Changes in the Live-In Caregiver Program

What is a Live-In Caregiver?

If you have fulfilled your qualifications and are allowed to provide care to children, people with disabilities or for the elderly without supervision, you can be allowed to pursue a career as a live-in caregiver within Canada. Prior to the changes made in November of 2014, you could only apply for permanent residency if you lived in the same residence as your employer.

Applying for the Live-In Caregiver Program

In order to apply to join the live-in caregiver program, you need to take the following steps:

1. Your future employer must send you a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA)
2. Your future employer must send you a written contract and it must be signed by the employer and by you.
3. Proof that you have successfully completed the equivalent of a Canadian secondary school education.
4. You must have at least 6 months of training as a caregiver or at least one year of paid work experience as a caregiver in the previous 3 years
5. You must be fluent in either English or in French
6. You must have a valid work permit before entering Canada

After applying, you may have an interview with an officer from immigration who will make sure that you possess all the requirements needed to work as a live-in caregiver. You may also be asked to have background checks and medical tests done.

Changes to the Live-In Caregiver Program

In November 2014, changes were made to the caregiver program that allows live-in caregivers to pursue permanent residence with two new pathways. These pathways are:

• Caring for Children: This pathway is available to those who work as caregivers for children regardless of whether or not they live in the same residence as the children.

• Eligibility

• You need to have Canadian work experience of at least as a home childcare giver and have a valid work permit
• Required education and language skills

• Caring for People with High Medical Needs: This pathway is available to those who work as caregivers to people with disabilities or for the elderly in their homes or in health care facilities.

• Eligibility:

• You need to have at least two years work experience as a health care provider e.g. nurse aide, orderly etc. with a valid work permit
• Required education and language skills

For those who work in these two areas, the following is now possible:

• To qualify for permanent residence, it is no longer necessary to live in the home of the employer
• You work permit must be valid for at least 2 years.
• It is important that you do not have a problem with the language barrier and that you possess the necessary education needed.

Apart from these two pathways, caregivers can also, still, pursue permanent residency via the Caregiver Live-In Program according to which the following individuals can apply for permanent residency:

• Those who work as live-in caregivers within Canada
• Those who possess the qualifications and have applied for work permits as live in caregivers within Canada
• Those who applied before November 2014 as a live in caregiver and have a positive Labour Market Impact Assessment
• Those who have worked as Live-In caregivers and have complete their work requirement

Help is Always Available!

We understand that it may be difficult navigating the legal system especially when changes can occur suddenly. So if you still have questions on how to proceed, we can help! At Akrami & Associates, we have experienced immigration representatives that will guide you through the whole process and help you attain the result you desire.