What is the Live-in Caregiver Program?
The live-in caregiver program allows for an employer to hire a live-in caregiver from outside of Canada. A live-in caregiver is a person who is qualified to care for children, elderly people, and individuals with disabilities without supervision. They must also live in the home where they work. Both the caregiver and the employer have certain criteria they must meet.
Criteria For The Employer:
- The employer must have attempted to fill the position with someone who is already in Canada. Either a citizen, permanent resident or someone who is a foreign worker already in Canada.
- The employer must be able to pay the live-in caregiver
- The employer must provide the live-in caregiver with adequate living space
- The employer must make a job offer for caregiving duties for either: a child, elderly person, or individual with disabilities
- As of November 30, 2014, the employer must also apply for a LMIA
Criteria For The Live-In Caregiver:
- A live-in caregiver must have completed education equal to that of a Canadian post-secondary school diploma
- A live-in caregiver must have at least six months of full-time classroom training in caregiving, or one year of work experience as a caregiver or a similar job within the last three years
- The live in caregiver must also show that she/he was employed for at least six months with one employer
- The live-in caregiver must be able to speak, read, and understand English &/or French
- The live-in caregiver must pass the medical exam and security clearance
- The employer must also have a signed written employment contract with the employer from Canada.
Criteria For Employment Contract:
- Must be fair
- The contract must show all the conditions that need to be met
- Must include mandatory benefits the employer must pay (e.g. transportation from the live-in caregivers country to Canada, medical insurance coverage from arrival to when they are eligible for provincial/territorial health insurance, workplace safety insurance for the period of employment, all fees paid to the recruiter)
- Job duties
- Hours of work
- Wages
- House arrangements
- Holiday and sick leave
- Rules for the termination of employment
Applying for the position of a live-in caregiver program after November 30, 2014 means that you must apply for a regular work permit. Same applies if you are applying for a caregiver job but do not want to live-in.
There Are Two New Pathways To Permanent Residence For Caregivers:
- Caring for Children Pathway:
- can be live-in or not
- required minimum of 2 years experience in Canada as a home childcare provider with a work permit
- a one year completed Canadian post-secondary credential or equal
- language level of initial intermediate
2. Caring for Individuals with High Medical Needs Pathway:
- provide care for elderly or persons with disabilities
- can be at home or in health facility
- minimum of 2 years Canadian work experience as a registered nurse, registered psychiatric nurse, licensed practical nurse, nurse aide, orderly, patient service associate, home support worker or other related occupation with a work permit
- a one year completed Canadian post-secondary credential or equal
- language level of initial intermediate
With the new caregiver programs, there is a limit as to how many can will be accepted for permanent residency. In the past any live-in caregiver could after two years apply for permanent residency. The changes have made the way to permanent residency more difficult for some and easier for other who have all the qualifications. The point is to reduce the amount of live-in caregivers who just come, get permanent residency and then become a burden to Canada. Canada wants to make sure that the caregivers who stay have some education and language skill, enough to be able to stand on their own two feet.
Contact us today if you are looking at hiring a Live in Caregiver. Let us help you move forward. At Akrami & Associates, there is Always a Way!
