Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots
IRCC has introduced new permanent resident pathways for home care workers
Canada's new permanent residence (PR) pathways for home care workers launched on March 31, 2025.
These pathways hit their application cap through the Workers in Canada stream, within hours of launching.
The Home Care Workers Pilots will reopen application intake later in 2025 for the Applicants not in Canada stream.
This CanadaVisa page will outline key eligibility factors and conditions, and application procedures for applicants to these new pathways.
Overview
On March 31, 2025, IRCC launched two new immigration pilots for home care workers, known collectively as the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP).
These are:
- The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care; and
- The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support.
Each pilot program also features two different stream intakes:
- The Workers in Canada stream; and
- The Applicants not working in Canada stream.
At the opening of these programs, only The Workers in Canada stream through each pilot will accept applications for the 2025 intake. Application intake through the Applicants not working in Canada stream will occur at a later date in the year.
Out-of-status home care workers in Canada may also be eligible for the HCWP under a public policy. IRCC has announced that a limited number of spaces in each pilot program will be available to this cohort.
The application cap for each pilot through of the HCWP is given below:
Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care
| Category | Online applications | Alternate format applications |
| Workers in Canada | 2,350 | 260 |
| Out-of-status and unauthorized workers | 125 | 15 |
Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support
| Category | Online applications | Alternate format applications |
| Workers in Canada | 2,350 | 260 |
| Out-of-status and unauthorized workers | 125 | 15 |
Note: As of March 31, 2025 both pilot programs under the HCWP have met their application cap through the Workers in Canada stream. Allocations for the Applicants not working in Canada stream will be announced at a later date.
For more information on other work permit options and permanent residence pathways for foreign health care workers, visit our webpage.
Eligibility
Under the HCWP programs, applicants may apply to either of two streams:
- The Workers in Canada stream; or
- The Applicants not working in Canada stream.
To be eligible for the Workers in Canada stream, applicants must:
- Already be living in Canada (Though applications may be made from outside of Canada, applicants must show that their primary place of residence is in Canada); and
- Be authorized to work in Canada full-time, in any occupation (in a non-seasonal job).
- This work authorization may come by way of:
- A valid work permit;
- Maintained status; or
- A public policy instituted by the Government of Canada.
- This work authorization may come by way of:
To be eligible for the Applicants not working in Canada stream, applicants must be able to prove that they have the necessary settlement funds to move to, and settle in Canada. Further details on eligibility will be announced closer to the opening of this stream.
In addition to the above, applicants in both streams must meet the general eligibility criteria for the HCWP below:
| Eligibility criteria | Details |
| Work experience | Applicants must have:
No in-Canada work experience is required for these new streams. |
| Language proficiency | Applicants must have a CLB level 4 language proficiency in English or French |
| Job offer | Applicants must have a job offer from either:
Labour Market Impact Assesments (LMIAs) are not required in support of job offers.
|
| Education | Applicants must hold at least a secondary school diploma or equivalent. Applicants who attended high school outside of Canada will need to have their education assessed visa an Education Credential Assessment (ECA). |
In addition to the above, candidates must also have an intent to reside in a Canadian province or territory other than Quebec to be eligible for the HCWP.
Work experience and professional training conditions
For either pilot program of the HCWP, applicants must have work experience in specific occupations, as described by Canada's National Occupation Classification (NOC) system.
For the HCWP: Child Care work experience must align with the following occupations:
- Home child care providers (NOC 44100); and/or
- Early childhood educators and assistants (NOC 42202).
For the HCWP: Home Support work experience must align with the following occupations:
- Home support workers, caregivers and related occupations (NOC 44101); and/or
- Nurse aides, orderlies and patient service associates (NOC 33102).
Professional training credential
If applicants do not meet the above work experience requirements, they may instead show a relevant professional training credential of at least six months in length.
Applicants in either program must have completed professional credentials that align with the required NOCs for work experience for the chosen pilot. Applicants may take credentials that align with a mix of both NOCs for their chosen pilot, but may not have a mixture of NOCs from both pilot programs.
Job offer conditions
If not employed by a private household, applicants must have a job offer from one of the following organizations:
- Home health care service providers;
- Home care support service providers;
- Direct care agencies;
- Personal care services in residential settings; or
- Pediatric home health care service providers.
Job offers from recruitment and placement agencies are not eligible.
Language proficiency requirements
Applicants to the HCWP must prove they meet language proficiency requirements in English or French according to the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) or the Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) respectively.
Applicants must take an IRCC-approved language test to demonstrate their proficiency, and score a minimum of a CLB level 4 in all four language abilities, to be eligible.
How can I apply to this new pilot?
The department advises that foreign home care workers and students in Canada may begin to pursue an official language test, and get their education assessed in anticipation of the March 31 opening.
IRCC has not released any details regarding the application process for eligible foreign nationals outside of Canada.
The department is expected to release further details on the application process for these new streams upon the opening of the HCWP.
Contact the Cohen Immigration Law Firm for Assistance
Would you like to apply for permanent residence under the Health Care Worker Immigration Pilots? The Cohen Immigration Law firm can help. Cohen Immigration Law offers over 45 years of expertise in assisting workers and employers navigate Canadian immigration regulations.