Canada has paused intake for the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots, and the pilots will not re-open in March 2026. If you planned to apply for permanent residence through these pilots, plan for a longer wait or choose a different pathway while IRCC works through existing applications.
This change affects new applications only. If IRCC already received your application, processing continues under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
Timeline: IRCC’s pause of the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots (Canada)
- 2025 (throughout the year): Demand for the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots remains very high. Intake caps/volumes are exceeded, and timelines grow longer as more applications enter the system.
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December 19, 2025: IRCC publishes a public notice confirming intake is paused “until further notice.” IRCC also states the pilots will not re-open in March 2026, despite expectations of a spring intake window.
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December 19, 2025: IRCC explains the pause: it is prioritizing processing of existing applications because demand exceeded available spaces. IRCC says accepting more new applications would increase the inventory and lengthen waits, and ties this to the goal to “bring immigration back to sustainable levels.”
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December 19, 2025: IRCC confirms what stays the same for people who already applied: it will continue processing applications already received, aligned with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.
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2026–2028 (Immigration Levels Plan period): The Government of Canada sets permanent resident admissions at 380,000 per year for 2026–2028 and reduces temporary resident targets. IRCC frames these moves as aligning admissions with labour needs and sustainability goals.
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2026–2028 (related initiatives during the same plan period): The Levels Plan includes initiatives to transition people already in Canada to permanent residence, including up to 33,000 temporary workers and 115,000 protected persons under specified initiatives. IRCC links shifting intake priorities to these plan choices.
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March 2026: The expected spring intake window does not happen. IRCC has stated the pilots will not re-open then, and intake remains paused until a future update.
Important: The pause applies only to new intake. If IRCC already has your file, your application remains in processing.
What the pause means for you (plain language)
If you have not applied yet
You cannot submit a new application to these Home Care Worker Immigration pilots while intake is paused. If you were preparing for March 2026, you need to adjust now.
Options:
– Wait until IRCC announces a new intake window or a replacement caregiver pathway, or
– Choose another immigration route that fits your background and goals.
If IRCC already received your application
Your file remains in the processing line. The pause does not cancel applications already submitted. IRCC has said it will keep processing existing inventory under the 2026–2028 plan.
Important: The pause is about intake (new submissions), not processing for cases already received.
Why IRCC paused the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots
IRCC’s explanation is straightforward:
– Demand exceeded available spaces.
– Accepting more new applications would grow the inventory.
– A larger inventory produces longer waits.
– Pausing new submissions lets IRCC focus on applications already received and supports the plan to bring overall immigration levels to a more sustainable pace.
IRCC used similar “rebalancing” language for other program changes around the same time, tied to the 2026–2028 plan period.
What you should do next while intake is paused
1) Protect your status and ability to work in Canada
If you are in Canada, the priority is to stay authorized:
– Keep your work permit valid.
– Track expiry dates early.
– Keep copies of your job offer, pay stubs, and work history records.
If you are outside Canada, focus on a pathway that supports lawful entry and work authorization, then build a longer-term permanent residence plan.
2) Compare practical alternatives to the pilots
Many caregivers and employers pivot to pathways that are already active, including Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), and employer-driven options (often with an LMIA). Each route has tradeoffs.
| Option you can pursue now | What it is (quick description) | Who it fits best |
|---|---|---|
| Express Entry | The federal selection system for economic permanent residence | You have strong language scores, education, and skilled work history |
| Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) | Provinces nominate workers for permanent residence based on local labour needs | You can match a province’s worker needs and meet its criteria |
| Employer-driven work permit (often LMIA-based) | A Canadian employer supports a work permit so you can work in Canada | You have an employer ready to hire and support the process |
| Other caregiver/healthcare streams | Non-pilot routes that accept some healthcare or care roles | Your role aligns with a program that stays open |
You still need to match eligibility rules for any option you choose. Start by listing your job title, duties, work history dates, education, and language test results. Having those facts ready makes it easier to screen options.
3) Adjust your plan if March 2026 was your target
If your timeline was built around a March 2026 intake, replace it with two tracks:
- Track A (short-term): Maintain legal status and income stability
- Work authorization
- Employer documentation
- Consistent job history
- Track B (permanent residence): Build eligibility for another PR pathway while monitoring IRCC for updates
This reduces the risk of losing time if the pause lasts longer than expected.
4) Watch for IRCC announcements
IRCC has said future updates will be shared publicly. Pay attention to:
– A new intake date
– Any revised eligibility rules
– A new caregiver pathway replacing the pilots
– Caps or limits that affect how fast intake fills
If you want ongoing caregiver-focused updates written for regular people, you can also check VisaVerge.com.
How this fits into Canada’s 2026–2028 immigration plan
IRCC is balancing:
– High demand for permanent residence in popular programs
– A plan that sets 380,000 permanent resident admissions per year for 2026–2028, while also reducing temporary resident targets
The plan also includes initiatives that transition people already in Canada, including up to 33,000 temporary workers and 115,000 protected persons under specified initiatives. That matters because it can influence which files IRCC prioritizes and which programs accept new intake.
If you’re a Home Care Worker or an employer: a practical checklist
- Confirm whether you already submitted a pilot application before the pause.
- If you did submit, organize your file copies and track any IRCC requests.
- If you did not submit, pick one main alternate route to pursue first (Express Entry, PNP, or employer-driven work permit).
- Collect documents you will reuse across pathways:
- Passports and IDs
- Proof of work experience (letters, contracts, pay stubs)
- Education records
- Language test results (if applicable)
- Confirm job details: duties, work location, hours, and supervisor contact. Consistency across documents helps prevent delays later.
If you share your work history timeline and where you live (in Canada or abroad), you can narrow which alternate pathway is most realistic while IRCC keeps the pilots closed through March 2026.
IRCC has suspended new applications for the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots and cancelled the March 2026 intake. This pause addresses high demand and inventory backlogs to ensure a sustainable immigration system. Current applicants are unaffected as processing continues under the 2026–2028 plan. Unaffected individuals should maintain their legal status and consider alternative routes like Express Entry or Provincial Nominee Programs while monitoring for future updates.
