In a major update for prospective caregivers, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on December 19, 2025, that it has suspended the intake of new applications under its Caregiver Pilot Program until further notice. Crucially, the department confirmed that the program will not reopen in March 2026, ending speculation that the coming year would offer renewed access to this permanent residence pathway.
The decision forms part of Canada’s broader immigration recalibration under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, aimed at controlling application volumes, reducing processing backlogs, and aligning admissions more closely with national labour market priorities. While IRCC reaffirmed the critical role played by caregivers in supporting seniors, children, and people with disabilities, it stated that the number of applications already in the system is sufficient to meet near-term immigration targets.
The pause applies to both permanent residence pathways under the caregiver pilots:
Home Care Worker Immigration (Child Care) Class
Home Care Worker Immigration (Home Support) Class
Each class includes Stream A, for applicants with eligible Canadian work experience, and Stream B, intended for those without Canadian experience. IRCC noted that Stream B has never been opened.
IRCC clarified that applications already submitted will continue to be processed, but no new applications will be accepted, and no timeline has been provided for when intake might resume. According to the department, the pause is intended to bring intake back to sustainable levels and improve overall processing efficiency.
Introduced to modernise caregiver immigration, the pilot programs replaced older pathways that required caregivers to work temporarily before qualifying for permanent residence. Under the pilots, eligible caregivers could apply directly for permanent residence, subject to meeting job offer, language, education, and experience requirements. However, strict annual caps of 2,750 applications per class quickly proved insufficient, as demand consistently exceeded available spaces.
With Canada’s ageing population increasing reliance on home care services and domestic recruitment challenges persisting, demand for caregiver immigration has remained high. The current pause signals a shift from expansion to consolidation, with future caregiver intake expected to be more tightly managed within Canada’s overall permanent resident targets.
IRCC acknowledged that the suspension will be disappointing for many prospective applicants but maintained that it is necessary to stabilise the system and ensure timely decisions for those already waiting. At present, no alternative federal caregiver pathway has been announced.
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