On December 19, 2025, IRCC announced it will pause intake for the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots until further notice. Crucially, IRCC says the pilots will not reopen in March 2026, so new applications will not be accepted when many applicants expected the annual reset. IRCC will continue processing applications already received under the Immigration Levels Plan.

Home Care Worker Immigration pilots intake paused: what changed on December 19, 2025

IRCC published a notice dated December 19, 2025 stating it will pause intake for the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots until further notice. IRCC cites high demand, interest exceeding available spaces, and resulting longer wait times. The stated goal is to prioritize processing of existing applications and prevent further inventory growth.

Official IRCC notice

The key line applicants need to understand

IRCC explicitly states that the pilots’ intake will not re-open in March 2026. This matters because many applicants were preparing around a “cap reset” timeline and were expecting another intake window in spring 2026. Under today’s notice, that expected reopening is off the table unless IRCC later announces a new date.

Who is affected and what it means for your case

1) Caregivers who already submitted an application

If your application was received by IRCC, today’s notice does not say your application is cancelled or returned. IRCC states it will continue processing applications received to date in line with the Immigration Levels Plan. Practically, the most important steps are to:

• keep your contact details current,
• respond quickly to any IRCC requests, and
• avoid gaps in status if you are in Canada (where applicable).

Internal reference: How to keep your PR file moving (updates, requests, and timelines)

2) Applicants who were preparing to apply in the next intake window

If you were collecting documents or planning to submit when the cap reset in March 2026, today’s notice changes your timeline. The “pause until further notice” means there is currently no confirmed reopening date, and IRCC will share any future updates publicly.

That does not mean you should stop preparing. It means you should adjust your strategy: focus on readiness and lawful status planning rather than a specific submission date.

3) Employers and families relying on a near-term caregiver pathway

IRCC acknowledges that home care workers provide essential support to seniors, children, and people with disabilities, and notes many workers have already applied through pilot programs. For families who were counting on these pilots to bring a caregiver to Canada or to transition a caregiver to permanent residence quickly, the pause likely means longer planning horizons and more uncertainty until IRCC publishes a reopening plan.

Home care workers (caregivers) – official overview

How this interacts with the “cap reset” messaging on IRCC pages

IRCC’s “How to apply” guidance for these pilots has referenced that if a stream cap is reached, you can still prepare to apply next year when the cap resets (with messaging pointing to a spring 2026 timing). Today’s notice overrides that expectation by stating the pilots will not reopen in March 2026.

In practical terms: treat any previously assumed March 2026 intake as no longer scheduled unless IRCC later announces a reopening date or a replacement program.

Home Care Worker Immigration pilots – How to apply (official)

What to do next if you were preparing to apply

Step 1: Keep building a “ready-to-file” package

When programs reopen after a pause, intake windows can be short and caps can fill quickly. Use the pause period to strengthen your file so you can act fast later. Focus on:

• Job offer readiness: ensure it is genuine, complete, and consistent with the pilot requirements.
• Identity and civil status documents: passports, marriage documents, children’s documents, translations where needed.
• Proof you meet eligibility: organize evidence to match the specific criteria listed on IRCC’s official pages.
• Consistency: your work history, duties, and timelines should align across documents and forms.

Internal reference: Caregiver application document checklist (plain-English guide)

Step 2: Plan for lawful status and work authorization (if in Canada)

Today’s notice is about intake to the pilots, not a broad change to all temporary status options. If you are in Canada, avoid decisions that could put you out of status while waiting for a reopening. If you need to extend or change your temporary status, do so on time and keep copies of submissions and confirmations.

Internal reference: Maintaining status in Canada while waiting for program changes

Step 3: Consider alternative immigration pathways (without assuming eligibility)

Depending on your profile, there may be other routes to permanent residence or temporary status. Examples include economic programs, provincial nominee streams, or family sponsorship routes. Each pathway has distinct eligibility rules and documentation standards, and not every caregiver profile fits these options.

Use this period to get a structured assessment rather than guessing. Internal reference: Alternative PR pathways for caregivers and support workers

Why IRCC says it is pausing intake

IRCC attributes the pause to ongoing high demand and interest exceeding available spaces, which leads to longer wait times. IRCC states the pause will allow it to prioritize processing of applications already received and prevent further inventory growth, supporting the government’s stated aim of returning immigration to sustainable levels under the 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan.

2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan (official)

What to watch for next

Because IRCC says the pause is “until further notice,” the most important next step is monitoring for an official update that confirms:

• if and when intake will resume,
• whether the pilots will reopen as-is or be adjusted, and
• any new caps, streams, or eligibility changes.

Until then, avoid relying on informal timelines. If you see posts claiming a “reopening date,” verify that the date appears in an official federal government notice or program page.

CTA: get a plan that survives changing intake windows

If you were targeting the March 2026 reset and now need a revised strategy (status planning, eligibility triage, and a ready-to-file document set), consider a professional case review. Book a consultation to map alternatives and prepare for a future reopening without rushing a weak application.

This article provides general information and does not constitute legal advice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources: Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), official government publications