Update on Canada’s Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots

Canada has decided to keep its Home Care Worker Immigration pilots closed, with no plans for reopening in 2026. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has stated that the program limits were exceeded, resulting in significant backlogs. Consequently, new intake has been paused and will not resume until March 2026. However, applications that have already been submitted will continue to be processed.

As of now, there is no new federal caregiver permanent residence program announced as a replacement. In the upcoming year, caregivers are anticipated to primarily rely on temporary work permits or provincial nominee programs that include caregiving roles.

This decision aligns with Canada’s broader immigration reset outlined in the 2026 to 2028 Immigration Levels Plan. The focus is on clearing inventories rather than expanding capped pathways.