The  Live-in-Caregiver Program is a special program whose objective is to bring workers to Canada to do live-in work as caregivers when there are not enough Canadians to fill the available positions, foreign Live-in-caregivers may be given a Work Permit to provide child care, senior home support care, or care of the disabled, in a private home in which they must reside. At the end of two years of full-time employment under the Program, they may apply for Permanent Residence from inside of Canada.

Requirements

There are three main requirements a foreign caregiver must satisfy to qualify under the special Live-in Caregiver Program:

a.                   The equivalent of a Canadian high school education, to ensure that participants who apply for permanent residence after two years will be able to succeed in the general labor market, as the majority of new jobs in Canada require at least a high school education.

b.                   Six months of full-time training or 12 months of experience in paid employment in a field or occupation related to the job you are seeking as a live-in caregiver. The one year of full-time paid employment, including at least six months of continuous employment with one employer in the relevant  field or occupation, must have been obtained within the three years immediately prior to the day on which the application is submitted for a work permit.

c.                   An ability to speak, read and understand either English or French at a level to allow the Caregiver to  function independently and unsupervised in a home setting, to contact emergency services if required and to understand labels on medication.

One Year Renewable Work Permit

A work permit will be granted for one year from a Canadian visa office allowing the foreign caregiver to work in Canada as a live-in caregiver. The Work Permit must be renewed before it expires. The Work Permit authorizes the foreign caregiver to work only for the employer named on the work permit. However, this does not mean you cannot change employers for personal or other reasons. A caregiver is free to change employers in Canada provided a new Work Permit is issued. A caregiver can neither accept employment except as a live-in caregiver nor work for a new employer, even for a "trial period," until a new work permit is issued.

The initial employment authorization is issued for one year, for a specific job and a specific employer. The total duration of the employment authorization should not exceed three years. Although the Caregiver is only required to complete two years of full-time employment before they can be consider for permanent residence. The three-year period gives them flexibility to compensate for periods of unemployment, illness, vacation or maternity leave.

Not Accompanied by Dependants

It is expected that Live-in-Caregivers will not be accompanied by dependants. It is possible that an employer who is aware of the Caregiver's particular circumstances will agree to a dependant accompanying the Caregiver and living in the employer's home. The policy of Canadian Immigration, however, is that Visitor Visas will not be issued to the dependant's of the Caregiver during the two-year period of employment.      

Studying while Employed as a Caregiver

Live-in-Caregivers who wish to pursue an academic or professional course that is longer than six months will also require a  Study Permit. Live-in caregivers can enroll in non-credit, special interest studies, which are exempt from study permits. A Study Permit may be granted to Live-in-Caregivers provided attendance at courses is incidental to the main purpose of the applicant's presence in Canada, which is to work as a Live-in-Caregiver.

Medical Coverage

Although Canada's national health insurance system provides that Canadian residents do not have to pay the cost of certain hospital and medical expenses, provincial medical coverage varies. Depending on the province, a foreign caregiver or Canadian employer may be required to pay to be covered by the provincial health or medical insurance plan.

Permanent Residence