Caregiver hopefuls received disappointing news on 3 January 2026 when IRCC confirmed that the Home Child-Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots will remain closed “until further notice,” reversing earlier plans to reopen intake in March.
The two programmes—originally capped at 5,500 applications per year—met overwhelming demand, amassing more than 18,000 pending files and stretching processing times beyond 24 months. Officials say the pause will let officers clear inventory and align admissions with lower economic-class targets set in the 2026-28 Levels Plan.
![IRCC Keeps Home-Care Worker Pilots Closed, Citing 18,000-File Backlog]()
Prospective caregivers scrambling for alternative pathways may find value in expert document-support platforms such as VisaHQ, which provides easy-to-follow visa and permit application services, personalised reminders, and up-to-date information on Canadian entry requirements; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/.
For Canadian families, especially those outside major cities, the freeze aggravates labour shortages in elder- and disability-care. Employers must now fall back on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which requires Labour Market Impact Assessments and carries higher compliance costs. Provincial nominee options exist—Alberta recently announced a Health-Care Aide pilot—but quotas for TEER 4 and 5 occupations remain tight.
Caregiver advocacy groups are urging Ottawa to fast-track in-country applicants and create a streamlined permanent-residence channel that recognises work experience gained under TFWP permits. In the meantime, mobility practitioners advise employers to file renewal applications early and budget for higher wages, as domestic competition for qualified caregivers intensifies.
The two programmes—originally capped at 5,500 applications per year—met overwhelming demand, amassing more than 18,000 pending files and stretching processing times beyond 24 months. Officials say the pause will let officers clear inventory and align admissions with lower economic-class targets set in the 2026-28 Levels Plan.
Prospective caregivers scrambling for alternative pathways may find value in expert document-support platforms such as VisaHQ, which provides easy-to-follow visa and permit application services, personalised reminders, and up-to-date information on Canadian entry requirements; more details are available at https://www.visahq.com/canada/.
For Canadian families, especially those outside major cities, the freeze aggravates labour shortages in elder- and disability-care. Employers must now fall back on the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), which requires Labour Market Impact Assessments and carries higher compliance costs. Provincial nominee options exist—Alberta recently announced a Health-Care Aide pilot—but quotas for TEER 4 and 5 occupations remain tight.
Caregiver advocacy groups are urging Ottawa to fast-track in-country applicants and create a streamlined permanent-residence channel that recognises work experience gained under TFWP permits. In the meantime, mobility practitioners advise employers to file renewal applications early and budget for higher wages, as domestic competition for qualified caregivers intensifies.
