Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), people in Canada are allowed to bring foreign workers into the country to work as caregivers through special, separate immigration programs:

1. Home Child Care Provider Pilot Program & Home Support Worker Pilot Program (closed to new applicants)
2. The Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP) (closed to new applicants)
3. In-Home Caregiver Program
4. Interim Pathway for Caregivers (closed to new applicants)

These Programs are run by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). To be approved, both the employer and the caregiver must satisfy several criteria, as well as complete the application process. To get help completing the application process, ask a lawyer now.

1. Home Child Care Provider & Home Support Worker Programs

The following are two, 5-year caregiver immigration pilot programs caregivers had access to:

• Home Child Care Provider Pilot, and
• Home Support Worker Pilot.

These programs ended on June 17, 2024, however, IRCC will continue to process applications they received on or before this date. For more information, visit Canada.ca

New pilot programs to be announced

IRCC announced they will be launching new pilot programs that will provide home care workers with permanent residence (PR) on arrival in Canada. For more information and details on this announcement, visit Canada.ca

2. The Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)

The Live-in Caregiver Program is closed to new applicants unless he or she had already received a work permit under this program based on a labour market impact assessment submitted before December 2014.

3.  In-home Caregiver Program

According to Canada Immigration, families can hire a foreign In-Home Caregiver:

“to provide care, in a private residence, to children, seniors or persons with certified medical needs, when Canadians and permanent residents are not available.”

Foreign caregivers can be hired under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP), if, along with working in the private household where the care is being provided, they also:

• provide care on a full-time basis (minimum 30 hours per week)
• meet the requirements set Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC)/Service Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)

Difference between in-home caregiver and live-in caregiver

In-home caregiver: someone who works in a private residence.

Live-in caregiver: someone who lives in the private residence where they provide caregiver services.

4.  Interim Pathway for Caregivers

The Interim Pathway for Caregivers was a limited time pathway to permanent residence for qualifying in-home caregivers and their families. The Program ended on October 8, 2019, however, IRCC will continue to process applications that were made on or before that date.

Application process to bring a caregiver to Canada

Once the employer has found a suitable caregiver, there are a number of steps that must be completed in order for the caregiver to be allowed to come to Canada and begin their employment:

1.  There must be a contract between employer and caregiver.
2.  Employer submits an LMIA application to ESDC.
3.  A processing fee must be paid.
4.  Caregiver must obtain work permit.

More info

The application process and other requirements to bring a caregiver to Canada may be different depending on the Program. Visit Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for more information including:

• requirements to become a caregiver;
• requirements for employers to hire a caregiver; and
• how to apply for temporary residence through each program.

To find foreign consulates and embassies in your province, click here.

Get help

A criminal record will delay, and can even prevent you from getting your immigration status. To erase your criminal record, call toll-free 1-888-808-3628 or learn more at Pardon Partners. It’s easier than you think.

For legal advice and representation with your application, contact our preferred Immigration experts, Bright Immigration Consultants .

Immigration law in Canada is complex. Issues such as getting permanent residence or citizenship, sponsoring someone, and coming to Canada to study or work involve many steps and can be overwhelming. To get help, ask a lawyer now.

								
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