canada flag.webp
The Digest:

In a decisive policy shift, Canada has officially closed the pathway to permanent residence for caregivers applying from outside the country under its Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots (HCWP). The stream, which was listed as "closed" on the official immigration website without ever having opened, reflects a strategic pivot to manage a significant application backlog and prioritize candidates already within Canada.

Key Points:
  • The "applicants not working in Canada" stream of the HCWP is now closed.
  • The stream was listed as closed on September 29, 2025, without ever accepting applications.
  • The closure is linked to a backlog of 34,400 applications across caregiver pilot programs.
  • Immigration authorities plan to process only 4,816 of these applications in 2025.
  • Alternative pathways remain, including Express Entry and Provincial Nominee Programs (PNPs).
  • The move aligns with a broader strategy to transition temporary residents in Canada to permanent status.
  • The overall admissions target for all federal economic pilots in 2025 is 10,920 permanent residents.
This closure signifies a tightening of economic immigration channels, effectively ending a long-anticipated route for foreign caregivers and redirecting focus to Canada's domestic talent pool.

Sources: CIC News, Business Day