Canada’s immigration department (IRCC) has announced that it will not accept new applications under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots between March 31, 2026, and March 30, 2030.

The decision is based on new Ministerial Instructions that came into effect on March 31, 2026, replacing the previous instructions (MI88) that took effect on March 31, 2025.

Home care workers are individuals employed in private households to provide care for children, seniors, or persons with disabilities. Their duties may also include assisting with household tasks and supporting daily living activities.

Due to ongoing labour shortages in the caregiving and childcare sectors, Canada has long offered immigration pathways that allow qualified foreign workers in these occupations to obtain permanent residence.

The suspension applies to the following two pilot programs, which were launched on March 31, 2025:

• Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care 
• Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support 

These pilots were designed to provide a pathway to permanent residence for foreign nationals who secured job offers in Canada’s childcare or home support sectors.

Applicants were generally required to meet the following criteria:

• A qualifying job offer in Canada 
• Relevant work experience or approved training 
• A high school diploma or equivalent 
• Minimum language proficiency requirements 

Both pilot programs attracted significant interest and reached their annual application caps within hours of opening on March 31, 2025.

Because the number of permanent resident visas available under the pilots was limited, applications were effectively processed on a first-come, first-served basis. As a result, many eligible candidates were unable to apply once the annual quota had been reached.

Prior to this announcement, many prospective applicants expected the programs to reopen with new intake spaces in the spring of 2026. The latest Ministerial Instructions have now changed those expectations significantly.

According to the newly published Ministerial Instructions, IRCC will not accept any new applications under these pilot programs for a four-year period, from March 31, 2026, to March 30, 2030.

The federal government stated that the measure is intended to help manage application volumes and reduce immigration processing backlogs.

Unless revoked earlier by the Minister, the instructions will remain in force until March 30, 2030.

Pilot immigration programs in Canada are generally introduced for a period of up to five years. Successful pilots may eventually lead to the creation of permanent immigration pathways.

The suspension is expected to have a significant impact on foreign workers hoping to obtain permanent residence through caregiving occupations. At the same time, demand for workers in the childcare and home support sectors remains strong across Canada.

As a result, many stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether IRCC introduces alternative pathways or develops a permanent immigration program for home care workers in the future.

The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots quickly became one of the most attractive pathways to permanent residence for caregivers due to their relatively accessible eligibility requirements. However, the overwhelming demand demonstrated by the rapid filling of application caps highlighted the gap between available spaces and the number of interested applicants.

With the programs now closed to new applications until 2030, individuals seeking permanent residence through caregiving occupations should consider alternative options, such as Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), as part of their long-term immigration strategy.

Visa JP Canada will continue to monitor developments and provide updates on any future announcements regarding caregiver immigration pathways in Canada.

This article is a summary prepared by Visa JP Canada based on the official announcement from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), organized for clarity and ease of understanding.
Source: Ministerial Instructions respecting Express Entry invitations and category-based selection (English)