Live-In Caregiver program
If you are interested in working in Canada as a nanny, caregiver or au pair, the Live-in Caregiver Program may be suitable for you.
Live-in caregivers are individuals who are qualified to provide care for children, elderly persons or persons with disabilities in private homes without supervision. Live-in caregivers must live in the private home where they work in Canada.
There are four main requirements you must meet to qualify under the Live-in Caregiver Program:
- You must have successfully completed the equivalent of a Canadian high school education.
- You must have six months of full-time training in a classroom setting or twelve months of full-time paid employment, including at least six months of continuous employment, within the past 3 years, with one employer in a field or occupation related to the job you are seeking as a live-in caregiver.
- You must be able to speak, read and understand either English or French at a level that allows you to function independently in a home setting.
- You must have a written employment contract between you and your future employer. The contract defines your job duties, hours of work, salary and benefits.
Obtaining an offer of employment in Canada
In order to work in Canada as a live-in caregiver, you must first locate a prospective employer in Canada. The Visa Section cannot assist you in locating an employer in Canada. You are not required to use a placement agency for the purpose of locating an employer.
Once you have located a prospective employer in Canada who wishes to employ a live-in caregiver, your employer must send a request to Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) /Service Canada.
Then, HRSDC/Service Canada provides a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) to the employer and Citizenship and Immigration Canada. The LMO is an assessment of the likely impact that the hiring of the foreign worker may have on the Canadian labour market. Your employer will send a copy of the LMO to you.
You both must then sign an employer–employee contract that meets the labour standards and working conditions in the province where you will be working.
Applying for a Work Permit
Once you have obtained a signed contract and a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO), your next step is for you to apply for a Work Permit at this Visa Section. Click here for details on how to apply for a Work Permit.
Learn About:
More information for both employers and applicants on Working in Canada and the Live-In Caregiver Program is available on the Citizenship and Immigration Canada website.
