Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot Programs (Closed) — What They Were and How They Worked

Mar 10, 2025

The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot programs offered permanent residence options for foreign nationals who provide in-home childcare or home support for seniors and those with disabilities. Two main pilot streams existed: Home Child Care Provider Pilot (for NOC 44100) and Home Support Worker Pilot (for NOC 44101). This blog details how these streams worked, who was eligible to apply, why the programs were closed, and some alternatives on securing permanent residence while making a meaningful contribution to Canadian families.

Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot — An Overview

Canada had structured two pilot programs to attract individuals with caregiving skills:

Home Child Care Provider Pilot (NOC 44100)
For applicants caring for children under 18 in their own home or inside their employer’s house. Examples included nannies, babysitters, or live-in caregivers.
Home Support Worker Pilot (NOC 44101)
For applicants who have looked after someone who needed help from a home support worker in their employer’s house.

Both pathways aimed to fill essential in-home caregiving roles while giving foreign caregivers a route to permanent residence.

Who Was Eligible for the Pilots?

Work Experience
- Minimum 12 months of full-time paid work (30 hours/week) in the respective occupation.
- Experience must be in NOC 44100 or 44101, depending on the pilot applied for.
Language Proficiency
- Must achieve at least Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in reading, writing, listening, and speaking for English or French.
- Provide valid test results from IELTS, CELPIP, TEF, or TCF.
Education
- Canadian high school diploma or foreign equivalent with an Educational Credential Assessment.
Admissibility
- Undergo medical exams, security checks, and police clearances.

Why Were The Programs Closed?

The Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot programs were closed on June 17, 2024, as they were 5-year pilot programs that reached their conclusion. These pilots are being replaced by new, enhanced programs to support caregivers and Canadian families.

Listed below are some reasons for closing these programs and introducing new alternatives:

Addressing feedback The new programs aim to address feedback from workers and families, highlighting the need for more efficient and inclusive pathways.
Improving efficiency The new pilots are designed to streamline the immigration process for caregivers.
Expanding opportunities The new home care worker programs will offer broader employment opportunities in diverse care settings.

Alternatives for Home Support Workers

New Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots Set to launch on March 31, 2025, these new pilots will offer several improvements:
- Permanent residency upon arrival in Canada
- Lower language proficiency requirement (CLB 4 instead of CLB 5)
- Reduced educational requirement (Canadian high school diploma or foreign equivalent with accreditation)
- Expanded occupational requirements beyond traditional roles in private homes
Temporary Residence to Permanent Residence Pathway Some caregivers already in Canada may be eligible for this pathway for essential workers.
Other immigration programs Caregivers can explore other options for immigrating to Canada, such as various economic mobility programs.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about Home Child Care Workers and Home Support Workers

Q1: Can I bring my family?

Yes. Spouses, partners, and dependent children could be included in the PR application, with additional fees and documentation.

Q2: Do I need a job offer if I already have the required experience in Canada?

Not necessarily. If you meet the experience threshold in NOC 44100 or 44101, you could apply without a new job offer.

Q3: Are live-in arrangements mandatory?

No. Some caregivers live separately, as long as they provide in-home services. The key is matching the job duties to the correct NOC.

Q4: Can I change employers?

Caregivers with occupation-restricted permits can change employers, provided the new role still matches NOC 44100 or 44101.

Q5: Can I apply if my work experience was part-time?

Yes, if total hours added up to 12 months of full-time equivalent experience.

Final Thoughts on the Programs

Although the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot programs are now closed, they gave foreign caregivers a secure route to permanent residence. By meeting the required work experience in NOC 44100 or 44101, obtaining acceptable language scores, and providing thorough documentation, caregivers were able to transition smoothly into Canada’s workforce and eventually become permanent residents. This pathway merged compassion with career growth, and it enabled caregivers to enrich Canadian households and communities.