Canada’s Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially closed the permanent residence pathway for caregivers applying from outside the country under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP).
The HCWP, which was initially launched with two streams — Home Support and Child Care — had promised opportunities for both in-Canada and international workers.
However, despite early assurances that further details for overseas applicants would be released, the intake for foreign caregivers never materialized and has now been permanently discontinued.
While IRCC has not issued a formal public explanation, immigration data strongly suggests the decision is linked to mounting backlogs.
As of September 11, 2025, the department reported 34,400 pending caregiver applications, including legacy files under the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot.
In 2025, IRCC set a modest target of processing only 14% (4,816 applications) out of this inventory. Between January and September, Canada admitted 4,200 new permanent residents through caregiver pilots, leaving room for just 600 more before year-end — far below the initial plan of 2,750 permanent residents under the in-Canada HCWP stream.
The cap forms part of a broader ceiling of 10,920 permanent residents across all federal economic pilots in 2025, including the Agri-Food Pilot, Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot, and Start-up Visa Program, in addition to caregiver streams.
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Although the overseas HCWP intake has been scrapped, caregivers outside Canada are not entirely locked out of the system. Workers in occupations classified under NOC 33102 (nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) remain eligible through Express Entry, particularly under healthcare-focused category-based draws.
The most recent healthcare draw required a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score of 470, setting a high bar for eligibility.
Additionally, the New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) offers limited opportunities to caregivers under NOC codes 33102, 44101, and 42202. However, NOC 44100 (Home child care providers) is not included, effectively shutting out applicants in that category from this particular stream.
Analysts note that Ottawa’s decision reflects a broader strategy: prioritizing temporary residents already in Canada for permanent residence.
This aligns with recent Express Entry draws that heavily favour Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates, and with federal instructions requiring provinces to dedicate 75% of their immigration nominations to individuals already living and working in Canada.
By concentrating on those with Canadian work experience, IRCC aims to ease pressure on processing backlogs while rewarding candidates who have already integrated into the labour market.
For thousands of caregivers abroad who had hoped the HCWP would serve as a direct pathway into Canada, the door has now closed. Immigration experts warn that the decision may discourage skilled caregivers overseas, even as Canada continues to face domestic demand for home care and childcare workers.
Still, pathways remain open for those able to qualify under broader economic immigration programs or secure temporary work permits that may later transition into permanent residency opportunities.
