The Live-In Caregiver Program: Extending your stay

You are responsible for making sure your live-in caregiver work permit is renewed before the expiry date. You are also eligible to become a permanent resident of Canada after you have worked two years as a live-in caregiver within three years of your date of arrival.

Your employment situation may change. You might change your job, quit or lose your job.

Learn about:

• Renewing your work permit
• Changing jobs
• Quitting your job
• Losing your job
• Becoming a permanent resident of Canada
• Leaving Canada (permanently or for vacation)

Renewing your work permit

The work permit you receive when you enter Canada may allow you to work in Canada for up to three years plus three months. The date when your work permit will expire is on the work permit. You cannot work legally in Canada past that date. You must renew it before the date it expires.

1. Obtain an application kit.

You can download and print the forms you need to renew your live-in caregiver work permit under Application forms and guides in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page.

You can also ask for an application to be mailed to you by contacting the Call Centre (see Contact Us at the top of this page).

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 renew your live-in caregiver work permit.

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. If information or documents are missing, your application may be delayed.

Include the following documents with your application:

• a letter from your employer stating your job as a live-in caregiver is being offered again and for how long; and
• a signed contract between you and your employer.

4. Pay the fee and get the necessary receipt.

You can pay the fee at most banks in Canada.

You can also pay online through Pay my application fees in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page. Note that some credit cards issued outside of North America are not compatible with the online payment system.

When you pay the fee at a bank, you must obtain the original receipt of payment, called IMM 5401, and send it with your application. To get the receipt,

• print it from Pay my application fees in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page

or

• contact the Call Centre (see Contact Us at the top of this page).

5. Mail in your application with the required documents.

The mailing instructions are in your application kit.

You can only work for the employer whose name is on your work permit. But you can change jobs. Find information about changing jobs below on this page.

If you are looking for work and your work permit is about to expire, or if you are changing jobs and your new future employer has not yet received a confirmation letter from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC)-Service Canada, send your application to change the conditions of your work permit and a letter of explanation to the Case Processing Centre, Unit 202, Vegreville, Alberta, T9C 1X5, at least 30 days before the expiry date of your work permit.

The confirmation letter from HRSDC-Service Canada confirms that there is a need for this job and that there is no Canadian worker to fill the job. The letter also confirms that the wages and working conditions offered by your employer meet provincial employment standards and are equivalent to those wages paid to Canadians in the same occupation.

In your application to change the conditions of your work permit, be sure to include your file number, full name and date of birth, and keep a copy of your entire application. Do not allow your work permit to expire, even for one day. It is your responsibility to keep your work permit valid.

Changing jobs

You can change employers for personal or other reasons. Your HRSDC-Service Canada centre may have information about available live-in caregiver positions. You will not be deported for looking for another place to work.

In this section, read about:

• the work permit for your new job
• the contract for your new job.

The work permit for your new job

You can only work for the employer named on your permit. You must get a new work permit before you begin working for someone else. You cannot even work for someone else just to try things out, without a valid work permit. Your permit to work in Canada could be cancelled if you work for anyone other than the person named on your work permit. Read about Applying for a work permit under Working in Canada on the left-hand side of this page.

Your future new employer must get a job confirmation letter from HRSDC-Service Canada before he or she can hire you. Your future employer must give you a copy of the confirmation letter and you must include that copy of the confirmation letter with your application for a new work permit.

If your work permit is about to expire and your future new employer has not received a job confirmation letter from HRSDC-Service Canada, send your application to renew your work permit and a letter of explanation to the Case Processing Centre, Unit 202, Vegreville, Alberta, T9C 1X5, at least 30 days before the expiry date of your work permit. Do not let your work permit expire.

The contract for your new job

You will need a new contract with your new employer.

Before you leave your present job, get a record of employment (ROE) from your employer. Only your employer can get and complete this document. See instructions for your employer in Information for Canadian Employers on the right-hand side of this page. The ROE shows how many weeks you have worked and how much you have earned. Keep your ROE in a safe place. It is your work record and can serve as proof that you have worked the necessary time to apply for permanent resident status. Your employer cannot refuse to give you an ROE. If you have difficulty getting your ROE, contact your local HRSDC-Service Canada centre and ask officials to contact your employer.

Quitting your job

You will improve your chances of getting another job if you have worked in one job for a fairly long time. Before quitting your job (unless there are problems of abuse), you should try to solve your work problems by talking about them with your employer. You and your employer can revise your contract once in a while to be sure it works for both of you.

Talk with your employer before taking any action to quit your job. If you decide to quit, give your employer enough time to find a replacement for you.

Check your contract to find out how much time you have agreed to give your employer. However, if you are in a situation where there is abuse, you should leave right away.

Before you leave your present job, your employer must give you an ROE.

Any live-in caregiver who decides to live outside the home of the person(s) they are hired to care for, or who accepts any other type of employment without a valid work permit, can be disqualified from the program.

Losing your job

If you lose your job and need to apply for Employment Insurance (EI) benefits, contact the HRSDC-Service Canada centre nearest you.

You will need your ROE to collect these benefits. If you have not yet received your ROE, you can still apply for EI.

You will be expected to find a new employer as soon as possible. Periods of unemployment will delay the date on which you can apply for permanent resident status. You must complete two full years of full-time work within three years of your arrival in Canada to be eligible for permanent resident status.

Becoming a permanent resident of Canada

You can apply to become a permanent resident of Canada as a live-in caregiver if you meet the requirements. In this section, read about:

• an open work permit
• applying for your family at the same time
• requirements to become a permanent resident
• what can affect your application
• permanent residence in Quebec

Open work permit

You can apply for an open work permit at the same time that you apply for permanent resident status. An open work permit allows you to take any job you wish.

Applying for your family at the same time

You must include all your family members in your application for permanent resident status, even if they do not want to come to Canada with you.

You can include your family members in your application for permanent resident status. You and your family members can get permanent resident status at the same time.

Your family members abroad will go through the process of permanent resident status at their nearest 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.

All your family members must first pass medical and criminal screening before you can receive permanent resident status. For more information, see Medical exams and security screening in the I Need To… section on the right-hand side of this page. When you receive your permanent resident status, your family members will receive immigrant visas from the visa office in their home country.

Requirements to become a permanent resident

You can become a permanent resident of Canada if you have completed at least two years of employment as a live-in caregiver:

• The two years must be within three years of the date you arrived in Canada. You can use an ROE or letter from your employer(s) confirming the period of time that you have worked and either a statement of earnings or T4 slips, as proof of your employment.
• The two years do not include any extended time outside Canada. For example, if you leave Canada on vacation for three months, that period does not count in the two-year requirement. If you work for your employer outside Canada, for example, on a family vacation, this also will not count in the two-year requirement.

You need to complete an application for permanent resident status. There is more information about being a permanent resident in the Related Links section at the bottom of this page or you can contact the Call Centre (see Contact Us at the top of this page).

What can affect your application

• Your application is affected if you, your spouse or common-law partner, or any of your family members have a criminal record or a serious medical problem.
• Your application can be cancelled if you did not provide truthful information about education, training or experience to the visa officer when you first applied under the Live-In Caregiver Program.

What cannot affect your application

• Your application is not affected by your financial situation, skills upgrading in Canada, volunteer work, marital status or the number of family members you have in your home country.

Permanent residence in Quebec

If you are a live-in caregiver working in Quebec, the province will also assess your application. The province will look for additional information, including your knowledge of French. For more information on permanent residence in Quebec, visit the website of the ministère de l’Immigration et des Communautés culturelles (Quebec Immigration).

Leaving Canada (permanently or for vacation)

If you go away on a long vacation, you may need to reapply for a temporary resident visa before returning to Canada. Before traveling, you should make sure you know about any different requirements that apply in the country you are visiting. Contact the Call Centre (see Contact Us at the top of this page) for more information.

If you leave Canada for more than one year or if your work permit has expired, you will have to reapply to the overseas visa office to return to Canada under the Live-in Caregiver Program. 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.

You can leave the program and return permanently to your home country at any time. However, you should give adequate notice to your employer.

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Related Links

• Permanent resident
• Hiring a live-in caregiver