Caregivers, people who provide in-home care for children, or support for seniors, adults with disabilities, or people with high medical needs, have long had a dedicated route to Canadian permanent residence. The short answer for 2026: the route exists in principle, but the doors are mostly closed right now. The current programs are the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots (one for child care and one for home support), which launched on March 31, 2025 and replaced the older Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots. A key feature of the new design is that eligible applicants are meant to receive permanent residence on or near arrival, rather than first working in Canada for two years. However, both new pilots filled their limited application spaces almost immediately, and in December 2025 IRCC announced a multi-year pause on new intake. This guide explains who the category is for, what the pilots required, and how to track the next opening, while stressing that you must verify the live status on IRCC because caregiver programs are unusually volatile.
Important: intake is currently paused
Caregiver programs change often. As of this writing, IRCC has announced that the two Home Care Worker Immigration pilots will accept no new applications during a long-term pause running from March 31, 2026 to March 30, 2030, while it processes the applications already in its inventory and works on a redesigned caregiver pathway. The earlier Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot are also closed to new applicants. This guide explains how the category works and what the pilots required, but you should treat any program as closed unless IRCC's own website shows it open today. Confirm the current status on canada.ca before relying on anything here.
From the Live-In Caregiver Program to the Home Care Worker Pilots
The original Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP) required caregivers to live in their employer's home, an arrangement widely criticized for creating power imbalances that left workers vulnerable. The LCP stopped accepting new applicants in late 2014. It was followed by interim caregiver pathways, then the 2019 Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot, and most recently the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots that opened on March 31, 2025. Each generation reduced the live-in expectation and moved toward a clearer route to permanent residence.
How the newest design differs from the older pilots:
- ✓No live-in requirement, caregivers are not required to live in the employer's home
- ✓Permanent residence is intended on or near arrival, the newest pilots were designed as a one-step process, removing the older requirement to first gain Canadian work experience before applying for PR
- ✓Two separate pilots: one for child care and one for home support
- ✓A full-time, non-seasonal, permanent job offer in an eligible occupation is required
- ✓Limited application spaces, the 2025 intake caps were reached almost immediately
Verify before you rely on this: Caregiver programs are among the most volatile parts of Canadian immigration. Program names, requirements, caps, and open or closed status change frequently and without much notice. Do not rely on this page (or any third-party site) for the live status. Confirm directly on the official IRCC caregiver pages before doing anything.
Two Caregiver Pilots
The Home Care Worker Immigration program is split into two separate pilots, depending on whether you care for children or for adults. Each is tied to one National Occupational Classification (NOC) code, and your job offer and experience must match the pilot you apply under. The two pilots cannot be combined.
Pilot 1: Home Care Worker Immigration, Child Care
For workers providing in-home care for children, including nannies and others who provide primary care for children in a private home.
- ✓ NOC code: 44100 (Home child care providers)
- ✓ Work involves caring for, supervising, and supporting the development of children in a private home
- ✓ Requires a qualifying full-time job offer from a Canadian employer
Pilot 2: Home Care Worker Immigration, Home Support
For workers providing in-home support for seniors, people recovering from illness or injury, adults with disabilities, or others who need help with daily living in a private home.
- ✓ NOC code: 44101 (Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations)
- ✓ Work involves personal care, help with daily living, and related household support for the care recipient
- ✓ Requires a qualifying full-time job offer from a Canadian employer
Two intake streams: in Canada vs. outside Canada
Within each pilot, IRCC set up separate intake streams. A "workers in Canada" stream was for applicants already authorized to work in Canada, and a stream for applicants not currently working in Canada was planned to open at a later stage. Which streams ever opened, and the spaces available, were limited and are now subject to the intake pause. Confirm on IRCC which stream, if any, is open before applying.
Language Requirements
Under the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots, the language threshold is set at a single level rather than escalating between a work permit and a PR stage. As a one-step PR pathway, the pilots ask applicants to meet the benchmark below at the time of the permanent residence application:
| Item | Requirement | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum language level | CLB / NCLC 4 in English or French (all four abilities) | Reading, writing, listening, speaking |
| Approved tests | IELTS or CELPIP (English); TEF or TCF (French) | Results must generally be less than 2 years old when you apply |
Use ClearToEnter's Language Converter to see how your IELTS or TEF scores map to CLB/NCLC levels. Confirm the exact accepted tests and minimum scores on IRCC, as these can change. Language Converter
Work Experience or Training Requirements
Unlike the older pilots, which required 24 months of Canadian work experience before applying for PR, the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots were designed so you can qualify with a relatively short period of experience, gained in or outside Canada, or with relevant training instead:
- ✓ Generally at least 6 months of recent, continuous, relevant work experience gained inside or outside Canada within the last 3 years, OR
- ✓ A completed credential of at least 6 months from a relevant home-care or child-care training program
- ✓ Your experience or training must match the main duties of the NOC for the pilot you apply under
- ✓ Foreign experience can count, a major change from the older 24-month, Canada-only rule
This shorter experience-or-training requirement, combined with permanent residence on or near arrival, was the headline change in the newest pilots. Confirm the exact months, recency window, and acceptable credentials on IRCC, as program details can be adjusted.
Education Requirements
- ✓ Minimum: a Canadian secondary school diploma or equivalent
- ✓ If your education was completed outside Canada, you may need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA)
- ✓ Some employers may require additional childcare or healthcare-specific training or certifications
How the Process Works (When Intake Is Open)
The steps below describe how the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots were designed to work. Because intake is paused, these steps are for understanding and preparation only. Do not submit anything until IRCC confirms the relevant stream is open.
- 1
Confirm a pilot is open
Caregiver intake opens and closes with little notice and fills quickly. Before doing anything else, check the official IRCC caregiver pages to confirm which pilot and stream, if any, is currently accepting applications.
- 2
Secure a qualifying job offer
Obtain a full-time (at least 30 hours per week), non-seasonal, permanent job offer from a Canadian employer in an eligible occupation (NOC 44100 for child care or 44101 for home support). The offer must come from a single employer.
- 3
Meet the language requirement
Take an approved language test (IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF) and reach at least CLB/NCLC 4 in all four abilities. Keep results current, they generally must be less than 2 years old when you apply.
- 4
Show education and experience or training
Provide proof of education at least equivalent to a Canadian secondary school diploma, plus either the required recent relevant work experience or a qualifying credential of at least 6 months. Foreign experience can count.
- 5
Submit the PR application
Because the pilots are designed as a one-step pathway, eligible applicants apply directly for permanent residence rather than working in Canada for years first. Apply under the correct pilot and stream.
- 6
Biometrics, medical, and police certificates
Provide biometrics (the IRCC fee is $85 per person, to a family maximum of $170), complete an immigration medical exam, and supply police certificates for countries where you have lived. Confirm current fees on IRCC.
- 7
Receive your COPR
If approved, you receive your Confirmation of Permanent Residence. Under the newer design, eligible workers are intended to obtain permanent resident status on or near arrival in Canada.
Family Members
Under the current caregiver pilots, your spouse or common-law partner and dependent children may be eligible to accompany you to Canada:
- ✓ Accompanying spouse may be eligible for an open work permit
- ✓ Dependent children may be eligible to study in Canada
- ✓ Family members can be included in the eventual PR application
Consult the IRCC official website or an immigration professional for the current rules on accompanying family members, as eligibility criteria can change with program updates.
Prepare your application documents
Use the Document Checklist to ensure you have everything you need for your caregiver work permit and PR application.
Get Document ChecklistFrequently Asked Questions
Can I apply as a caregiver in 2026?+
Generally no, not as a new applicant right now. IRCC has announced that the two Home Care Worker Immigration pilots will accept no new applications during a long-term pause running from March 31, 2026 to March 30, 2030, while it processes the applications already received and works on a redesigned caregiver pathway. The older Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots are also closed. Status can change, so confirm directly on the official IRCC caregiver pages before assuming anything.
Do I need to live with my employer to be a caregiver in Canada?+
No. The live-in requirement was a feature of the old Live-In Caregiver Program, which stopped taking new applicants in 2014. The pilots that followed, including the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots, do not require you to live in the employer's home.
Does foreign caregiving experience count under the Home Care Worker pilots?+
Yes, this was a major change. The newer Home Care Worker Immigration pilots were designed to accept relevant experience gained inside or outside Canada (generally at least 6 months within the last 3 years), or a relevant credential of at least 6 months instead of experience. This differs from the older pilots, which required experience gained in Canada. Confirm the exact rules on IRCC, since details can be adjusted.
What language level do caregiver applicants need?+
Under the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots the minimum is generally CLB/NCLC 4 in all four abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking), proven with an approved test such as IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF. Test results usually must be less than 2 years old when you apply. Always verify the current accepted tests and minimum scores on IRCC.
Why did the caregiver pilots close so fast?+
When the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots first opened on March 31, 2025, demand far exceeded the limited number of application spaces, and the caps were reached almost immediately. Citing ongoing high demand and a growing application inventory, IRCC announced in December 2025 that it would pause new intake. This is why confirming live status matters more for caregiver programs than for most other streams.
What are my options if caregiver intake is closed?+
If you cannot apply under a caregiver pilot, other pathways may fit depending on your situation, such as a temporary work permit (if you can obtain authorization to work), provincial nominee streams that target care occupations, or Express Entry if you qualify another way. These have their own rules and are not caregiver-specific. A licensed immigration lawyer or a regulated Canadian immigration consultant (CICC) can help you assess realistic options for your circumstances.
Do my family members get to come with me?+
The Home Care Worker Immigration pilots were designed to include immediate family members in the permanent residence application, so an accompanying spouse or common-law partner and dependent children could be included. Exact rules for accompanying family can change with program updates, so confirm the current criteria on IRCC or with an immigration professional.
🛠 Useful tools
Program Finder, Document Checklist, and Language Converter to support your caregiver application.
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Use the ClearToEnter Program Finder to confirm the caregiver pathway is right for your situation, then build your document checklist.
Find My ProgramOfficial sources
This page is based on law and policy published by the Government of Canada.