Canada’s growing need for caregivers has created opportunities for skilled workers who want to support seniors, people with disabilities, and individuals who need assistance with everyday activities. For people interested in building a career in caregiving while pursuing permanent residence, the home support pilot program offers a dedicated immigration pathway.
However, understanding the program requires more than finding a caregiver job. Applicants must meet specific requirements related to work experience, education, language proficiency, employment offers, and immigration status. The rules also differ depending on whether a worker is already living in Canada or applying from another country.
Important 2026 update: Canada’s home support pilot program: Home Support is currently closed to new applications. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) paused new intake to prioritize existing applications. The program did not reopen in March 2026, and no new application opening date has been confirmed.
This guide explains who qualifies, which caregiving jobs are eligible, how the application process works, and what prospective applicants can do while waiting for future immigration opportunities.
What Is Canada’s Home Support Pilot Program?
The Home Support Pilot is an immigration program designed for qualified foreign workers who want to provide personal care and assistance to people living in Canada. Its official name is the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support.
Introduced on March 31, 2025, the pilot provides a pathway to permanent residence for eligible caregivers with qualifying employment offers. It is intended for workers who can help people remain in their homes while receiving assistance with daily activities, personal care, and other essential needs.
Unlike a temporary employment arrangement, the immigration pilot was designed to connect caregiving employment with permanent residence. However, applicants must satisfy immigration requirements independently of their employment qualifications.
The pilot is particularly relevant to people who have experience supporting seniors, individuals recovering from illnesses, and people living with disabilities.
Typical home support responsibilities may include:
- Assisting clients with bathing, dressing, and personal hygiene.
- Helping individuals move safely around their homes.
- Preparing meals and supporting daily nutrition.
- Providing companionship and emotional support.
- Assisting with routine household activities related to personal care.
- Following established care plans and reporting changes in a client’s condition.
The exact duties depend on the position and the client’s needs. A job involving basic household cleaning alone does not automatically qualify as home support work.
The program is also different from Canada’s Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care, which focuses on providing care to children.
Applicants must choose the correct pilot because the eligible occupations, required experience, and job offers are not interchangeable.
Is the Home Support Pilot Program Open in 2026?
As of September 20, 2026, the Home Support Pilot is not accepting new permanent residence applications. Both the Workers in Canada stream and the Applicants not working in Canada stream are closed.
The Canadian government announced the intake pause on December 19, 2025, explaining that demand had exceeded available spaces and contributed to longer processing times. Immigration authorities are continuing to process applications already received rather than accepting additional applications.
The current ministerial instructions, effective March 31, 2026, prevent new applications under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots. These instructions are scheduled to remain in effect until March 30, 2030, unless the minister repeals them earlier. This does not establish a reopening date in 2030.
For prospective applicants, the distinction between being eligible and being able to apply is essential.
A caregiver may satisfy every qualification and still be unable to submit an application because intake is closed. Similarly, having a job offer does not create an exemption from the program’s application restrictions.
Workers who already submitted applications can continue through the established processing system, subject to immigration requirements and any requests for additional information.
Those who have not applied should use the closure period to prepare their qualifications and investigate other available immigration or employment options.
There is no confirmed date for new applications, so applicants should avoid making financial or employment decisions based on an assumed reopening.
Who Qualifies for Canada’s Home Support Pilot?
The home support pilot program has several eligibility requirements that applicants must meet together. Having caregiving experience is important, but it is only one part of the assessment.
Applicants must demonstrate that they have the relevant skills, language ability, education, and employment arrangements needed to work successfully in Canada.
Under the published program criteria, the main requirements include:
| Requirement | Eligibility criteria |
|---|---|
| Intended residence | Must plan to live and work outside Quebec |
| Language | Minimum CLB 4 or NCLC 4 in all four skills |
| Education | Canadian high school diploma or equivalent |
| Experience or training | Qualifying work experience or relevant training |
| Employment | Genuine, eligible full-time home support job offer |
| Immigration status | Must meet the requirements of the applicable stream |
| Admissibility | Must satisfy Canadian immigration admissibility rules |
These requirements are interconnected. For example, an applicant who has several years of caregiving experience but does not meet the language requirement may still be ineligible.
Similarly, completing a nursing qualification does not automatically establish eligibility if the training does not satisfy the pilot’s specific occupational and educational conditions.
Applicants must also be able to perform the responsibilities described in their employment offer. Immigration officers may consider previous experience, training, and the nature of the proposed job when assessing this requirement.
A further consideration is the applicant’s intention to settle outside Quebec. Although relevant experience gained in Quebec may potentially count toward the experience requirement, the proposed employment and intended permanent residence must meet the pilot’s geographic conditions.
Understanding these requirements before investing in training or arranging employment can help applicants avoid unnecessary expenses.
Home Support Pilot Streams: Applying From Inside or Outside Canada
The Home Support Pilot was established with two application streams. Each was designed for a different group of prospective immigrants, and the distinction affects eligibility, immigration status, and settlement requirements.
Both streams are currently closed. Nevertheless, understanding their published rules remains useful for people who previously applied or are preparing for a potential future opportunity.
Workers in Canada Stream
The Workers in Canada stream is intended for eligible applicants who already live in Canada and have authorization to work full-time in a non-seasonal occupation.
Under the published requirements, qualifying work authorization may come from a valid work permit, maintained status, or an applicable public policy. A person who normally resides in Canada may also meet the residence condition while temporarily travelling outside the country.
However, being physically present in Canada does not automatically make someone eligible.
Working under study permit conditions, visiting Canada without qualifying work authorization, or working without authorization generally does not satisfy the standard stream requirements.
A limited public policy provides exceptions for certain home care workers who have lost their immigration status or work authorization.
Among other conditions, this policy requires applicants to have entered Canada legally on or before December 16, 2021, lived there continuously since that date, and held a work permit during that period. Additional exclusions apply, including certain refugee claimants and people under removal orders.
This exception is narrowly defined. It is not a general pathway for everyone working without authorization.
Applicants Not Working in Canada Stream
The Applicants not working in Canada stream was designed to accommodate qualified applicants outside the standard Workers in Canada category, including prospective caregivers applying from abroad.
This stream has not opened for general application intake, and its opening date remains unconfirmed.
In addition to the program’s general requirements, applicants under this stream must demonstrate that they have sufficient settlement funds to support themselves and their families in Canada.
For international applicants, preparing financially is therefore just as important as meeting the occupational and educational requirements.
A genuine Canadian job offer remains essential. However, obtaining one does not mean an applicant can immediately travel to Canada, begin working, or receive permanent residence.
The applicant must separately meet the conditions of any immigration authorization needed to enter and work in Canada.
People considering this route should distinguish between preparing an application, submitting an application, receiving approval, and obtaining permission to work. These are separate stages with different legal requirements.
Language and Education Requirements for Home Support Workers
Language proficiency and education are essential eligibility requirements under the Home Support Pilot. These conditions help establish whether an applicant can communicate effectively, understand workplace instructions, and meet the program’s minimum educational standards.
Applicants do not necessarily need a university degree or advanced English proficiency. However, they must provide acceptable evidence that they satisfy the specified requirements.
Minimum English or French Language Scores
Applicants must achieve at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 4 in English or Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens (NCLC) 4 in French.
The minimum level applies separately to reading, writing, listening, and speaking.
For English-language applicants, accepted tests include IELTS General Training, CELPIP-General, and PTE Core. Approved French-language tests include TEF Canada and TCF Canada.
For IELTS General Training, the minimum scores corresponding to CLB 4 are:
| Language skill | Minimum IELTS score |
|---|---|
| Listening | 4.5 |
| Reading | 3.5 |
| Writing | 4.0 |
| Speaking | 4.0 |
Applicants should understand that CLB 4 is a benchmark level, not an overall IELTS band requirement. Achieving an acceptable overall IELTS score does not compensate for falling below the minimum in an individual skill.
Language test results must be less than two years old when the application is submitted.
Because the program is closed, prospective applicants should consider the validity period before scheduling a test. Taking an examination too early could mean paying for another test if the results expire before intake resumes.
Improving communication skills during this period can also help applicants prepare for interviews, workplace responsibilities, and interactions with clients and their families.
Educational Qualifications and Credential Assessment
The minimum educational requirement is a completed Canadian secondary school diploma or an equivalent foreign qualification.
Applicants who completed their education outside Canada generally need an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) from an approved organization.
The assessment confirms whether a foreign qualification is equivalent to a completed Canadian high school diploma or a higher Canadian credential.
Applicants with a completed college diploma or university degree may also use an eligible qualification to establish that they meet the minimum educational requirement.
An ECA report must be less than five years old when immigration authorities receive the application.
The assessment process may require educational documents such as:
- Secondary school certificates or higher qualifications.
- Academic transcripts.
- Identification documents requested by the assessment organization.
- Other records needed to verify the qualification.
Applicants should distinguish between a credential assessment and occupational training. An ECA establishes the Canadian equivalency of an educational qualification, while the work experience or training requirement separately evaluates readiness for a home support occupation.
Completing a high school education therefore does not replace the need for qualifying caregiving experience or relevant occupational training.
Similarly, possessing an advanced academic degree does not eliminate the language, job offer, or admissibility requirements.
Work Experience and Training Requirements
One of the most important requirements of the home support pilot program is demonstrating recent, relevant occupational experience or completing eligible training.
Applicants do not necessarily need both. Under the published rules, they can satisfy this part of the eligibility assessment through qualifying work experience or a qualifying training credential.
However, the type of work or training matters considerably.
For the Home Support Pilot, eligible experience or training must relate to one of the following occupational categories:
- NOC 44101: Home support workers, caregivers, and related occupations.
- NOC 33102: Nurse aides, orderlies, and patient service associates.
Experience and training in these categories may qualify, but the proposed employment offer must specifically meet the requirements for a home support worker under NOC 44101.
Qualifying Work Experience
Applicants using work experience must have completed at least six months of continuous, full-time, relevant employment during the three years before applying.
Full-time employment means at least 30 hours of paid work per week.
The experience may have been gained inside or outside Canada, provided it satisfies the applicable conditions.
Qualifying experience must also have been gained after the applicant turned 18 and must match the relevant occupational description and most of its main duties.
Applicants may combine qualifying experience from multiple employers or eligible occupations within the Home Support Pilot, provided the work remains continuous and satisfies the other conditions.
For example, someone who worked as a home support worker and then immediately moved into an eligible nurse aide position might be able to combine those periods of employment.
However, experience in home child care cannot simply be combined with home support experience to satisfy the Home Support Pilot’s requirements.
Other limitations apply. Self-employment, experience gained while studying full-time, and periods of unemployment do not count toward qualifying work experience.
People relying on Canadian work experience must also meet the applicable work authorization requirements, subject to the limited public policy for certain out-of-status workers.
Qualifying Caregiver Training
Applicants who do not have sufficient work experience may qualify through a relevant training credential.
The training must last at least six months and be completed within the two years before the immigration application.
It must be post-secondary training related to an eligible occupation, delivered mainly in an in-person classroom environment.
The program must involve at least 15 hours of training per week during the academic year or study period. Applicants must also have started the training when they were at least 17 years old.
A personal support worker program or caregiver training course may be relevant, but its title alone does not establish eligibility.
Applicants should examine the curriculum, study hours, delivery method, qualification awarded, and connection to the eligible occupational categories.
Short online certificates, informal workplace instruction, and training focused on unrelated occupations may not satisfy the requirements.
Training completed outside Canada can qualify. A separate ECA is generally not required for that training credential unless the applicant also uses it to satisfy the minimum education requirement.
Job Offer Requirements for the Home Support Pilot
A genuine job offer is a central component of the Home Support Pilot. Applicants must have an eligible offer from an employer in Canada, outside Quebec.
The offer must describe a full-time, continuous position in home support work under NOC 44101.
It must provide at least 30 hours of paid employment per week and have no predetermined end date.
The offer should clearly explain the applicant’s responsibilities, hourly wage, and employment requirements. Immigration authorities must also be satisfied that the employer genuinely needs the worker and can fulfill the employment conditions.
The proposed wage must generally meet or exceed the applicable median wage for the occupation in the province or territory of employment. Where no provincial or territorial median is available, the national median is used.
Eligible employers may include private households and qualifying businesses or nonprofit organizations that directly employ home care workers.
Businesses and nonprofit employers must satisfy additional requirements, including having provided the same type of care services for at least one year before making the employment offer.
Applicants should pay particular attention to the distinction between an employer and a recruitment agency.
A recruitment or placement agency cannot itself serve as an eligible employer under these rules. Certain family members, the applicant personally, and diplomatic missions are also excluded.
The employer must complete and sign the appropriate employment information form, which accompanies the applicant’s job offer.
A job offer for an institutional nurse aide position is not interchangeable with an eligible home support job offer, even when the applicant’s previous nurse aide experience qualifies.
Likewise, an offer to work in a nursing home is not an eligible NOC 44101 home support job offer under this pilot.
The employment arrangement must satisfy the actual program conditions rather than simply carry a caregiver-related job title.
Documents Required for a Home Support Pilot Application
Preparing documents is an important part of the application process. Even when an applicant meets the eligibility requirements, missing information, incomplete forms, or insufficient supporting evidence can prevent an application from being processed.
The exact document checklist depends on the applicant’s stream and personal circumstances.
Applicants should prepare documents that establish their identity, qualifications, employment history, family relationships, and admissibility.
Commonly required documents include:
- A valid passport and relevant identity documents.
- Approved English or French language test results.
- Educational certificates and an ECA report, where applicable.
- Employment reference letters and evidence of qualifying work experience.
- Training certificates and supporting academic records, where applicable.
- A genuine job offer and the employer’s completed employment information form.
- Proof of qualifying Canadian residence and work authorization, where required.
- Marriage certificates or dependent children’s documents, where applicable.
- Police certificates, medical examination information, and other requested records.
Applicants under the Applicants not working in Canada stream must also prepare acceptable proof of settlement funds.
Employment reference letters should accurately describe the work performed, employment dates, and working hours. These details are important when assessing whether the applicant’s experience matches the relevant occupation.
Documents that are not in English or French generally require acceptable translations accompanied by the appropriate original-document evidence.
Prospective applicants should keep copies of their records and ensure that names, employment dates, and personal information are consistent.
Since new applications are not being accepted, applicants should avoid obtaining time-sensitive documents unnecessarily early. Language results, medical examinations, and some other supporting records may need to be updated before a future application.
Settlement Funds and Application Fees
Financial requirements are another important consideration for prospective home support workers. Applicants may need to cover immigration fees, language testing, credential assessments, document preparation, and relocation expenses.
Under the published Home Support Pilot rules, settlement funds are specifically required for the Applicants not working in Canada stream.
The amount depends on family size, including a spouse or common-law partner and dependent children, even when some family members are not accompanying the applicant.
The following amounts were published for the pilot on July 29, 2025:
| Family size | Minimum settlement funds |
|---|---|
| 1 person | CAD $15,263 |
| 2 people | CAD $19,001 |
| 3 people | CAD $23,360 |
| 4 people | CAD $28,362 |
| 5 people | CAD $32,168 |
These are historical published amounts, not guaranteed requirements for a future intake. Applicants must check the applicable amounts when the stream opens.
Settlement money must be legally accessible to the applicant and available when required. Borrowed money and equity in real estate cannot be used as qualifying settlement funds.
Separate immigration application fees also apply.
The published principal applicant fee for the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot is CAD $1,590, including the processing fee and right of permanent residence fee. Additional fees may apply to accompanying family members, biometrics, medical examinations, and other services.
Applicants should confirm the current fee schedule before making payments because immigration fees can change.
Employers are not permitted to require workers to reimburse recruitment fees that the employer paid to hire them. Applicants should be cautious about anyone demanding payment for a guaranteed immigration approval or promising access to the closed pilot.
How to Apply for Canada’s Home Support Pilot Program
The Home Support Pilot’s application process is completed through Canada’s Permanent Residence Portal. However, new applications cannot currently be submitted because intake is closed.
The following steps describe the published application procedure and the preparation that prospective applicants can undertake. They should not be interpreted as confirmation that applications are presently open.
Step 1: Confirm your eligibility
Begin by reviewing the requirements for the Home Support Pilot and the relevant application stream.
Check your education, language results, experience or training, intended residence, and immigration status.
Determine whether your previous duties correspond to NOC 44101 or another occupation accepted for the experience or training requirement.
Step 2: Obtain a qualifying job offer
Secure a genuine offer from an eligible employer outside Quebec.
Confirm that the position is full-time, permanent, appropriately paid, and consistent with NOC 44101.
The employer must complete the applicable employment information form and provide it for your application.
Step 3: Gather supporting documents
Prepare your passport, educational records, language results, work experience evidence, and other required documents.
Arrange an ECA if your foreign educational qualification requires one.
Applicants relying on training should collect their training credentials and supporting evidence showing that the course meets the program’s requirements.
Step 4: Create or access your application account
When an eligible stream is accepting applications, applicants use the Permanent Residence Portal.
The published application instructions require applicants to select the Economic immigration category and the appropriate Home Support Pilot stream.
Selecting the wrong category may result in an application being returned or refused.
Step 5: Complete the forms and upload documents
Fill in the required digital forms and upload the applicable supporting records.
Provide accurate information about employment history, education, family members, and previous travel.
If a required document cannot be obtained, applicants must follow the applicable instructions for providing an explanation and supporting evidence.
Step 6: Pay the required fees
Pay the applicable immigration fees and retain the payment receipt.
Upload the receipt with the application, along with the completed forms and supporting documents.
Step 7: Submit the application when intake is open
Review the entire application before submitting it.
Check that all required questions have been answered, supporting documents are included, and applicable forms are signed.
An incomplete application may be returned without processing. When an intake cap has already been reached, applicants cannot rely on resubmission being possible.
What Happens After You Submit an Application?
Applicants who successfully submitted an application during an eligible intake period must wait for immigration authorities to review their information.
The first stage involves checking whether the application is complete. This includes confirming that the required forms, documents, signatures, and fees have been provided.
A complete application can then proceed to an assessment of eligibility and admissibility.
Applicants may receive instructions to provide biometric information, complete medical examinations, or submit additional documentation. Immigration authorities may also request further evidence from the employer to verify the job offer.
A portal submission confirmation and an official acknowledgement of receipt are not the same document.
In an update dated June 23, 2026, IRCC stated that acknowledgement of receipt letters had not yet been issued for every application submitted under the pilots in 2025. A delay in receiving that letter does not necessarily mean the original application was lost.
Applicants should keep their contact information current and report significant changes in family circumstances.
Those already working in Canada must also maintain appropriate immigration status and work authorization.
Importantly, an application under these pilots does not itself establish eligibility for a bridging open work permit. Applicants whose existing work permits are approaching expiry must investigate their available options separately.
Permanent residence is not guaranteed merely because an application was submitted or an employer has provided an offer.
The final decision depends on the applicant meeting all applicable immigration requirements.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Preparing for the Home Support Pilot
Preparing for immigration involves multiple requirements, and small misunderstandings can lead to significant problems.
One common mistake is assuming that any caregiving position qualifies. The actual job duties and occupational classification matter more than the title printed on an employment letter.
Another frequent misunderstanding involves the difference between qualifying experience and an eligible job offer. For example, certain nurse aide experience may count toward the work experience requirement, but a nurse aide job offer does not satisfy the Home Support Pilot’s specific employment requirement.
Prospective applicants should also avoid the following mistakes:
- Assuming the program is accepting applications simply because eligibility information remains available.
- Taking a language examination without considering when the results will expire.
- Paying for training before confirming whether it meets the occupational and delivery requirements.
- Accepting an employment offer without checking the employer’s eligibility.
- Combining unrelated child care and home support experience.
- Assuming that submitting a permanent residence application automatically extends a work permit.
- Paying anyone who claims to guarantee immigration approval.
Another important issue is relying on outdated immigration information.
Canada’s caregiver immigration programs have changed over time. The former Home Support Worker Pilot closed to new applications on June 17, 2024, while the newer Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support began in March 2025 and subsequently paused intake.
Applicants should identify which program and application period apply to their circumstances before making decisions.
Careful preparation cannot guarantee immigration approval, but it can reduce avoidable mistakes and help applicants understand whether they meet the relevant requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions About the Home Support Pilot Program
1. Is Canada’s home support pilot program accepting applications in 2026?
No. As of September 20, 2026, both application streams are closed to new applications.
IRCC paused intake to prioritize the processing of applications already received. The program did not reopen in March 2026, and no confirmed future intake date has been announced.
Applicants who submitted their applications before the closure may continue through the immigration process. Prospective applicants should not assume they can submit a new application simply because they have a job offer or meet the eligibility conditions.
2. Can I apply for the Home Support Pilot from Pakistan, India, or another country?
The Home Support Pilot includes an Applicants not working in Canada stream intended to provide an application route for qualifying people outside the standard Workers in Canada category.
However, this stream is currently closed and has not opened for general intake.
Applicants from other countries would need to satisfy the published eligibility requirements, including relevant qualifications, language proficiency, an eligible job offer, and applicable settlement funds. The immigration rules in effect when a future intake opens would determine who can submit an application.
3. Do I need caregiving experience to qualify for the Home Support Pilot?
Not necessarily. Under the published requirements, applicants can meet the occupational qualification requirement through either eligible work experience or qualifying training.
The experience route requires at least six months of continuous, full-time, relevant employment within the three years before applying.
The training route requires a qualifying post-secondary training credential of at least six months, completed within the two years before applying.
Both routes are subject to specific occupational and other eligibility conditions.
4. Can a home support worker bring their spouse and children to Canada?
Eligible applicants may include qualifying family members in their permanent residence applications.
However, family members must satisfy the applicable immigration and admissibility requirements. Additional processing fees, identity documents, medical examinations, and other supporting evidence may be required.
Applicants under the Applicants not working in Canada stream must also account for applicable family members when calculating settlement funds, even when some family members will not accompany them to Canada.
Family inclusion does not provide an exemption from the program’s current application closure.
5. Does the Home Support Pilot require an LMIA or a live-in arrangement?
The published Home Support Pilot job offer requirements do not impose a general Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) requirement or require every caregiver to live in the employer’s home.
Instead, the pilot has its own conditions concerning eligible employers, job duties, wages, and employment arrangements.
However, a worker pursuing temporary employment through another immigration route may face separate LMIA or work permit requirements.
Applicants should not confuse eligibility for permanent residence under the Home Support Pilot with authorization to enter Canada or begin working.
Final Thoughts
Canada’s home support pilot program provides a dedicated immigration pathway for qualified caregivers who want to work in Canada and pursue permanent residence.
The published eligibility requirements focus on relevant experience or training, language proficiency, education, and a genuine employment offer outside Quebec.
However, the program remains closed to new applications as of September 20, 2026, and a future opening date has not been confirmed.
For prospective applicants, the most useful approach is to assess eligibility carefully, develop relevant caregiving skills, organize supporting documents, and understand the immigration requirements that apply to their circumstances.
Being prepared can make a future application more manageable, but applicants should base their decisions on confirmed program rules rather than an assumed reopening date.
