What happened
The two Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots — child care and home support — opened in March 2025 with 2,750 places each. Both filled on March 31, 2025. On December 19, 2025, IRCC announced that intake would not reopen in March 2026. The pilots remain closed to new applicants while existing applications are processed.
If you are already in the queue
IRCC's processing estimate for caregivers is long; check the official processing-times tool for your stream. The rules that applied when you submitted still apply to your application.
Alternatives
Caregivers with TEER 4 jobs and a job offer may look at provincial streams that accept TEER 4–5 workers, such as Ontario's Workforce Priority stream or Alberta's Opportunity Stream. Use the PNP finder to check.
Sources: IRCC intake notice of December 19, 2025; pilot program pages.