Caregiver Programs
Canada's caregiver pathways changed twice in two years and are currently at their most restricted point in a decade. This page sets out what is genuinely available in August 2026, so you can plan against the real position rather than against pages that have not been updated.
The permanent residence pilots are closed
The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots — one stream for workers already in Canada, one for applicants abroad — opened on 31 March 2025, replacing the Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots. Demand far exceeded the spaces available and IRCC paused intake on 19 December 2025. Both streams are closed, and no reopening date has been announced.
Applications submitted before the pause are still being processed. If you have one in the system, keep your status valid and keep IRCC updated on any change of address or employment.
One trap worth knowing: applicants under the 2025 Home Care Worker pilots are not eligible for a bridging open work permit, unlike the older 2019–2024 caregiver pilots. Several websites still have this wrong.
What is actually available now
- ● A caregiver work permit through an LMIA — the main route today. In-home caregiving sits in the 20% cap band rather than 10%, certain positions are exempt from the unemployment refusal rule with medical documentation, and the $1,000 fee is waived for in-home medical caregivers and for childcare where family income is $150,000 or less.
- ● Express Entry once Canadian work experience is built — the Canadian Experience Class needs one year of skilled work, and healthcare and social services is among the largest 2026 categories with 37 occupations.
- ● provincial nomination — several provinces prioritise health and care occupations, though most now favour candidates already working in the province.
- ● RCIP — rural communities often designate care employers, and the pilot accepts TEER 4 and 5 occupations at CLB 4, which most provincial streams no longer do.
A note on British Columbia
BC's Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream, which used to include caregiver occupations, is permanently closed — the last invitations were issued in December 2024. BC restructured Skills Immigration again in April 2026 around Care, Build and Innovate priorities. Childcare and health occupations sit within the Care category, but through the Skilled Worker and Health Authority streams rather than a dedicated semi-skilled route.
If you have been told BC has a caregiver stream, that advice is out of date.
If you are a caregiver already in Canada
Two things matter. If your employment is abusive in any sense — unpaid wages, unsafe or controlled housing, threats to report you to immigration, isolation — the vulnerable worker open work permit is free, does not need your employer's consent, and lets you leave without losing status. And if your permit is nearing expiry, act now rather than after it lapses: restoration is possible within 90 days and the options narrow sharply after that.
Consultations are available in English, Punjabi and Hindi.
Reviewed by a licensed RCIC · Last updated 13 August 2026. Immigration rules change often — confirm anything time-sensitive with us or on canada.ca.
LMIA Caregiver Work Permit
Foreign caregivers with a valid Canadian job offer can apply for an employer-specific work permit through the LMIA process. Canadian work experience can later support PR via CEC or PNP.
Learn about Caregiver LMIA →In-Canada Caregivers
Caregivers already in Canada with valid work permits can complete work experience and apply for PR under the previous Caregiver pilots (for applications submitted before the pause) or transition to other PR pathways.
Express Entry CEC for Caregivers
Caregivers with at least 1 year of full-time Canadian work experience in NOC TEER 0/1/2/3 may qualify for Express Entry. Note: caregiver work is typically NOC TEER 4, but some related roles qualify.
BC PNP, ELSS Caregiver
BC's Entry-Level and Semi-Skilled stream includes select caregiver-adjacent occupations with a path to provincial nomination.
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Caregiver pathway changing, get the latest
With the home care worker pilots paused and new streams expected in 2026, the right pathway depends on your status, experience, and timing. Book an appointment for personalized guidance.
Frequently asked questions
Is there an open caregiver pathway to permanent residence right now?
No dedicated one. The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots closed and intake was paused on 19 December 2025 with no reopening announced. Permanent residence is currently pursued through the general economic programmes after building Canadian work experience, or through a provincial or rural community route.
Can I get a bridging open work permit under the 2025 caregiver pilots?
No. The Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots that opened in 2025 are expressly not BOWP-eligible. The older Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker pilots from the 2019–2024 intakes are. This is one of the most commonly misstated points in this area.
Does BC still have a caregiver stream?
No. The Entry Level and Semi-Skilled stream, which covered caregiver occupations, is permanently closed — the last invitations went out in December 2024. BC restructured its streams again in April 2026, and childcare and health occupations now sit within the Care priority under Skilled Worker and Health Authority.
How can a family hire a caregiver now?
Through an LMIA under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program. In-home caregiving is treated more favourably than most low-wage hiring: a 20% cap rather than 10%, an exemption from the unemployment refusal rule for certain positions with medical documentation, no Transition Plan, and a fee waiver for in-home medical caregivers or where family income is $150,000 or less.
My caregiver work permit is expiring. What are my options?
It depends on your situation and how much time is left, which is exactly why this is worth raising early. An extension, a different employer's LMIA, a spousal open work permit, or restoration within 90 days of losing status may all be on the table. After 90 days the options narrow considerably.
Still unsure how this applies to your case? Book an appointment with a licensed RCIC.
Waymark runs on the Nova System platform — built in Abbotsford, BC by practising RCICs.