Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot – Direct to permanent residence category: How to apply

The pilot caps reset on January 1, 2023

As of January 1, 2023, you can apply under the 2023 caps for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot and the Home Support Worker Pilot.

There are changes for the 2023 application process

Read all the changes to these pilots before you apply. Make sure you follow our updated instructions.

The Home Support Worker Pilot is open to new applications

In 2023, we’ll accept up to the following number of applications in each category:

  • Gaining experience category: 1,650 applications
  • Direct to permanent residence category: 1,100 applications

The Home Child Care Provider Pilot

The online and alternate format application caps have been reached for the Gaining experience category

We’ve reached the cap for both online and alternate format applications for this pilot’s Gaining experience category. This means the Gaining experience category is closed to new applications for 2023. You won’t be able to start or submit an application for this category in our portal, and any paper applications will be returned. Online applications that weren’t submitted will expire from the portal after about 30 days.

Online applications for this category will reopen in 2024. You can also explore other immigration programs.

We’ll update you again when other caps have been reached.

2023 caps

In 2023, we’ll accept up to the following number of applications in each category:

  • Gaining experience category: 1,650 applications, including
    • 1,500 online applications Closed as of January 1st, 2023
    • 150 alternate format applications Closed as of February 1, 2023
  • Direct to permanent residence category: 1,100 applications, including
    • 1,000 online applications
    • 100 alternate format applications

How to apply online

Step 1: Complete your application

Sign in or create a Permanent residence online application portal account (opens in a new tab) .

Use the instruction guide for applicants under the Direct to permanent residence category (opens in a new tab)  to help you fill out the forms properly.

You’ll fill out some forms online, in the portal itself. Others you’ll fill out separately and either sign them electronically, or print and sign them by hand. You must answer all questions carefully, completely and truthfully. There are serious consequences if you misrepresent yourself or leave important information out of your application.

You must fill out these digital forms online

You’ll answer the questions directly in your web browser (for yourself, and any family members 18 or older). We will not accept the PDF versions.

You can look at the PDF versions of these forms to find out what information you’ll need to start collecting before you apply online.

PDF forms you can fill out electronically

PDF forms that must be printed, signed, and uploaded to your application

Using an immigration representative

If you want to appoint someone to do business with us on your behalf, you must

An immigration representative (an immigration consultant or lawyer) can give you advice and help you with your application for a fee. But they can’t

A representative can fill out forms and communicate with us on your behalf through their own account. They can also

After you read the declaration, you must be the one who types your name. This is the legal requirement for your application to be considered “signed,” according to Canada’s immigration law.

If you want to allow us to release information from your application to someone other than yourself who will not act as your representative you must

Photo specifications

You need one photo for each person on your application.

Show the photo specifications to your photographer to make sure your photos meet our requirements.

Follow the instructions in the online application to scan and upload both sides of your photo.

Technical issues

If you need to upload a number of images, find out how to combine them into 1 document.

If you’re having technical issues applying, contact us using the web form

Step 2: Pay your application fees

In most cases, your fees include:

You have to pay your fees online.

When you finish, you must save each receipt and upload it with your online application.

Biometrics

You and your family members may need to give your fingerprints and photograph (biometric information) at a biometric collection service point.

In most cases, you must pay a biometrics fee when you submit your application. Otherwise you may experience delays. The biometrics fee covers the cost of collecting fingerprints and a digital photo.

After you pay the biometrics fee with a complete application, we’ll send you a letter to tell how and where to give your biometrics. You must show this letter when you give your biometrics. Get this done as soon as you get the letter from us.

You must give your biometrics in person. You should book an appointment.

Find out if you need to give biometrics.

Temporary changes to biometrics

Book your biometric appointment as soon as you can to avoid processing delays.

If you can’t book an appointment by the deadline on your biometric instruction letter, there may be temporary measures in place to help you.

Third-party fees

You have to pay third parties if you need a:

The instruction guide can help you understand which fees apply to you and how to pay them.

Step 3: Submit your online application

Before you submit your application, make sure you:

If your application is incomplete, we’ll reject it. You’ll have to fix any errors and then re-submit it. If you don’t request a refund, or use your fees for another immigration program, you may be able to use the same receipt when you resubmit your application. Before you use the same receipt, make sure the fees are both complete and have not changed since you last applied.   

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