To address the ever-increasing demand for homecare professionals in Canada, the IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) announced a new PR (permanent residency) pathway for eligible home care workers at the end of March.

Launching on March 31, 2025, the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots will bring in a direct route for home care workers to receive PR status upon arrival.

This initiative replaces the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot, which concluded on June 17, 2024, and eliminates the previous requirement for foreign nationals to have two years of Canadian work experience before PR application.

Who is eligible for Canada’s new PR pathway?

To be eligible for the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot program, the foreign national must meet the education, work, and language requirements.

The previous caregiver program required at least 6 months of work experience before applying for PR. The IRCC will announce further details on eligibility requirements for the new pilot program.

What does the new PR program entail?

Under the new pilot program, foreign home care workers can find more reliable employment. They’re allowed to have part-time or temporary work for organisations, attending to semi-independent individuals or those recovering from an injury or illness.

Additionally, they can expect a more direct route to obtaining a PR status in Canada. This new pathway also tackles the country’s aging population and shortage of home care workers.

Statistics Canada reports that Canadians aged 65 and up made up 18.9% of the population as of July 1, 2023, and the figure is expected to rise. 

Coupled with the current labour shortage, Canada is strategically addressing the needs of home care facilities by attracting skilled foreign nationals.

This new PR pathway gives way to establishing a more secure plan for the labour shortage in the home care sector while offering eligible home care workers a direct route to contribute and build their lives in Canada.