Who Can Apply to be a Live-In Caregiver?
Canada’s Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP) is designed for foreign nationals who wish to be employed by a Canadian citizen as a caretaker or nanny for their children, elderly individuals, or people with disabilities within the home. This program provides a direct pathway to permanent residence. After gaining two years of experience with an LCP work permit, foreign nationals can apply for permanent residence.
Eligibility for the Live-In Caregiver Program
To be eligible for the Live-In Caregiver Program, applicants must:
– Have a valid work permit, have applied to extend their work permit, or have applied to restore their status as a worker in Canada.
– Possess work experience in Canada as either a Home Child Care Provider or a Home Support Worker.
– Have at least one year of full-time work experience since November 30, 2014. This experience can be cumulative rather than continuous but cannot include work experience obtained while studying.
– Be employed in a job that matches the National Occupational Classification (NOC) code’s listed duties.
– Have language skills equivalent to Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 or NCLC (French) 5 in all four areas: reading, writing, speaking, and listening.
– Have a minimum Canadian high school diploma or an equivalent foreign diploma, certificate, or credential.
Rules to Follow When Working in the LCP
While working as a Live-In Caregiver, foreign nationals must adhere to the following rules:
– Provide at least 30 hours of full-time care per week to children under 18 years of age, a person with disabilities, or an elderly person in the home.
– Live and work professionally in the home without supervision or help.
– Meet all requirements set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC), including:
– Demonstrating fluency levels to communicate and live independently in an unsupervised environment.
– Receiving full-time training for at least six months, or having worked for at least one year as a full-time caregiver or in a related occupation within the last three years.
How to Apply for the Live-In Caregiver Program
The Live-In Caregiver Program is currently closed to new applicants. If you do not already have an LCP work permit and wish to work as a caregiver in Canada, you must apply for a regular work permit.
You can only hire a caregiver through this program if you have:
– Found a caregiver who already has a work permit in the Live-In Caregiver Program and is looking for a new employer.
– Been approved for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) that shows the caregiver has agreed to live in your home.
Applying for Permanent Residence as a Live-In Caregiver
You may be eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada under the Live-In Caregiver Program if you meet the following requirements:
– Have worked for at least two years of authorized full-time live-in employment in Canada, or
– Have worked 3,900 hours of authorized full-time live-in employment, including up to 390 hours of overtime. This experience must be acquired within four years of your date of arrival.
Your application may be affected if:
– You, your spouse or common-law partner, or any of your family members have a criminal record, a serious medical problem, or pose a security risk.
– You did not provide truthful information to IRCC.
Other Options for Becoming a Caregiver in Canada
Home Child Care Provider Pilot
Home child care providers assist busy parents by looking after children and may also help with household duties. Care can be provided either in the employee’s home or the employer’s home.
This pilot is open to applicants interested in roles such as:
– Babysitter
– Au pair
– Live-in child caregiver
– Private home child caregiver
– Nanny
– Parent’s helper
– Foster parent
– Child caregiver in a public setting such as a gym or shopping centre
Home Support Worker Provider Pilot
Home support worker providers assist senior citizens, people with disabilities, and individuals undergoing rehabilitation. Responsibilities include preparing meals, feeding, bathing, changing dressings, administering medications, and performing routine housekeeping duties.
This pilot is open to applicants interested in roles such as:
– At-home attendant for persons with disabilities
– Family caregiver
– Home support worker
– Housekeeper
– Live-in caregiver for seniors
– Personal aide (home support)
– Personal care attendant (home care)
– Respite worker (home support)
– Doula
– Home visitor (infant care)
Home Child Care Provider Pilot
Who Can Apply for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot?
The Home Child Care Provider Pilot is a five-year pilot program that allows qualified caregivers and their family members to come to Canada with the goal of becoming permanent residents.
If you have been offered a job in Canada as a caregiver or have experience working in Canada as a caregiver, you may be able to apply for permanent residence through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot. Check the requirements to see if you are eligible.
**NOC 4411 – Home Child Care Provider**
Eligibility Requirements for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot
You will be eligible to apply for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot if you have:
– Enough work experience
– The required language level
– The necessary education credentials
– Admissibility to Canada
– A plan to live outside the province of Quebec
**Work Experience Requirement**
You must have at least 24 months of full-time work experience in Canada in the 36 months before you apply.
Depending on which pilot you apply for, your work experience must be in one of these National Occupational Classification (NOC) jobs:
– Home Child Care Provider (NOC 4411):
– You must care for children under the age of 18 in your own home or in your employer’s home.
– You don’t need to live in your employer’s home to qualify.
– Experience as a foster parent doesn’t count.
Language Level Requirement
You need to take a language test to prove you meet the minimum language skills.
To measure your English or French skills, we use:
– Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English
– Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for French
The minimum language skill is CLB 5 in English or NLCL 5 in French for all four language skills:
– Writing
– Reading
– Listening
– Speaking
Education Requirement
You must have a completed post-secondary education credential of at least one year in Canada. If you do not have a Canadian education credential, you need to get your foreign education credential assessed to show that it is equivalent to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year.
How to Apply for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot
The application process for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot varies depending on your situation and the amount of qualifying work experience you have. Choose the category that fits your situation to find out how to apply:
– No Qualifying Work Experience: You have never worked full-time in Canada as a caregiver.
– Less Than 24 Months but Some Experience:** You are working or have worked full-time as a caregiver in Canada but do not have 24 months of experience yet.
– At Least 24 Months of Qualifying Work: In the last 36 months, you have worked full-time as a caregiver in Canada for a total of at least 24 months.
Home Support Worker Pilot
Who Can Apply for the Home Support Worker Pilot?
The Home Support Worker Pilot is a five-year pilot program that allows qualified caregivers and their family members to come to Canada with the goal of becoming permanent residents.
If you have been offered a job in Canada as a caregiver or have experience working in Canada as a caregiver, you may be able to apply for permanent residence through the Home Support Worker Pilot. Check the requirements to see if you are eligible.
NOC 4412 – Home Support Worker
Eligibility Requirements for the Home Support Worker Pilot
You will be eligible to apply for the Home Support Worker Pilot if you have:
– Enough work experience
– The required language level
– The necessary education credentials
– Admissibility to Canada
– A plan to live outside the province of Quebec
Work Experience Requirement
You must have at least 24 months of full-time work experience in Canada in the 36 months before you apply.
Depending on which pilot you apply for, your work experience must be in one of these National Occupational Classification (NOC) jobs:
– **Home Child Care Provider (NOC 4411):**
– You must care for children under the age of 18 in your own home or in your employer’s home.
– You don’t need to live in your employer’s home to qualify.
– Experience as a foster parent doesn’t count.
Language Level Requirement
You need to take a language test to prove you meet the minimum language skills.
To measure your English or French skills, we use:
– Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) for English
– Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadien (NCLC) for French
The minimum language skill is CLB 5 in English or NLCL 5 in French for all four language skills:
– Writing
– Reading
– Listening
– Speaking
Education Requirement
You must have a completed post-secondary education credential of at least one year in Canada. If you do not have a Canadian education credential, you need to get your foreign education credential assessed to show that it is equivalent to a completed Canadian post-secondary education credential of at least one year.
How to Apply for the Home Support Worker Pilot
The application process for the Home Support Worker Pilot varies depending on your situation and the amount of qualifying work experience you have. Choose the category that fits your situation to find out how to apply:
**No Qualifying Work Experience:** You have never worked full-time in Canada as a caregiver.
– **Less Than 24 Months but Some Experience:** You are working or have worked full-time as a caregiver in Canada but do not have 24 months of experience yet.
– **At Least 24 Months of Qualifying Work:** In the last 36 months, you have worked full-time as a caregiver in Canada for a total of at least 24 months.
Why Seek Professional Immigration Help?
The LCP application process can be very complex, time-consuming, and difficult. It is essential to get professional immigration help if you are considering applying for Canadian visas. The last thing you want is to be told your application is refused after months (or sometimes years) of waiting.
Are You Interested in Immigrating to Canada as a Caregiver?
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