PR Routes status board
Which permanent residence routes are open, closed, or just had a draw, especially for caregivers and health workers, but useful for everyone. Each item links to the official page. Checked October 17, 2026.
Hand-verified against the official pages listed. Express Entry draw figures are filled in automatically from IRCC's rounds data by scripts/refresh_data.py. Anything we could not confirm on an official page says 'Check source'.
Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Child Care caregivers
Closed – intake pausedHome child care providers (NOC 44100)
- IRCC paused intake on December 19, 2025 "until further notice" and said intake will not re-open in March 2026.
- IRCC's apply page shows both the Workers in Canada stream and the Applicants not working in Canada stream as Closed. No reopening date has been announced.
- IRCC says it continues to process applications already received. As of its June 23, 2026 update, acknowledgement-of-receipt (AOR) letters had not yet been issued for all applications submitted in 2025.
- New Ministerial Instructions effective March 31, 2026 state IRCC will not accept new applications under the Home Care Worker Immigration Pilots.
Official sources: IRCC notice: Pausing Home Care Worker Immigration pilots application intake (Dec 19, 2025) · IRCC: How to apply (stream status) · IRCC: After you apply (AOR update, June 23, 2026) · Ministerial Instructions MI86/87/88/91
Home Care Worker Immigration Pilot: Home Support caregivers
Closed – intake pausedHome support workers (NOC 44101)
- Same pause as the Child Care pilot: intake paused December 19, 2025 until further notice; it did not re-open in March 2026.
- Both streams (Workers in Canada; Applicants not working in Canada) are shown as Closed on IRCC's pages. No reopening date has been announced.
- Applications already received continue to be processed.
Official sources: IRCC notice (Dec 19, 2025) · IRCC: Hire through the Home Care Worker Immigration pilots (stream status)
Express Entry – Healthcare and social services category draws caregivers
Recent drawExpress Entry candidates with eligible healthcare / social services work experience
Latest draw: September 4, 2026 (round #441) · Healthcare and Social Services Occupations, 2026-Version 3 · 3,500 invitations · lowest CRS score invited 475. From IRCC rounds data, refreshed October 17, 2026.
- Category-based draws invite Express Entry candidates with experience in eligible healthcare and social services occupations. Check IRCC's category page for which NOC codes are on the current list.
Official sources: IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations · IRCC: Category-based selection
BC PNP – Care: Health (priority health care occupations)
Recent drawWorkers with a B.C. job offer in a priority health care occupation (registration + invitation)
- Latest Care: Health draw on WelcomeBC: October 8, 2026 – minimum score 76, 82 invitations (all priority health care occupations).
- Previous: September 10, 2026 – minimum score 76, 143 invitations.
- Separate Health Authority stream: if you have a regular, indeterminate, full-time job with a B.C. public health authority and its support, BC PNP says you do not need to register or wait for an invitation.
As of: WelcomeBC invitations page last updated October 15, 2026.
Official sources: WelcomeBC: Invitations to apply · BC PNP Skills Immigration Program Guide (Health Authority stream, section 4.2)
Alberta (AAIP) – Dedicated Health Care Pathway
Recent drawWorkers with an Alberta job offer in an eligible health care occupation (Express Entry and non-Express Entry options)
- Latest draws on Alberta.ca: September 9, 2026 (Express Entry option) – minimum score 60, 51 invitations; August 19, 2026 (non-Express Entry option) – minimum score 60, 24 invitations.
- 2026 allocation for the Dedicated Health Care Pathways: 518 nominations, 342 issued, 176 spaces remaining (Alberta processing page).
- You must submit a Worker Expression of Interest (EOI) first. Alberta says a $135 EOI fee applies effective April 7, 2026.
As of: Alberta AAIP processing page last updated October 7, 2026.
Official sources: Alberta.ca: AAIP processing information and draws · Alberta.ca: Dedicated Health Care Pathway · Alberta.ca: How to apply to AAIP worker streams
Atlantic Immigration Program (NB, NS, PE, NL)
Check sourceSkilled workers and recent Atlantic graduates with a job offer from a designated Atlantic employer
- IRCC describes the program as a PR pathway that requires a job offer from an employer designated by the Atlantic province where you will work.
- Designation and endorsement limits are run by each province and change during the year. We could not confirm a single current intake status on one official page, so check the province's site.
Official sources: IRCC: Atlantic Immigration Program
Rural Community Immigration Pilot
Open (per IRCC)Workers with a job offer from an employer approved by one of the 14 participating rural communities
- IRCC's program page lists the status as Open.
- 14 communities take part; each community approves certain employers and has its own priority occupations and rules. Check the community's page before applying.
Official sources: IRCC: Rural Community Immigration Pilot
Work permit → Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry)
Recent drawPeople already working in Canada in a skilled job (TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3)
Latest draw: October 15, 2026 (round #449) · Canadian Experience Class · 2,500 invitations · lowest CRS score invited 519. From IRCC rounds data, refreshed October 17, 2026.
- IRCC requires at least 1 year (1,560 hours) of paid, authorized skilled work in Canada in TEER 0, 1, 2 or 3 within the 3 years before applying, plus a language test. There is no education requirement.
- Heads up for caregivers: in NOC 2021 the second digit of the code is the TEER level. Home child care providers (44100) and home support workers (44101) are TEER 4, so that experience alone does not meet the CEC skilled-work rule. Check the NOC for your exact job.
Official sources: IRCC: Canadian Experience Class · IRCC: Express Entry rounds of invitations
Draws and intake change quickly, and eligibility depends on your situation. Always confirm on the official page, and get advice from a licensed RCIC or lawyer before you pay for any application help. A community timeline tracker is coming later.