New Canada Caregiver Programs Opening March 31, 2025 | IRCC Update

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has exciting news for home care workers. On March 31, 2025, new immigration pilots, known as “Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots,” will open. These programs aim to streamline pathways for caregivers seeking permanent residence in Canada.

Eligibility Criteria for New Pathways

To qualify for these new pilot programs, foreign nationals must meet specific criteria:

• Demonstrate official language skills equivalent to level 4 on the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) scale.
• Hold a diploma equivalent to a Canadian high school education.
• Have relevant and recent work experience.
• Receive a full-time job offer for a home care position.

Previously, candidates needed only six months of eligible experience to qualify for permanent residence. However, IRCC has yet to disclose additional details regarding eligibility requirements.

Background on the New Pilots

IRCC first announced these new immigration pilots on June 3, 2024. At that time, they provided limited information beyond the basic eligibility criteria. Shortly after, on June 17, 2024, the department closed two existing programs: the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot. These closures represented a temporary pause in specialized immigration pathways for caregivers.

The new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots will replace the former caregiver immigration programs. This change follows the discontinuation of several previous pathways, including:

1. The Live-in Caregiver Program (closed in 2014)
2. The Caring for Children Pilot (closed in 2019)
3. The Caring for People with High Medical Needs Pilot (closed in 2019)
4. The Interim Pathway For Caregivers Program (closed in 2019)
5. The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot (closed in 2024)

Immigration Levels Plan and Future Prospects

In its 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan, IRCC has allocated 10,920 new immigrant admissions under “Federal Economic Pilots.” The new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots will fall into this category. However, the specific allocation for these pilots remains unknown. IRCC will distribute the 10,920 new immigration admissions for 2025 between several programs, including:

• The new caregiver pilots
• The Agri-Food Pilot
• Community Immigration Pilots
• The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot

Conclusion

The upcoming launch of the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots marks a significant development for caregivers wishing to settle in Canada. These new pathways offer promising opportunities for eligible home care workers.

As Canada continues to seek skilled professionals, these pilots will play a vital role in shaping the future of caregiver immigration. For those interested in these opportunities, staying informed about further updates from IRCC will be essential.