IRCC Announces Eligibility For New Home Care Worker Pilots – Direct PR

Home care providers can now learn more about the new permanent residency pathways in Canada. Additional information related to the upcoming Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP) includes lowered eligibility key requirements for candidates for language, job experience, and education, which has been posted by Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

There are two new, upcoming immigration pathways to obtain a job and obtain permanent residence (PR) when they arrive in Canada that are exempted from the Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA): the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots. The launch new date is scheduled for March 31, 2025. Only applicants who are presently in Canada will be accepted by the HCWP, the immigration department explained. International applicants will be able to apply later.

What Streams are Available for the New Immigration Pilots for Home Care Workers?

Two possible ways that nationals from other countries can now apply for the new Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (HCWP).

1. The Canadian Workers stream.
2. The candidates who are not employed in Canada.

New applications will only be accepted for the Workers in Canada when it begins on the 31st March 2025. In the later months, the application intake for applicants who are not employed in Canada will open.

The IRCC suggests that prospective candidates for the Workers in Canada stream prepare for the HCWPs opening date in March by taking an authorized language test and having their educational background tested by Education Credential Assessment (ECA). Information about the application process for applicants who are not employed in Canada has not been made public by the immigration department. When more information is available, the IRCC will be posting it.

Additionally, the IRCC cautions that guidance on preparation to apply could change at any time and suggests that interested parties frequently check their websites for any new and related updates.

Eligibility Criteria for Home Care Worker Pilot

• Work Experience: Either a minimum of 6 months of relevant home care training or 6 months of recent relevant work experience.
• Language: English or French with a higher or CLB 4 score
• Job: A job offer from a private home or that directly employs full-time home care workers to provide temporary or sporadic home care is required.
• Education: Diploma from Secondary School

Conditions of the Home Care Worker Pilot Job Offer

Any of the following organizations may have offered a position to other nationals applying to the HCWP.

• Providers of at-home health care.
• Support service providers for home care.
• Agencies that provide direct care.
• In-home personal care services.
• Providers of pediatric in-home health care.

Job Offers from employment and placement firms are not acceptable.

Also, job offers do not need support by an LMIA.

No Status Employees and Prior Applicants are Eligible for Additional Benefits

For Canadian home care workers without status, the IRCC has opened eligibility for HCWP. Due to public policy, these people still can apply under HCWP. This cohort has restricted spots available.

The Home Child Care Provider and Home Support Worker Pilots were home care worker immigration pathways that closed around June 2024, but some applicants can apply under the old pathways. Before June 2024, new people who applied under the Gaining Experience category of the previous pilots may submit documentation of their job experience to the IRCC in accordance with the old guidelines to make their application for permanent residence (PR) taken into consideration.