Inside: With the opening of the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots last March 31, 2025, some got lucky while others got frustrated. Here’s what happened.
March 31 being the end of the month was already stressful as for many, this was when rent or mortgage or whatever payments were due.
But for the caregivers who have been working hard to obtain PR (permanent residence) status, it was a day harder to describe than just stressful. This was the day, from 10 am to 3 pm that they prayed hard that their online application to be Canadian permanent residents will go through.
Some who didn’t trust their skills in typing or navigating web pages, hired lawyers to do it for them.
News that day were not good news, only bad ones based on what we saw, read and heard. The government website crashed from the sheer volume of online applications.
An immigration lawyer claimed she had to wait for more than two hours to send in an application for a client.
A DIYer didn’t quite make it to the 3pm deadline, so she’s now worried because her work permit expires in August.
Clearly a first-come, first-served way of grabbing a spot for what government offered: 2,581 applications.
Related post: Canada Government Reduces Immigration Targets
According to CBC, IRCC says more than 45,000 applications were initiated but only 4,950 got in. Imagine the anxiety among workers and those who tried to assist them in the application.
These numbers reflect how many are working as caregivers who are not on PR and how more may be needed.
The pilot program announced in 2024 that caregivers already in the country can apply to become PR after at least 6 months of continuous full-time work was so well praised and welcomed. It was a good opportunity for caregivers never given before.
Although the online method for only five hours for applicants to use was heavily criticized, there was apparently an option to also mail in applications for 275 spots. The next time applications for PR from caregivers will be open will be in 2026, following an IRCC timetable.
Aimed at creating clearer, more accessible pathways to permanent residence for home care workers, the Home Care Worker Immigration (Child Care) Class, and Home Care Worker Immigration (Home Support) Class are part of Canada’s efforts to meet increasing demand for in-home care while offering permanent residence pathways to essential workers.
IRCC will process applications each year. They also specify eligibility criteria and how the intake will be divided between applicants with Canadian work experience (Stream A) and those without (Stream B).
One reason the number of applicants increased was due to government easing up on requirements to meet demands for workers. For example, the work experience which was at least minimum of 2 years before has now been cut down to at least 6 months. Did caregivers who have been in the country longer and were more experienced lose their spots to those who were here only for 6 months?
Some immigration experts claimed the lottery method would have been better.
As the IRCC deals with this first experience from the pilot program, many are hoping that lessons were learned and improvements to the program are underway.
Yet another case of how pathways chosen in coming, and staying permanently in Canada really matters.
Related post: How to Come to Canada ( Choose your Best Pathway )
Did you have any experience lodging in your application on March 31st? Share your story in the comments.
You may also apply to some nominee programs, like the MPNP to come as PR right away. Learn from this interview.
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The recent opening of Canada’s Home Care Worker Immigration pilots on March 31, 2025, underscores the critical need for streamlined pathways to permanent residency for caregivers. However, the overwhelming response, with over 45,000 applications initiated for just 2,581 spots, highlights significant challenges in the application process. The system’s crash and the limited five-hour window left many qualified caregivers without opportunities, raising concerns about fairness and accessibility. To address these issues, it’s essential to implement more efficient and equitable application procedures, ensuring that caregivers receive the support and recognition they deserve for their invaluable contributions to society.
Hi Debra,
You nailed it, it is unfair to a lot of caregivers who have been serving families for a long time. They cannot enjoy the benefits that permanent residents have.
I hope this is just the beginning of their journey. This should be a continuous process and not limited to time and numbers.
Thanks for reading.
Marita
Canada Bound Coach
Thanks Debra, we’re on the same page with this issue. It’s a pilot program after all, so we’re expecting the government to make adjustments to ensure fairness and equity in the application process. Caregivers directly affected must also stay proactive, present better options for the application process, and approach their MPs and MPPs to have an ally, among others. For now, the focus may have to be on how to improve the way the applications are being filed and processed. The demand for these workers is way too big, and the system can’t seem to respond to match it.
Caregiver burnout is such a critical issue, and the emotional toll it takes is often invisible to others. I really resonate with the point about the lack of structural support. Why do you think society still undervalues caregiving work despite its essential nature? I’ve seen family members struggle with balancing care and their own well-being, and it feels like there’s this unspoken expectation to “just manage.” Do you think public policy shifts could realistically address this, or is grassroots advocacy more likely to create change?
Thanks Slavisa for seeing it the way we see it. You mentioned public policy, and grassroots advocacy which we think should both happen to effect the change that caregivers deserve. On many levels, the policy shift has to materialize. The work can’t simply stop because the need for caregiving continues to increase.
Interesting read but good to know that caregivers can at least have a chance at permanent residence if they have been working six months or longer. The process to apply though seems really complicated and difficult. Hopefully it will get easier. I see you offer an option at the bottom to apply on behalf of an individual. This may end up being the better route to go.
Hi Michel,
Yes, applications can be frustrating and complicated, but that’s just how it is. You just have to follow the rules if you really want to reach your goal.
There are always options out there. Sometimes, it takes awhile, but if you’re patient, determined and consistent, you will get to where you want to be.
Thanks for reading.
Marita