Apply–Live-in caregivers

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.

Follow these steps to apply:

1. Get a Labour Market Opinion (LMO) from your future employer

The first step is for your employer to send an application for an LMO to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada/Service Canada (HRSDC/SC). If all the HRSDC/SC LCP requirements are met, your employer will be issued a positive LMO.

The positive LMO confirms that:

there is a need for this job in Canada and the employer can proceed to hire a foreign worker to do it; and
the wages and working conditions offered by the employer meet provincial employment standards and are equivalent to the wages paid to Canadians in the same occupation.

HRSDC/SC will advise your employer to send you a copy of the positive LMO and the employment contract.

2. Sign a written contract with your future employer

You and your employer must sign a written employment contract.

Your employer will send you a copy of the employment contract and the positive LMO. You must submit the signed contract, together with the positive LMO issued to your employer, with your work permit application.

This must be the same employment contract submitted to HRSDC/SC by your employer, unless you provide an explanation of any changes (for example, a new start date).

The written employment contract will ensure there is a fair working arrangement between you and your employer. The employment contract must demonstrate that the LCP requirements are met by including a description of:

mandatory employer-paid benefits, including:
- transportation to Canada from your country of permanent residence or the country of habitual residence to the location of work in Canada
- medical insurance coverage provided from the date of your arrival until you are eligible for provincial health insurance
- workplace safety insurance coverage for the duration of employment
- all recruitment fees, including any amount payable to a third-party recruiter or agents hired by the employer that would otherwise have been charged to you
job duties
hours of work
wages
accommodation arrangements (including room and board)
holiday and sick leave entitlements
termination and resignation terms

A contract template along with the guide for completion is provided below. Your contract does not have to look exactly like this, but it must contain all the information and clauses indicated as mandatory.

The use of an alternative contract format may delay the processing of the LMO application as HRSDC/ and SC officers will need to determine if the contract complies with LCP requirements.

Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP): Contract Template
Guide for Completion of Employment Contract Template

Note: the contract template is different for the province of Quebec and is available on the ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles (Quebec Immigration) website.

3. Apply for a work permit

1. Determine how you will apply

There are two ways you can apply:

Apply online

To apply online you must have access to a scanner or camera to create electronic copies of your documents for uploading and have a valid credit card for payment. Determine your eligibility and apply online.

Apply on paper

Please follow steps 2 to 4 below.

2. Get the application package

To obtain the application package, visit the website of the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your area. The application package and instructions are specific to each country and have specific information for those applicants. The requirements and documents may be different depending on the country you are applying from.

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.

Read the instructions on the application form and be sure to provide the required documents. The application package tells you which documents you need to include. If information or documents are missing, your application may be delayed.

Some of the documents you will need to provide with your application include:

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 for a work permit.
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 package. The documents required may be different depending on the country you apply from.

3. Pay your application fees

The fee for a live-in caregiver work permit is CAN$150. You must also get the necessary receipt.

You should follow the instructions in the application package and on the website of the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your area. The instructions in the application package will tell you how and where to pay.

4. Submit your application

You will find more information on how to apply for a live-in caregiver work permit from the Canadian embassy, high commission or consulate responsible for your area.

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 four years and three months. You must renew your work permit before it expires.

There will also be costs for a medical examination and a passport to 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.

Travel documents

Most countries require you to have a passport before coming to work in Canada as a live-in caregiver.

If you are a citizen or a permanent resident of the United States, Saint-Pierre and 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.

To find out if you need a temporary resident visa, see the list of countries whose citizens need a visa to come to Canada. 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).