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,...