Caregiver Program Canada

Canada's caregiver immigration pathway is now structured through the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWIP), which launched on March 31, 2025. These pilots replaced the previous Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot, which closed on June 17, 2024. They offer eligible caregivers a direct path to permanent residence without the need for a separate post-work-permit application. As of December 19, 2025, IRCC has paused application intake to focus on processing existing submissions. This page explains the full program structure and what you need to prepare when intake reopens.

Program status notice: The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots are currently not accepting new applications. IRCC paused intake on December 19, 2025, and has not announced a reopening date.

What Is the Canada Caregiver Program?

Canada's caregiver immigration pathway is currently structured through two federal pilot programs collectively known as the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWIP). These pilots replaced the previous Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot, which closed on June 17, 2024.

The two pilots are:

• Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care — for individuals working or trained as home child care providers
• Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support — for individuals working or trained as home support workers or nurse aides

Both pilots offer eligible caregivers a direct path to permanent residence in Canada without needing to complete a separate post-permit application stage. They apply to caregivers who plan to work anywhere in Canada outside of Quebec.

The pilots launched on March 31, 2025, and reached their annual application caps within hours of opening. On December 19, 2025, IRCC paused intake indefinitely to prioritize processing of existing applications. The pilots are not currently accepting new submissions, and IRCC has not announced a reopening date. If you have already applied, your application continues to be processed. If you have not yet applied, this page outlines what you need to prepare for when intake resumes.

Who Can Apply for the Canada Caregiver Program?

To qualify for either pilot, you must meet all of the following requirements as outlined on the IRCC eligibility page:

• Plan to live and work in Canada outside of Quebec. The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots do not apply to caregivers who will work in Quebec. If your employer is based in Quebec, a separate process is required through a Labour Market Impact Assessment under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program.
• Meet the language requirement. You must score at least Level 4 in all four skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) based on the Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English, or the equivalent Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) for French. Your test must be from an IRCC-approved testing organization and no more than two years old at the time of application.
• Meet the education requirement. You must have the equivalent of a Canadian high school diploma or higher. If your education was completed outside Canada, you need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from a designated organization, completed within the past five years.
• Have qualifying work experience or training. You need either at least six consecutive months of full-time work in an eligible occupation within the past three years, or a relevant post-secondary training credential completed within the past two years (with training that began when you were at least 17 years old).
• Have a qualifying job offer. You need a genuine, full-time, non-seasonal job offer from an employer who is based outside Quebec, pays at or above the median prevailing wage for the occupation in that province, and is not related to you.
• Be admissible to Canada. You must not have criminal history or other factors that make you inadmissible to Canada.

Workers in Canada (Stream A)

Stream A is for caregivers who are already residing in Canada. To qualify, you must be living in Canada at the time of application (short trips abroad do not disqualify you, but you must normally reside in Canada), and you must be authorized to work full-time in Canada in a non-seasonal job. Eligible work authorization includes a valid work permit, maintained status, or an applicable public policy.

If you are currently in Canada without valid work authorization, a separate public policy may allow you to apply under Stream A. You would need to show that you entered Canada legally on or before December 16, 2021, have lived here continuously since then, and held a valid work permit at some point during that period. You must not be under a removal order or have a pending refugee claim. Speak with a regulated immigration consultant to assess whether you qualify under this provision.

If your work permit is set to expire while your permanent residence application is being processed, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit, which allows you to continue working legally in Canada while awaiting a decision.

Applicants Not Working in Canada (Stream B)

Stream B is the pathway for qualified caregivers who are not currently in Canada or who do not have Canadian caregiving experience. This stream was expected to open on March 31, 2027, but it had not yet launched when IRCC paused intake in December 2025. Applicants under Stream B must also demonstrate proof of settlement funds equal to at least 50% of the Minimum Necessary Income (MNI) for their family size. No new opening date has been announced.

Eligible Occupations Under the Caregiver Pilots

Your NOC code determines which pilot you apply under.

Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care

Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support

How Much Is a Caregiver Paid in Canada?

Your employer under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots is required to pay you at or above the median prevailing wage for your occupation in the province where you will work. This makes understanding caregiver wage ranges directly relevant to your eligibility.

maintained by Employment and Social Development Canada (data updated November 2025), home support workers (NOC 44101) across Canada earn the following hourly rates:

The median national wage of $20.50 per hour is the minimum benchmark your employer must meet or exceed when making a qualifying job offer. Wages vary by province, employer type, and the specific caregiving duties involved. Before accepting a job offer, confirm that the offered wage meets or exceeds the median prevailing wage for your NOC code in that province, as listed on Job Bank. Offers that fall below this threshold will not qualify under the program.

How Long Is the Process for Caregivers in Canada?

IRCC has not published official processing time targets for the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots. When the pilots opened on March 31, 2025, both the Child Care and Home Support streams reached their annual application caps within hours. IRCC paused all new intake on December 19, 2025, and has not confirmed a reopening date.

For applicants who submitted their permanent residence application before the intake pause, IRCC continues to process files in line with Canada's 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan. No specific timeline has been publicly committed to for these applications.

Processing times for immigration programs depend on application volume, documentation completeness, and biometrics and medical examination scheduling. Incomplete applications or missing documents are among the most common reasons for delays.

If you are currently in Canada under Stream A and your work permit is approaching its expiry date while your PR application is being processed, you may be eligible for a bridging open work permit to maintain your work authorization in the interim.

How to Apply for the Canada Caregiver Program

When the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots reopen for applications, the process involves the following steps:

Step 1 Confirm your eligible occupation. Identify the NOC code that matches your caregiving role, and determine which pilot (Child Care or Home Support) applies to you.

Step 2 Take a language test. Complete an IRCC-approved English or French language test and achieve CLB/NCLC Level 4 in all four skills. Your result must be no more than two years old when you apply.

Step 3 Have your education assessed. If your highest credential is from outside Canada, obtain an ECA from a designated organization within the past five years.

Step 4 Secure a qualifying job offer. Confirm that your employer is located outside Quebec, offers full-time non-seasonal work in your eligible NOC, and pays at or above the median prevailing wage for that occupation in the province.

Step 5 Gather your supporting documents. This includes identity documents, proof of work experience or training, language test results, your ECA report if applicable, and your job offer letter along with the applicable employer information form (Individual Employer IMM 0267 or Business Employer IMM 0268).

Step 6 Apply through the IRCC PR portal. When intake is open, applications are submitted online. Both the principal applicant and accompanying family members are included in the same application.

Why Caregivers Choose the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots

The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots offer advantages that earlier caregiver programs did not. Under the old Live-in Caregiver Program, foreign nationals had to complete two or more years of work in Canada before becoming eligible to apply for permanent residence. The HCWIP removes that two-step requirement.

The key advantages of this pathway include:

• Direct permanent residence: You apply for PR directly, without first completing a temporary work phase and then applying separately. Once approved, you and your family receive permanent resident status.
• Family members included: Your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children can be included in your PR application. You do not need to sponsor them separately after you land.
• Labour mobility as a permanent resident: As a permanent resident, you are not tied to a single employer. You can change employers or roles without affecting your immigration status.
• Path to citizenship: After meeting the physical presence requirement as a permanent resident, you become eligible to apply for Canadian citizenship.
• No live-in requirement: Unlike the original Live-in Caregiver Program, the HCWIP does not require you to live in your employer's home.

These advantages apply once your application is approved. Outcomes depend on individual eligibility and officer assessment.

Common Challenges Caregivers Face in Canada

Caregivers encounter various challenges during their time in Canada:

• Cultural and Language Barriers: Adjusting to a new culture and language can be overwhelming.
• Long Work Hours: Caregiving demands can lead to fatigue and burnout.
• Immigration Complexities: Understanding policies and pathways to permanent residency can be confusing.
• Isolation: Many caregivers feel isolated due to limited social networks.
• Workplace Rights: Ensuring fair wages and working conditions may require self-advocacy.
• Limited Career Growth: Many caregivers struggle to transition to higher-paying or alternate roles due to job-specific skills.
• Emotional Stress: Managing clients’ health and emotional well-being can be draining.
• Financial Pressures: Supporting families back home while meeting living expenses in Canada can cause financial strain.
• Lack of Access to Resources: Difficulty accessing affordable housing, healthcare, and training opportunities can hinder long-term stability.

Ready to take the next step in your caregiving career? At SEP Immigration, we're here to guide you through the application process and help you secure your future in Canada. Contact us today to learn how we can assist you in making Canada your new home.