In another surprise holiday-season move, IRCC announced on December 19 that it is pausing application intake for both Home Child-Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots until further notice. The two streams—introduced in 2019 and due to reopen in March 2026—had reached their annual caps months ahead of schedule, leaving thousands of caregivers in a queue that now exceeds available spaces.
IRCC says the suspension will allow officers to concentrate on processing the 12,000-plus files already in inventory, aligning with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan that aims to keep overall immigration targets flat while reducing the share of temporary residents. The department insists existing applicants will not lose their place in line and that decisions will continue to be issued throughout 2026.
The pause lands hard on Canadian families who rely on foreign caregivers—especially in provinces where public home-care services are stretched thin. Employers who planned to hire newcomers next year must now explore alternatives such as the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, though that route carries higher compliance costs and longer processing times.
![IRCC pauses Home Care Worker immigration pilots to clear backlog]()
Meanwhile, families and caregivers seeking alternative pathways don’t have to navigate the paperwork alone. VisaHQ’s user-friendly portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checklists, and submission services for a variety of Canadian visas and permits, helping applicants pivot quickly toward options like the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or visitor visas while the caregiver pilots remain on hold.
For prospective caregivers abroad, the message is clear: do not spend money on medical exams or educational credential assessments until IRCC releases fresh intake guidance. Immigration lawyers are advising would-be applicants to prepare documentation but avoid filing un-solicited “early” submissions, which will simply be returned.
Labour-market analysts note the decision underscores Ottawa’s balancing act: meeting demographic-driven labour shortages while preventing unsustainable growth in the temporary-resident population. Stakeholders expect consultations in 2026 on a re-designed caregiver pathway that could include sector-specific employer quotas or provincial nomination options.
IRCC says the suspension will allow officers to concentrate on processing the 12,000-plus files already in inventory, aligning with the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan that aims to keep overall immigration targets flat while reducing the share of temporary residents. The department insists existing applicants will not lose their place in line and that decisions will continue to be issued throughout 2026.
The pause lands hard on Canadian families who rely on foreign caregivers—especially in provinces where public home-care services are stretched thin. Employers who planned to hire newcomers next year must now explore alternatives such as the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, though that route carries higher compliance costs and longer processing times.
Meanwhile, families and caregivers seeking alternative pathways don’t have to navigate the paperwork alone. VisaHQ’s user-friendly portal (https://www.visahq.com/canada/) provides step-by-step guidance, document checklists, and submission services for a variety of Canadian visas and permits, helping applicants pivot quickly toward options like the Temporary Foreign Worker Program or visitor visas while the caregiver pilots remain on hold.
For prospective caregivers abroad, the message is clear: do not spend money on medical exams or educational credential assessments until IRCC releases fresh intake guidance. Immigration lawyers are advising would-be applicants to prepare documentation but avoid filing un-solicited “early” submissions, which will simply be returned.
Labour-market analysts note the decision underscores Ottawa’s balancing act: meeting demographic-driven labour shortages while preventing unsustainable growth in the temporary-resident population. Stakeholders expect consultations in 2026 on a re-designed caregiver pathway that could include sector-specific employer quotas or provincial nomination options.
