No PR Route for Caregivers Outside Canada, Confirms IRCC
Canada Closes PR Path for Caregivers Abroad
Canada closed its international intake stream of its Home Care Worker Pilots (HCWP) effective this month, taking away one process that was initially projected to open up to overseas caregivers the chance to apply directly for permanent residence.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) made the move by flagging the program “closed” on its site on September 29, 2025.
Protocols and Concerns One Path That Never Opened
Initially, when the HCWP was announced, its streams included Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot. They were to eventually welcome overseas-based applicants. However, while the overseas stream had been promoted through the government’s official portal since its inception, this stream was never initiated with open intake before being closed permanently.
This will now cause foreign caregivers to consider other streams of immigration if they wish to go to Canada.
Alternatives to Foreign Caregivers
Although the closure prevents one direct passage, alternate routes can be taken:
- Express Entry Healthcare Stream: Healthcare workers such as nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service representatives (NOC 33102) may submit their applications through category-based invitations. The most recent round of inviting healthcare workers had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) minimum of 470.
- Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs): The provinces keep on nominating caregivers through various streams, including:
- Manitoba Skilled Worker Overseas Stream
- Ontario Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream
- New Brunswick Priority Occupation Stream (open to limited NOC codes)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Skilled Worker Stream
Note that some of the NOC codes, such as 44100 (Home Child Care Providers), are exempted by some of the province lists, and that is primarily New Brunswick.
Why was the International Intake closed?
IRCC hasn’t included a detailed description of the transfer, but new department information explains possible causes:
- Application Inventory Pressure: Through September 11, 2025, over 34,000 caregiver applications were waiting to be processed through various pilot programs. This includes past caregiver pilot and HCWP backlogs.
- Processing Volume: IRCC's projections to 2025 provide space to close only 4,816 caregiver cases, which is only 14% of the size of the existing stock.
- Already Near Target: From January to September 2025, Canada admitted 4,200 new permanent residents in caregiver pilots, with room remaining only for an estimated 600 approvals this year.
- Prioritize Domestic Transition: The government prioritizes a greater potential for temporary residents already within Canada, including by prioritizing Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates within the Express Entry system and by urging provinces to reserve 75% of nominations for candidates already living and working within Canada.
Why Canada is Looking to Artificial Intelligence at Borders
TCI’s two broad goals are as follows, CBSA states:
- Improved travel process - With the reduction of unnecessary second screening from false positives, the agency anticipates easier travel for legitimate travelers.
- Increased operating efficiency - With escalating traveler volumes, CBSA maintains that technology is a more feasible replacement than growing its staff.
- It has taken over $15 million to develop and will take approximately $700,000 annually to sustain. Officials point out that such initiatives at upgrading are vital in helping Canada deal effectively with its borders in the coming years.
Temporary Residence Applications
Visas for Visitors Abroad (TRV)
The processing times also differ widely by country:
- India: Increased sharply from 28 to 58 days.
- Pakistan: Increased from 36 to 48 days.
- Nigeria: Down from 56 days to 32 days.
- Philippines: Shortened from 33 to 20 days.
- United States: Slight rise from 21 to 23 days.
The greatest jump was for India, whose wait times doubled more than once. In contrast, Nigerian and Philippine applicants are experiencing quicker clearance.
Metro Areas Now Ineligible for Low-Wage LMIA Applications
The following Census Metropolitan Areas (CMAs) now fall under the exclusion list due to jobless rates exceeding the 6% threshold:
| Family Size | Minimum Required Funds (Annual) |
|---|---|
| 1 person (student only) | CAD $22,895 |
| 2 people | CAD $28,502 |
| 3 people | CAD $35,040 |
| 4 people | CAD $42,543 |
| 5 people | CAD $48,252 |
| 6 people | CAD $54,420 |
| 7 people | CAD $60,589 |
| Additional family member | CAD $6,170 |
These figures represent a significant increase from the earlier requirement of CAD $20,635 for a single applicant, which had been in effect since January 1, 2024.
Longer-Term Immigration
The shutdown is also consistent with Canada’s Immigration Levels Plan of 2025 that puts a ceiling of 10,920 new immigrants for all of its federal economic pilot programs, including the HCWP, Agri-Food Pilot, Start-Up Visa, and Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot. The target is inclusive of both the principal applicants and their secondary family members.
In light of these limitations, IRCC seems to be addressing its backlog by limiting new applications by foreign caregivers, essentially giving preference to the already-present individuals within Canada and adding to the workforce.
Why does this impact Foreign Caregivers
For foreign caregivers, this stream’s closure now means that their sole pathway will be through competitive streams like Express Entry or the provinces, many of which will require job offers or higher eligibility scores. There are opportunities galore, but the entry threshold is higher than expected initially when the HCWP came out.
