Canada has operated several caregiver immigration programs providing pathways to permanent residence for in-home childcare and elder care workers. The programs have evolved through multiple iterations — from the old Live-in Caregiver Program to the subsequent pilot programs — reflecting ongoing policy development in this area.

The most recent version, the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots, was announced on June 3, 2024 with a significant policy shift: workers would arrive in Canada as permanent residents from day one rather than going through a temporary work permit stage before applying for PR. As of 2026, these pilots are paused for new intake — IRCC is processing existing applications while managing high demand. For the current status, refer to the IRCC Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots page.

• IRCC: Home Care Worker Immigration pilots — canada.ca/home-care-worker-immigration-pilots
• IRCC: Caregiver immigration overview — canada.ca/caregivers
• IRCC: June 2024 announcement — new caregiver pilots — canada.ca/caregiver-pilots-2024-announcement

Evolution of caregiver immigration in Canada

Caregiver immigration programs in Canada have a long history of iteration:

• Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP): The original program, which required caregivers to live with their employer. Phased out and replaced.
• Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot (old): Two-step pilot programs allowing caregivers to come to Canada on a work permit, then apply for PR after accumulating 24 months of qualifying work experience. Both pilots are now closed.
• Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (new — June 2024): The current iteration, providing PR on arrival rather than a two-step process. Paused as of 2026.

The new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots — PR on arrival model

The new pilots announced in June 2024 represent a fundamental change in the caregiver immigration model:

• PR on arrival: Workers who qualify are granted permanent residence before they arrive in Canada — they do not go through a temporary work permit stage. This provides immediate labour mobility (not tied to a single employer from day one), immediate family reunification (family members can accompany or join the worker as permanent residents), and immediate access to settlement services.
• Annual intake: Up to 5,500 principal applicants per year across both pilots — 2,750 each for the Home Child Care Provider pilot and the Home Support Worker pilot. Family members are additional.
• Two separate pilots: One for home childcare workers (caring for children in a private home) and one for home support workers (supporting elderly or disabled individuals in a private home)

Eligibility requirements for the new pilots

Candidates for the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots must meet:

• Language: Minimum CLB/NCLC level 4 across all four abilities (reading, writing, listening, speaking) in English or French
• Education: At least the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school diploma (high school)
• Work experience or training: Recent and relevant work experience or training in a home care occupation — refer to the IRCC pilots page for current work experience requirements
• Job offer: A full-time job offer from an eligible employer for work in a home care occupation

For complete current eligibility requirements, refer to the IRCC eligibility page.

Current pause — 2026 status

Due to high demand that exceeded available annual places, IRCC paused new intake for the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots. The pause was in effect as of 2026. IRCC stated it will continue to process applications received before the pause while managing the backlog. IRCC has also indicated a long-term intention to make the caregiver program permanent (rather than as pilots). For the current intake status, refer to the IRCC page.

Employer eligibility

Employers who wish to hire through the Home Care Worker pilots must also meet eligibility requirements — including requirements about being an individual household employer (not a business or agency) for the home care worker. For employer eligibility, refer to the IRCC employer eligibility page.

Canada's caregiver immigration pathway has been one of the more frequently modified parts of the immigration system, reflecting the tension between high domestic demand for caregivers and the policy goal of fair, manageable intake. The shift to PR-on-arrival in 2024 was driven partly by recognition that the two-step model created a captive workforce tied to a single employer — a situation that contributed to exploitation. The stated intention to make the program permanent (not just a pilot) signals ongoing commitment to this pathway. For current processing times and intake status, refer to the IRCC Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots page.