Live-in Caregiver Program in Canada

Live-in Caregiver Program in Canada

Employing foreign live-in caregivers when Canadian workers or permanent residents are not available, can help families care for children, the elderly or persons with disabilities.

Employers who want to hire live-in caregivers must apply to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada/Service Canada for a labour market opinion. A Labour Market Opinion assesses what impact hiring a foreign worker would have on Canada's labour market.

A foreign live-in caregiver who wants to work in Canada must have received a job offer from a Canadian employer and apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for a work permit. The caregiver's application must include proof that the employer received a positive Labour Market Opinion from Service Canada.

Live-in caregivers who want to extend their stay in Canada must apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada for an extension to their work permit. They can apply for a permanent resident visa if they worked in Canada for 24 months within a 36-month period.
It is important that you read the following pages which describe the conditions you must meet to hire a live-in caregiver and how to complete your application form. Applications that are filled incorrectly will delay processing times.

You must agree to the following conditions if you want to hire a live-in caregiver. He/she must:

* Work for you in a private home
* Live with you, the employer
* Have a private, furnished room within your home
* Be employed on a full-time basis
* Meet the requirements set by Citizenship and Immigration Canada for language, education and work skills necessary to function in the Canadian labour market.

A live-in caregiver cannot:

* Work for more than one employer at a time; and
* Work for a health agency or labour contractor, or in day care or foster care.

If you agree to all the conditions mentioned above, you can apply to Service Canada for a labour market opinion. The opinion will assess the impact hiring the live-in caregiver would have on Canadian jobs.