Live-in Caregiver Program

The Live-in Caregiver Program is a 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 at the prevailing market rate. A live-in caregiver is an individual who provides care for children, the elderly or people with disabilities independently in a private household.

Successful applicants receive a work permit allowing them to work in Canada as live-in caregivers. After two years of employment, which must be completed within three years of the caregiver's arrival in Canada, program participants can apply in Canada to become permanent residents.

There are four main requirements applicants have to meet to qualify under the Live-in Caregiver Program:

1. Successful completion of the equivalent of a Canadian high school education;

2. Six months of full-time training or 12 months of full-time paid work experience in a field related to the job the applicant is seeking as a live-in caregiver;

3. An ability to speak, read and understand either English or French so that the applicant can function independently in their employer’s home;

4. Work permit before entering Canada. You need the following documents to obtain the work permit:

1. 1. A positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from an employer in Canada
   2. A written contract with your future employer, signed by you and your employer (please see a Contract Template)

Live-in caregivers may have their family members accompany them to Canada, if the following criteria are met:

1. the live-in caregiver satisfies an officer that they have sufficient funds to care for and support the family member(s) in Canada;

2. the family member(s) are otherwise not inadmissible; and

3. they have permission to live in their employer’s home.

The Ministry of Labour has prepared a Bulletin for Live-in Caregivers which provides standards on pay, room and board, vacation and other useful information.