Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has announced a launch date for the new immigration pilots for home care workers. The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots which were announced earlier in 2024 are set to officially open on March 31, 2025. The launch of these pilots creates a pathway to permanent residence (PR) for caregivers and replaces the previous pilots which expired last June 2024.
Permanent Residence Pathway for Home Care Workers
Under these new pilot programs, eligible home care workers will have the opportunity to obtain permanent residence upon arrival in Canada. This marks a significant shift from previous caregiver immigration programs, streamlining the process for qualified candidates.
The new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots will make it easier for home care workers in home support or home child care to:
- Become permanent residents upon arrival in Canada;
- Find work with a range of employers in different home care settings.
Two Streams for Applicants
The new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots will have two application streams:
- Workers in Canada: Open for applications starting March 31, 2025.
- Applicants Not Working in Canada: Will open at a later date, with details to be announced.
Eligibility Criteria for the New Home Care Worker Pilots
To qualify for these enhanced care worker immigration pathways, foreign nationals must meet the following requirements:
- Have a minimum of level 4 in English or French in the CLB or NCLC
- Have the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma (or higher)
- Have at least 6 months of recent and relevant work experience or a related caregiver training credential
- Have an offer for a full-time home care job
A Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) is not required for this program.
Further details regarding the new pilots are to be announced by IRCC.
Key Improvements in the New Pilots
1. Permanent residence in one step
The new pilots will offer a one-step immigration process for home care workers and their family members. Qualified home care workers will get permanent residence without needing Canadian work experience in the occupation first.
2. Reduced language and education requirements
The new pilots will lower language and education requirements.
Applicants will still need to have the skills required to perform the work and be able to adapt to the Canadian labour market.
However, applicants will now only need:
- A level 4 in the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC), and
- A high school diploma
3. No in-Canada work experience needed
Applicants won’t need prior Canadian work experience.
However, they will need to have recent, relevant work experience or have completed a credential of at least 6 months of related home care training.
They will also need to have a full-time job offer in home care within Canada, outside Quebec.
4. Flexible work options with a job offer
Home care workers can work where they are needed.
Your job offer can be from:
- private households
- organizations that directly hire full-time workers to provide short-term or occasional home care for those who are semi-independent or recovering from an injury or illness, for example
- home health care service providers
- home care support service providers
- direct care agencies
- personal care services in residential settings
- pediatric home health care service providers
Recruitment or placement agencies are not eligible to offer job opportunities under these pilots.
What If You Previously Applied to a Caregiver Pilot?
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If You Applied to the Home Child Care Provider or Home Support Worker Pilot
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- The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot officially ended on June 17, 2024. If you submitted your application on or before this date, IRCC will continue processing it as usual.
- If you applied under the Gaining Experience category and have now accumulated enough eligible work experience, you can submit your proof to IRCC for further processing.
- The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot officially ended on June 17, 2024. If you submitted your application on or before this date, IRCC will continue processing it as usual.
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If You Have Not Applied to These Pilots
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- If you did not apply before the previous programs closed, you may still be eligible for the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots launching in March 2025.
- If you did not apply before the previous programs closed, you may still be eligible for the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots launching in March 2025.
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If You’re a Home Care Worker Without Status in Canada
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- Home care workers without legal status in Canada may still qualify for the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots under a special public policy. However, spots will be limited, so it is crucial to stay informed and apply as soon as possible.
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Background and Policy Changes
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot programs were officially closed on June 17, 2024. The discontinuation of these left a temporary halt in caregiver-specific admission and with the upcoming launch of the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, these previous caregiver pathways will now be fully replaced.
Over the years, Canada has seen several iterations of caregiver pathways, including:
- The Live-in Caregiver Program (closed in 2014);
- The Caring for Children Pilot (closed in 2019);
- The Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pilot (closed in 2019);
- The Interim Pathway for Caregivers (closed in 2019);
- The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot (closed in 2024).
Immigration Targets and Future Allocations
As outlined in the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC has set a target of 10,920 new immigrant admissions under the “Federal Economic Pilots” category. The new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots will be included in this allocation. However, this total will also be divided among other federal economic pilot programs, such as:
- The Agri-Food Pilot;
- Community Immigration Pilots;
- The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot.
While the specific allocation for the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots has not yet been disclosed, these pathways are expected to provide much-needed opportunities for skilled home care workers to fill vacancies in Canada.
What’s Next?
As IRCC continues to refine the details of these new caregiver immigration pilots, further updates are expected in the coming months.
Prospective applicants should stay informed about program developments to ensure they meet eligibility requirements and prepare their applications accordingly.For professional guidance on navigating Canada’s immigration pathways, including the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, our team is here to assist.
Contact us today to learn more about your options for permanent residence in Canada.
The Team at Northern Connections Canada
