www.theworldbridge.ca
Email: info@theworldbridge.ca
Phone/WhatsApp: +1-416-727-7766
Social media: @worldbridgeHQ