Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP)

 Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP)

Pathway to Permanent Residence for Caregivers in Canada

As of March 31, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) launched two new pilot programs designed to support Canada’s essential home care workforce. These programs provide a pathway to permanent residency for both in-Canada and international applicants working in child care or home support roles.

 Programs Under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots

The HCWP includes two distinct immigration streams:

Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care

Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support

Each pilot features two intake streams:

Workers in Canada Stream

Applicants Not Working in Canada Stream (opening later in 2025)

Additionally, out-of-status or unauthorized home care workers in Canada may be eligible under a special public policy.

 Application Intake Limits (2025)

 As of March 31, 2025, both pilots have reached their cap for Workers in Canada. Intake for Applicants Not Working in Canada will be announced later this year.

 Who Can Apply?

1. Workers in Canada Stream:

To be eligible, applicants must:

Reside primarily in Canada (even if applying from abroad)

Be authorized to work full-time in any occupation (non-seasonal), through:

A valid work permit, OR

Maintained status, OR

A public policy exemption

2. Applicants Not Working in Canada Stream:

(To open later in 2025)

Applicants must show sufficient settlement funds

Additional criteria will be announced prior to the stream opening

 General Eligibility Criteria (Both Streams)

                  - A minimum 6-month care-related credential completed in the last 2 years      |

| Job Offer | Must come from:
- A private household, OR
- A qualifying organization (not a placement agency) |
| Education | - Minimum: Canadian secondary school diploma
- If studied abroad: ECA required |
| Language Proficiency | - CLB 4 (English or French) in all 4 skills
- Approved language test required |
| Residency Intent | Must plan to settle in a province or territory outside Quebec |

 Child Care Stream: Eligible Occupations

Applicants must show work experience or training in one or both of the following NOC categories:

NOC 44100 – Home Child Care Providers

NOC 42202 – Early Childhood Educators and Assistants

 Home Support Stream: Eligible Occupations

Work experience or training must align with:

NOC 44101 – Home Support Workers, Caregivers

NOC 33102 – Nurse Aides, Orderlies, and Patient Service Associates

 Applicants must not mix NOCs from both streams (child care & home support) in a single application.

 Professional Training in Lieu of Experience

Don’t have 6 months of recent work experience?
You may still be eligible if you’ve completed a 6+ month credential related to caregiving that:

Aligns with one or more required NOC codes for your stream

Was completed in the last two years

 Acceptable Employers (Non-Household Job Offers)

If your job offer isn’t from a private household, it must come from one of the following:

Licensed home health care service providers

Direct care agencies or personal care service organizations

Pediatric home health care service providers

 Recruitment and placement agencies are not eligible employers.

 Job Offer Requirements

To qualify, the job offer must be:

Genuine and full-time (30+ hours/week)

Permanent in nature

From a legitimate employer in good standing with Canadian labor laws

Not require an LMIA (Labour Market Impact Assessment)

 Language Requirement

Minimum language level:
CLB 4 in English or French (reading, writing, listening, and speaking)

You must submit results from an IRCC-approved language test. Results must be less than 2 years old at the time of application.

 Why Choose the HCWP?

 No LMIA required
 Work experience or relevant training accepted
 Low language and education thresholds
 Multiple application streams to accommodate your situation
 Opportunity to transition to Canadian permanent residency

 Start Your Application

Applications for the Workers in Canada Stream are now closed for 2025.
Stay tuned for updates on the Applicants Not Working in Canada Stream.

 If you’re a home child care provider or home support worker—our team can guide you through every step of the process, from checking eligibility to submitting a complete and compelling application.

 Contact us today to assess your qualifications and prepare for the next intake window.

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