Temporary Public Policy - Out-of-Status Home Care Workers

Temporary Public Policy to Facilitate Permanent Resident Visas for Out-of-Status Home Care Workers in Canada

On March 7, 2025, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a Temporary Public Policy designed to provide a structured pathway to permanent residency for certain out-of-status or unauthorized home care workers currently residing and working in Canada. This initiative targets individuals employed in the home care sector, specifically under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (Child Care) and Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (Home Support) programs. The policy reflects Canada’s broader efforts to address labor shortages in critical sectors, stabilize the workforce, protect vulnerable workers, and align immigration strategies with humanitarian and economic goals.

Policy Objectives and Rationale

*Regularize Status: Offer a legal pathway for out-of-status or unauthorized workers who have been contributing to Canada’s home care sector, thereby reducing their vulnerability to exploitation and ensuring compliance with immigration laws.

*Address Labor Shortages: Retain experienced home care workers amid growing demand, particularly in child care and home support roles, which are essential for supporting Canadian families and an aging population.

*Protect Workers’ Rights: Transition these workers from precarious, undocumented employment into a framework that guarantees labor protections, benefits, and long-term security through permanent residency.

*Support Economic Stability: Bolster the caregiving workforce, a sector identified as critical in the context of Canada’s housing and healthcare challenges, as outlined in the 2025–2027 Immigration Levels Plan.

Eligibility and Scope

The temporary public policy applies specifically to:

*Targeted Groups: Out-of-status or unauthorized workers who have been employed in Canada as home care workers under two designated pilot programs:

*Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (Child Care): Focused on individuals providing in-home child care services, such as nannies or caregivers for children.

*Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot (Home Support): Aimed at workers supporting elderly or disabled individuals with daily living activities in private residences.

*Work Experience: Applicants must demonstrate relevant work experience in these roles, though exact requirements (e.g., hours worked, duration) will be detailed in forthcoming IRCC guidelines. Typically, such programs require at least one year of full-time equivalent experience.

*Current Status: Eligible individuals include those whose work permits have expired, those who entered Canada without authorization, or those working outside the terms of their original permits, provided they have been engaged in home care duties.

This policy does not extend to other occupations or sectors, maintaining a narrow focus on home care to address specific workforce needs.

Implementation Details

*Effective Period: The policy will be in effect from March 31, 2025, to December 31, 2025, providing a nine-month window for applications.

*Application Cap: A maximum of 280 principal applicants will be accepted under this policy. Once this cap is reached, the policy will terminate, even if before December 31, 2025. This limit ensures controlled intake aligned with processing capacity and labor market planning.

*Processing: Applications will be handled through existing IRCC channels, likely requiring submission of proof of employment (e.g., pay stubs, employer letters), identity documents, and compliance with standard admissibility criteria (e.g., criminal and medical checks).

*Family Inclusion: While not explicitly detailed, similar policies often allow principal applicants to include immediate family members (spouse and dependent children) in their permanent residency applications, subject to additional requirements.

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