Canada Ends Permanent Residence Pathway for Caregivers Outside the Country
IRCC Confirms Closure of “Applicants Not Working in Canada” Stream
- Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has officially closed the “applicants not working in Canada” intake of the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP).
- This stream, originally intended to allow caregivers abroad to apply for permanent residence (PR), never officially opened before being marked as “closed” on September 29, 2025, on IRCC’s website.
- The closure impacts both the Home Support Worker and Child Care Provider options of the pilot program.
What Options Remain for Caregivers Outside Canada?
Caregivers abroad still have pathways to move to Canada in 2025, even though the HCWP’s international stream has closed.
- Express Entry for Healthcare Professionals
- NOC 33102 (Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates) remains eligible.
- These candidates are prioritized under the Healthcare and Social Services category-based draws.
- The most recent healthcare draw had a CRS cut-off of 470.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs) inviting caregivers
Some PNP streams still consider home care worker NOC codes:- Manitoba PNP (Skilled Worker Overseas stream)
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream)
- New Brunswick PNP (Priority Occupations stream) – accepts NOCs 33102, 44101, and 42202 (but not 44100).
- Newfoundland and Labrador PNP (Skilled Worker category)
Why Did IRCC Close the International Caregiver Intake?
Several possible reasons explain this decision:
- Large Backlog of Caregiver Applications
- As of September 11, 2025, IRCC’s caregiver pilots had 34,400 applications in inventory.
- IRCC only plans to process 14% (about 4,816 applications) in 2025.
- From January to September 11, about 4,200 caregivers and dependents already landed in Canada.
- Limited Admissions Targets
- IRCC’s goal for the HCWP (in-Canada intake) is 2,750 permanent residents in 2025.
- Overall, federal economic pilot programs (including Caregivers, Agri-Food, Start-Up Visa, and EMPP) are capped at 10,920 PR admissions this year.
- This figure includes both principal applicants and their dependents.
- Shift in Immigration Policy
- IRCC has emphasized transitioning temporary residents already in Canada into permanent residents.
- This aligns with the trend of CEC-focused Express Entry draws and the requirement for 75% of provincial nominations to go to in-Canada candidates.
Caregiver Pilots: Current Inventory Snapshot (as of Sept 11, 2025)
| Program / Stream | Applications in Inventory | Planned Processing in 2025 | Expected Admissions Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home Child Care Provider / Home Support Worker | Part of 34,400 total | 4,816 (14%) | 2,750 (in-Canada intake only) |
| Federal Economic Pilots (All Programs incl. Caregivers, Agri-Food, Start-Up, EMPP) | – | – | 10,920 total admissions |
Key Takeaways
- The international caregiver PR intake has been permanently shut down before ever launching.
- Candidates abroad must now rely on Express Entry healthcare draws or PNP caregiver streams to immigrate.
- IRCC’s strategy clearly prioritizes those already in Canada on temporary status, while controlling international intake due to heavy backlogs and admission caps.
For a consultation about Immigration options, reach out to the CAD IMMIGRATION today!
