IRCC has hit pause on new Home Care Worker immigration pilot applications, closing the door to new applicants “until further notice” while it clears a growing backlog. Existing files will still move forward under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, but the planned March 2026 re‑opening will no longer happen.
What IRCC announced on December 19, 2025
On December 19, 2025, IRCC confirmed that intake for the Home Care Worker immigration pilots is paused and will not re‑open in March 2026 as previously expected.
- IRCC cites ongoing high demand and interest far beyond the number of available spaces as key reasons for the pause.
- The department wants to prioritize processing of applications already received, rather than continuing to accept new files and growing the inventory.
The notice makes clear this is a pause in intake only; it does not cancel the pilots or existing applications.
Why the pilots are being paused
IRCC links this decision directly to the broader 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, which shifts focus to “more sustainable” immigration volumes.
- Many home care workers—supporting seniors, children, and people with disabilities—have already applied for permanent residence through these pilots, contributing to long wait times.
- Pausing intake helps IRCC control backlog growth, align the caregiver stream with national planning, and ensure that people already in the queue are processed more efficiently.
This fits with the Levels Plan’s approach of reducing new temporary resident arrivals and slightly lowering new permanent resident targets, while still prioritizing labour market needs.
What continues during the pause
Even with intake paused, IRCC will still:
- Process all Home Care Worker pilot applications received to date, in line with the annual targets in the Immigration Levels Plan.
- Maintain the pilots as a pathway for those already in the system, rather than shutting down processing altogether.
IRCC also states that any future updates about these programs will be shared publicly, but gives no timeline for when intake could resume.
mpact on prospective and current applicants
The pause affects people differently depending on where they are in the process:
- If you already applied
- Your application remains in the system and will continue to be processed.
- IRCC’s stated goal is to reduce wait times by focusing resources on existing files.
- If you planned to apply in March 2026
- You will not be able to submit a new application when you expected.
- Intake is paused until further notice, so there is no confirmed future opening date.
- If you are abroad or in Canada without an application in the pilot
Link to the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan
The pause is part of a broader recalibration of Canada’s immigration system:
- The plan reduces targets for new temporary residents (international students and temporary workers) and slightly reduces new permanent resident admissions.
- Canada is prioritizing economic immigration and critical labour gaps, while trying to ease pressure on housing, services, and infrastructure.
By pausing new caregiver applications, IRCC can stabilize numbers and focus on those already living and working in Canada, which matches its promise to provide stability for people who are already contributing to communities.
What caregivers should do next
While you cannot force IRCC to reopen intake, you can take steps to stay prepared and explore other options:
- Stay informed
- Monitor IRCC news releases and program pages regularly for any change to the Home Care Worker pilots.
- Review other PR pathways
- Check if you might qualify under Express Entry, provincial nominee programs (PNPs), or other caregiver or economic streams that remain open.
- Keep documents ready
- Maintain updated proof of work experience, language test results, and educational credentials so you can move quickly if a new caregiver pathway or intake window is announced.
This pause is a setback for many families, but it is framed by IRCC as a necessary step to prevent uncontrolled backlog growth and keep Canada’s immigration system on a sustainable track under the new levels plan.