The Interim Pathway for Caregivers was a limited-time temporary residence program that ended on October 8, 2019. IRCC no longer accepts new applications; only applications submitted on or before October 8, 2019 are still being processed. The purpose of this program was to give permanent residency to individuals with work experience in Canada as home child care providers or home support workers. IRCC later replaced it with new pilot programs:
- Home Child Care Provider Pilot (closed to new applications on June 17, 2024)
- Home Support Worker Pilot (closed to new applications on June 17, 2024)
Note: the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots that replaced these in 2025 are also currently marked as closed by IRCC, so there is no open caregiver permanent residence pathway at this time. Check the official IRCC caregivers page for the latest status.
Eligibility and Requirements
To qualify for the Interim Pathway for Caregivers before it closed, candidates had to meet specific requirements, including work experience as a home support worker (NOC 4412) or home child care provider (NOC 4411) in Canada — the NOC 2016 codes in use when the program was open. The program’s historical eligibility criteria were:
Status in Canada
A valid work permit is important if you want to extend your work permit, and waiting for a reply, or have already applied to restore your worker permit. If you have applied in one of the above-mentioned statuses and your application is refused then you are not eligible. If your current work permit was issued by a Live-in Caregiver Program, then you are not eligible for Interim Pathway for Caregivers.
Work Experience Eligibility
The candidate should have a minimum of one year of experience in Canada. The required work experience should be after November 30th, 2014, and in one of the two below mentioned occupations:
- Home child care provider (NOC 4411)
- Home support worker (NOC 4412)
You can have this experience in intervals, it’s alright if not continuous. If you are a full-time student and gained this experience then you are not eligible.
Language Proficiency
All of the candidates should provide proof of language proficiency in either French or English. Applicants should submit relevant test results from a valid institute. The test should be taken two years before proving proficiency at CLB Level 5.
Education
The candidate should have education experience equal to a diploma from a Canadian high school. If the education credential was done outside Canada then an Educational Credentials Assessment (ECA) is required.
Application Procedure for Interim Pathway for Caregivers
The Interim Pathway for Caregivers ran on a paper-based application system. In this system, all the documents and forms were printed, signed, then submitted in hard copy via the mail system. (The IRCC application package is no longer available because the program is closed.)
A complete application includes:
- Required signed applications and forms
- Receipts of Fee payments
- Supporting documents files
Furthermore, the applicant will need educational credentials assessment (ECA), police certificates, medical exams, and biometrics confirmation. You can hire an immigration professional for assistance submitting and preparing the application or contact immigration.
Application Processing Time-Frame
Completed applications were mailed to IRCC’s Case Processing Centre located in Edmonton, Alberta. IRCC does not publish a current processing time for this closed program.
