Blog Post

Update, September 2026: this route is closed

Read this before the rest of the page. The pilots described below were announced in 2024 and did open, on 31 March 2025, with a one year application window. They stop accepting new applications on 31 March 2026 and do not reopen until 30 March 2030.

There is a second point that was true from the beginning and is not stated clearly below. These pilots required an applicant to be already working in Canada with valid work authorisation. A caregiver outside Canada could never apply directly, even while the window was open.

So if anyone is offering to place you into a Canadian caregiver programme from abroad, on the basis of permanent residence on arrival, they are describing something that does not exist and never did in that form. Do not pay for it. The official page is here and it is free to read.

The UK closed its own care worker route to new overseas applicants on 22 July 2025, so the two largest destinations for care workers are both shut at once. Registered nurses are unaffected by that closure, which is worth knowing if you hold a nursing qualification you have never registered abroad: see the UK Health and Care Worker visa.

The original June 2024 report follows, kept as the record of what was announced.

Canada has announced two new pilot programmes for caregivers that will allow them to receive permanent residence upon arrival in Canada.

The new Home Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot will replace the previous caregiver pilot programmes that are expiring in June 2024.

The key details of the new pilots are:

• Caregivers will be granted permanent resident status right when they arrive in Canada under these pilots. This is a major change, as previous programmes required caregivers to work temporarily before applying for permanent residence.
• To qualify, caregivers must have a minimum language level of Canadian Language Benchmark 4, a Canadian high school equivalent education, relevant work experience, and a job offer for full-time home care work.
• Caregivers will be allowed to work providing home care services through organisations, not just directly for families. This expands the eligible occupations beyond child care and senior care to include care for semi-independent people or those recovering from illness/injury.

These new caregiver pilot programmes aim to improve Canada’s immigration pathway for caregivers and better support Canadian families needing home care services. The government states they intend to eventually transition the pilots into a permanent caregiver immigration programme.

Immigration Minister Marc Miller highlighted the “invaluable contributions” of caregivers and the need for “policies to support the caregiver community.” Over 15,000 caregiver permanent residents will be admitted to Canada over the next three years through these initiatives.

With permanent residence from arrival and more flexible caregiver occupations, these new pilots could provide an excellent opportunity for caregivers abroad to immigrate to Canada. The full eligibility criteria and application process details are expected to be announced soon before the pilots officially launch.

More on working in Canada

• No LMIA Required : Canada Innovation Stream Pilot.
• The Francophone Minority Communities Student Pilot (FMCSP)
• All about the Canadian Experience Class programme

Rules are only half the problem. The other half is finding an employer willing to sponsor, so when you are ready, browse shortage jobs in Canada with visa sponsorship on our board.