🇨🇦 Canada Officially Ends Overseas Applications for Home Care Worker Pilot

✈️ The Government of Canada has officially closed the overseas application stream under its Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (HCWP), marking the end of a long period of uncertainty for many aspiring caregivers abroad.

According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), the overseas stream of the HCWP will be permanently discontinued. Initially, the pilot was designed to include separate intake pathways for both Home Support Workers and Child Care Providers, but the overseas stream was never officially opened — and as of September 29, 2025, it has been formally terminated.

💬 Why Was the Program Ended?

While IRCC did not release an official explanation, recent data suggest that application backlogs played a major role.

As of September 11, 2025, there were 34,400 pending caregiver pilot applications, yet only 4,816 were targeted for processing this year — about 14% of the total.

Between January 1 and September 11, 4,200 caregivers had already obtained permanent residency through the pilot, meaning only about 600 additional spots remain for approval by the end of 2025. This is far below the 2,750 spots originally allocated for in-Canada applicants.

🎯 A Shift Toward Domestic Applicants

This decision aligns with Canada’s current immigration strategy, which prioritizes temporary residents already in the country.

In recent months, IRCC has expanded Express Entry draws targeting Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates and instructed provinces to allocate up to 75% of their nomination spaces to in-country residents.

💡 What Options Remain for Caregivers Overseas?

Although the HCWP overseas pathway has been closed, there are still other immigration routes available:

🩺 Express Entry (Healthcare Category-Based Draws)

Caregivers such as nurse aides and patient service associates (NOC 33102) may qualify under healthcare or social assistance category draws.

However, the competition remains strong — recent draws required a CRS score of 470 or higher.

🏙️ Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs)

Some provinces still offer opportunities for foreign caregivers through their PNPs, including:

• Manitoba – Skilled Workers Overseas Stream

• Ontario – Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker Stream

• New Brunswick – Priority Occupations Stream

Newfoundland & Labrador – Skilled Worker Category

📈 Looking Ahead

For 2025, Canada plans to welcome 10,920 new permanent residents through its federal economic immigration pilots, including not only the caregiver programs but also the Agri-Food Pilot and Start-Up Visa Program.

While the door has closed for overseas HCWP applicants, Canada’s evolving immigration landscape continues to offer alternative pathways for skilled caregivers who hope to build their future in Canada. 🇨🇦✨ Book a consultation now and start your journey!

🇨🇦 Canada Officially Ends Overseas Applications for Home Care Worker Pilot