Ottawa, December 19, 2025—As part of our 2026–2028 Immigration Levels Plan, we’re making our immigration system more responsive to the needs of the country by making sure that we have the skilled workers needed to fill labour gaps. Many home care workers—who provide essential support to seniors, children and people with disabilities—have already applied for permanent residence through pilot programs.

Due to ongoing high demand, interest in the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots continues to exceed the spaces available, leading to longer wait times.

In order to prioritize processing of existing applications, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will pause intake until further notice. This means that the pilots’ intake will not re-open in March 2026.

Ottawa, December 19, 2025 — Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is introducing several changes to its business immigration programs to support the sustainable immigration levels and Canada’s Talent Attraction Strategy announced in the 2026-2028 Immigration Levels Plan.

Effective today, IRCC is no longer accepting applications for the optional work permit available to Start-Up Visa (SUV) Program applicants, except for those already in Canada applying to extend their current SUV work permit.

In support of reducing Canada’s temporary resident population through transitions to permanent residence, we are also prioritizing the permanent residence applications of those already in Canada with a SUV-specific work permit, as Levels Plan targets allow. The existing criteria for prioritization also remains in place.

Effective December 31, 2025, at 11:59 p.m., IRCC will stop accepting new SUV Program applications, except for those from applicants who have a valid commitment from a designated organization that was made in 2025 but haven’t applied yet. We will also extend the current pause on accepting applications to the Self-Employed Persons Program until further notice.