Citizenship & Immigration Canada established the Live-In Caregiver program in 1992 in order to meet the labour shortage, giving qualified foreign caregivers the opportunity to work and eventually apply for permanent residence within Canada.

Live-In Caregivers are individuals who are qualified to provide care for children, elderly persons or persons with disabilities in private homes without supervision.

Families who wish to participate in this program and hire a foreign live-in caregiver must apply to the Human Resources and Social Development of Canada (HRSDC) for authorization.

To hire a live-in caregiver, you must:

• have made sufficient effort to first fill your position with a Canadian, a permanent resident, or a foreign worker already in Canada;
• have sufficient income to pay a live-in caregiver;
• provide acceptable accommodation in your home;
• make a job offer that has primary caregiving duties for a child or an elderly or disabled person;
• submit an application for a Labour Market Opinion;

After receiving authorization from HRSDC your caregiver must submit an application for a temporary work permit. Your caregiver will need to submit proof of education, and work experience among other things.

This process may take anywhere between one (1) month and two (2) years depending on your caregivers current country of residence. Visa officers abroad will take their time to verify all documents submitted supporting the application, including but not limited to your caregivers criminal history, and medical examination.

You, the employer, must:

• Pay for the caregiver's health insurance at no cost to the caregiver until he/she becomes eligible for provincial health insurance.
Enroll the live-in caregiver in provincial workplace safety insurance (also known as workers' compensation) or equivalent insurance.
• Pay for the services, fees and costs of recruiting or third party agency if you are using one for recruiting the caregiver.
• Pay for transportation costs for the caregiver to travel from the caregiver's country of permanent residence to the location of work in Canada.

As an employer, you must also:

• Keep records of the number of regular and overtime hours the live-in caregiver has worked for you on a weekly/monthly basis. The caregiver will need this information for their application for permanent residence.
Review and adjust the foreign caregiver's wages to ensure they meet or exceed the requirements set by HRSDC.
• Ensure that you are not employing a foreign national other than in a capacity they are authorized to work.
• Ensure that you are not employing a live-in caregiver without a valid work permit identifying you specifically as the employer.

We strongly recommend that you seek the professional advice of an immigration specialist that specializes in the Live-In Caregiver program before beginning the overseas process.

For more information on hiring a live-in caregiver from overseas or if you wish to retain the services of an immigration specialist, you may contact Aptus Immigration by calling 1-888-896-2669 ext. 3.