The Canadian government has officially announced an immediate suspension of new applications for its latest caregiver pathways under the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots.
According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the decision to pause the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots was driven by a massive surge in interest that has already exceeded the available spots for the coming years.
The agency explained that the move is part of a broader strategy to manage application backlogs and align the immigration system with the country’s 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
IRCC added that since the launch of the Home Care Worker Immigration pilot pathway, the volume of applicants seeking permanent residency has far outpaced the government’s processing capacity.
By freezing the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots, the IRCC said it aims to focus on the thousands of applications already in the system to ensure faster processing for those who have already applied.
The agency also said the policy is aimed at preventing the current 21-to-33-month processing delays from stretching even further.
The statement reads in part: “As part of our 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, we’re making our immigration system more responsive to the needs of the country by making sure that we have the skilled workers needed to fill labour gaps. Many home care workers—who provide essential support to seniors, children, and people with disabilities—have already applied for permanent residence through pilot programs.
“Due to ongoing high demand, interest in the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots continues to exceed the spaces available, leading to longer wait times.
“To prioritize processing of existing applications, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will pause intake until further notice. This means that the pilots’ intake will not reopen in March 2026.
“IRCC will continue to process applications received to date, in line with the Immigration Levels Plan.
“While we understand that this will be disappointing for prospective applicants and their families, this pause will prevent further inventory growth and support our goal to bring immigration back to sustainable levels. Any future updates on the program will be shared publicly.”
Earlier, many expected the pilots to reopen in March 2026. The government has also confirmed that the programs will not reopen in March 2026, as previously anticipated. For now, there is no new date on the table. Updates will be shared when decisions are made.
Pan-Atlantic Kompass reports that in simple terms, Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots are immigration pathways for people who work in home care roles.
They are designed for home support workers and home child care providers who help families, seniors, and people with disabilities across Canada.
The goal is twofold: help Canada address long-term care and caregiving shortages and give qualified home care workers a direct pathway to permanent residence
Applicants under these pilots do not need a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). That removes one of the biggest hurdles many foreign workers face.
