The “Applicants Not Working in Canada” stream under Canada’s Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP) is officially closed, according to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This update appeared on the IRCC’s website on September 29, 2025.
Book Your Consultation for Canadian Immigration
When the HCWP was first introduced, it was expected that both the Home Support and Child Care pathways would allow for intake from applicants currently outside Canada, with further details to be provided later. However, the stream was marked as “closed” without ever having opened to new applications.
Other Immigration Pathways for Caregivers Outside Canada
Despite the closure of this specific stream, caregivers outside Canada still have other options to immigrate in 2025.
For individuals working in National Occupation Classification (NOC) 33102, which includes nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates, immigration through Express Entry remains a viable option. These professionals are eligible for selection under the Healthcare and Social Services category.
In fact, the most recent Express Entry healthcare draw had a Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) cut-off score of 470.
Additionally, caregivers who would have been eligible for the HCWP may still qualify for several Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs), which continue to invite candidates under relevant home care worker NOC codes. Some PNP streams currently open to caregiver professionals include:
- Manitoba Provincial Nominee Program (MPNP) – Skilled Worker Overseas stream
- Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) – Employer Job Offer: Foreign Worker stream
- New Brunswick Provincial Nominee Program (NBPNP) – Priority Occupations stream (Note: This stream is open only to NOC codes 33102, 44101, and 42202; NOC 44100 (Home Child Care Providers) is not eligible.)
- Newfoundland and Labrador Provincial Nominee Program (NLPNP) – Skilled Worker category
Why Did IRCC Close the International Intake for HCWP?
The IRCC has not publicly explained the reason for closing the “Applicants Not Working in Canada” stream. However, data from IRCC’s most recent Minister Transition Binder suggests that a backlog of applications may have influenced this decision.
As of September 11, 2025, the IRCC had an inventory of 34,400 applications within its caregiver pilots, including the HCWP and previously operational programs like the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot.
IRCC has stated it plans to process only 14% of these applications (roughly 4,816) in 2025. Between January 1 and September 11, 2025, Canada welcomed 4,200 new permanent residents through these caregiver pilots, meaning IRCC expects to process approximately 600 more applications this year, excluding any refusals due to ineligibility.
Given the volume of existing applications, the IRCC’s intake capacity is far below the current inventory. As per previous announcements, IRCC had planned to admit only 2,750 new permanent residents via the HCWP’s in-Canada intake in 2025.
The Immigration Levels Plan for 2025 sets the target for all economic federal pilots at 10,920 new permanent residents, which includes applicants from several initiatives:
- Agri-Food Pilot
- Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot
- Start-up Visa Program
- Caregiver Pilots
Another factor behind the closure could be IRCC’s focus on facilitating the transition of temporary residents already in Canada to permanent residence. This aligns with IRCC’s prioritization of Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draws under Express Entry and its directive to provinces to nominate 75% of candidates already residing in Canada.
