Citizenship and Immigration Canada
www.cic.gc.ca
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The Live-In Caregiver Program: How to apply
- Your employer requests a job confirmation letter from an HRSDC-Service Canada centre
- How to apply for a work permit
- Determine if you need a passport and a temporary resident visa
Your employer requests a job confirmation letter from an HRSDC– Service Canada centre
The first step in the Live-In Caregiver Program is for the person who wishes to employ a live-in caregiver to send a request to Human Resources and Social Development Canada-Service Canada (HRSDC-Service Canada).
HRSDC-Service Canada will check to see that no Canadian citizen or permanent resident in Canada is qualified and available to take the job of live-in caregiver with the future employer. Once this is confirmed, HRSDC-Service Canada will approve the job offer and send the future employer a confirmation letter. The letter confirms that there is a need for this job in Canada and that the employer can proceed to hire a foreign worker to do this job. The letter also confirms that the wages and working conditions offered by the prospective employer meet provincial employment standards and are equivalent to those wages paid to Canadians in the same occupation.
HRSDC-Service Canada will tell your employer to send a copy of the confirmation letter to you. You both must also sign an employer–employee contract that meets the labour standards and working conditions in the province where you will be working. The next step is for you to apply for a work permit.
How to apply for a work permit
- Obtain an application kit.
- Read the guide.
- Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
- Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
- Mail the application form and documents.
1. Obtain an application kit.
The work permit application kit for live-in caregivers applying from abroad is available on embassy websites. While the application is the same application as for a work permit, the kit and instructions are specific to each country and have specific information for those applicants. The requirements and documents may be different depending on what country you are applying from.
Contact the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your area for further information.
2. Read the guide.
Read the guide carefully before you complete the application form. The fee for processing your form is not refundable, so make sure you are eligible to get a live-in caregiver’s work permit before you apply.
3. Complete the application form and attach the necessary documents.
The application form contains instructions. Read those instructions, and be sure to provide the required documents. The application kit tells you what documents you need to include. If information or documents are missing, your application may be delayed.
These are some of the documents that you will need with your application:
- Your diplomas, school certificates or transcripts listing the courses you have taken. You could be disqualified from the program if you are not honest about your education, training and experience.
- Information about your marital status and the number of children you have. This information will not affect the outcome of your application.
- Fee payment in an acceptable format. Verify acceptable methods of payment with the visa office responsible for your area.
- Read about the other requirements in your application kit. The documents required may be different depending on the country you apply from.
4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.
The fee is C$150.
You should follow the instructions in the application kit and on the website of the Canadian embassy or consular mission responsible for your area. The consular mission will tell you how and where to pay.
5. Mail the application form and documents.
You will find more information on how to apply for a live-in caregiver work permit from the Canadian embassy, consular mission or visa office.
For a list of visa offices, go to Find a CIC office in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.
Your live-in caregiver work permit allows you to work in Canada as a live-in caregiver. The work permit may be valid for up to three years plus three months. You must renew it before it expires. For information on renewing the work permit, see Extending your stay in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
There will also be costs for a medical examination, passport and travel. You are responsible for these costs unless your employer offers to pay them.
All live-in caregivers must pass a medical examination before being approved to enter Canada and receive their work permit. When you later apply for permanent residence, you and all your family members must pass a medical examination, whether or not your family members accompany you, the live-in caregiver, to Canada.
For more information about medical examinations, see Have a Medical Exam or Criminal Check Done in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.
Determine if you need a passport and a temporary resident visa
If you are a citizen or permanent resident of the United States, Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon or Greenland, you do not need a passport or a temporary resident visa to enter Canada. However, you must provide proof of citizenship or permanent residence, such as a national identity card or an alien registration card.
If you come from any other country, you will need a passport. You may also need a temporary resident visa. Canada requires temporary resident visas for citizens of some countries and territories. Requirements for travel documents may be different depending on your country. Before travelling, you should check with your country’s government for this information.
If you need a temporary resident visa as well as a work permit, the visa officer will issue them at the same time (if your application is approved). For a list of countries whose citizens need a visa to come to Canada, see Do you need a visa? in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page.
Get more information on the temporary resident visa in Visit on the left-hand side of this page.
