New Temporary Public Policy for Out-of-Status or Unauthorized Home Care Workers in Canada

Facilitating Permanent Residency for Home Care Workers

Canada recognizes the invaluable contributions of home care workers who provide essential support to families, seniors, children, and individuals with disabilities. To address challenges faced by out-of-status or unauthorized workers in this sector, the government has introduced a temporary public policy to facilitate their transition to permanent residency.

Background

The Home Care Worker Immigration (Child Care) Class and the Home Care Worker Immigration (Home Support) Class, launched on March 31, 2025, offer pathways to permanent residence for individuals with relevant work experience or training. Applicants under Stream A of these programs must typically be authorized to work in Canada. However, many home care workers have become out-of-status due to systemic barriers and the high demand for care services in Canada’s aging population. These workers often lack employment protections, making them vulnerable to exploitation and economic insecurity.

Public Policy Objectives

To acknowledge the significant economic and social contributions of these workers and address their precarious status, this temporary policy will provide a limited number of exemptions, enabling eligible individuals to apply for permanent residence under Stream A of the Home Care Worker Immigration (Child Care) Class or the Home Care Worker Immigration (Home Support) Class.

A total of 140 applications will be accepted for each class, allowing up to 280 principal applicants to benefit from this opportunity. Their accompanying family members will also be eligible to apply.

Eligibility Criteria

To qualify under this policy, applicants must meet the following conditions:

Principal Applicants:

• Submit an application through the designated process for Stream A of the home care worker programs.
• Be physically present in Canada at the time of application.
• Have legally entered Canada with temporary resident status on or before December 16, 2021.
• Have continuously resided in Canada since entry.
• Have been authorized to work on a work permit at some point during their stay in Canada.
• Currently lack authorization to work or only hold visitor status.
• Not be subject to a removal order.
• Have not made a refugee claim in Canada.

Accompanying Family Members in Canada:

• Must be included in the principal applicant’s submission.
• Must be physically present in Canada at the time of application.
• Must meet the definition of a “family member” under immigration regulations.
• Cannot be subject to a removal order or have made a refugee claim.

Accompanying Family Members Outside of Canada:

• Must be included in the principal applicant’s submission.
• Must meet the definition of a “family member” under immigration regulations.

Exemptions Granted Under This Policy

Eligible applicants may receive exemptions from certain provisions of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) and associated regulations, including:

• The requirement to be authorized for full-time work at the time of application.
• The requirement to have temporary resident status when obtaining relevant work experience.
• Inadmissibility due to overstaying authorized status or working without a permit.

Application Process and Intake Limits

• Up to 140 applications will be accepted under each of the two home care worker classes.
• A maximum of 125 applications per class may be submitted online, with 15 available for alternative submission methods.
• Applicants must pay all applicable processing and permanent residence fees unless otherwise exempted.

Policy Duration

This public policy will be in effect from March 31, 2025, at 12:01 AM until December 31, 2025, or until 280 principal applicants (140 per class) have applied, whichever comes first. The government reserves the right to revoke the policy at any time.

Why This Matters

Providing a permanent residency pathway for out-of-status or unauthorized home care workers helps stabilize the workforce, ensures better protections for workers, and supports Canadian families relying on essential home care services. With permanent resident status, these workers will have greater job mobility, legal protections, and the ability to fully integrate into Canadian society.

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