Temporary Foreign Workers: In-Home Caregivers

As an employer, you are responsible for finding a foreign in-home caregiver through advertisements, personal contacts or placement agencies. You then must go through the application process to hire them before they can start working for you.

Using a placement or recruitment agency

While many employers rely on recommendations from family and friends to find a caregiver, most families will benefit from a placement agency or recruitment service.  A placement agency finds candidates from all over the world and will typically screen their candidates to ensure they meet the requirements of the immigration or work permit program currently in place.  The agency will also review the candidates work and education history to ensure that they suggest the right caregiver for each employer. Employers will provide the placement agency with their specifications, needs and what they’re looking for in a caregiver, and the agency will sort through their pool to suggest candidates that fit the employers profile.  If you decide to use a placement agency, choose a reputable one. Neither ESDC nor Immigration Canada will recommend any specific placement agencies. 

Hiring a caregiver who is already in Canada

You can hire a caregiver who is already in Canada as long as she/he has a valid work permit. As an employer, you must apply for a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) before you can legally employ the caregiver.  The LMIA must be approved and the caregiver will then require to change her work permit to reflect the new employer by submitting a change of work permit request to IRCC.  It is illegal for the caregiver to begin working for an employer without the LMIA approval and her work permit which names the new employer. You cannot hire a caregiver on a trial basis to find out if they are suitable. It is a crime to employ a worker who is not authorized to work in Canada with a valid work permit.

Hiring a caregiver from outside of Canada

As of June 18, 2019, employers offering a job to a caregiver no longer require a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) approval. The foreign caregiver is required to submit an application for permanent residence and if eligible will be issued a work permit.  The work permit will be issued for a period not exceeding 36 months.  The caregiver must complete at least 24 months of full-time paid work experience as a caregiver in Canada. Upon completion of 24 months, the caregiver’s permanent resident application will finalize and a decision will be rendered.

Employers who wish to hire foreign caregivers must;

• provide a full-time job offer for either childcare, elderly care, or high medical needs, and
• demonstrate they have sufficient income to support the caregivers salary.

Caregivers who wish to apply must;

• Have at least a 1-year post-secondary education credential that is equivalent to at least a 1-year Canadian education credential, and
• Pass the minimum English test score required, and
• Be able to demonstrate that they can perform the duties of the job in Canada.

CALL US TODAY 1.888.808.7338

Our certified legal representatives can assist you with all of your immigration needs. Call us today for answers to any of your immigration questions or take our free online assessment to see if you qualify for any of the available Canada Immigration Programs.