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Caregiver

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is the Live-In Caregiver Program?
  2. What is a Live-In Caregiver?
  3. Why does this program exist?
  4. Why is there a live-in requirement?
  5. What steps must be taken to bring a caregiver to Canada?
  6. How can an employer access the Live-in Caregiver Program?
  7. How much does it cost to apply as a live-in Caregiver?
  8. What steps must an employer take to apply?
  9. What happens after an application is approved?
  10. Ontario Wage Rates and Room and Board Rates
1. What is the Live-in Caregiver Program?   Top  
A: The live-in caregiver program facilitates the entry to Canada of foreign caregivers.

 
2. What is a Live-in Caregiver?   Top  
A: A live-in caregiver is a person who is qualified to provide continuous, full-time, unsupervised care in a single private household for:
  • Children
  • Elderly
  • Persons who have disabilities

However, the program does not allow for a single caregiver to be shared between 2 or more households.

 
3. Why does this program exist?   Top  
A: The live-in caregiver program exists because:
  • There is a labour market need within Canada for live-in caregivers
  • There is a shortage of Canadians to fill these positions
4: Why is there a live-in requirement?   Top  
There is a requirement for the caregiver to live in the employer's home because there is a shortage of Canadians willing to provide live-in care work.

 
5. What steps must be taken to bring a caregiver to Canada?   Top  
The following table outlines the two general steps that must be taken in order to have a live-in caregiver come to Canada:
STEP ACTION
1 The employer must first apply to Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) for the job to be approved.
2 The caregiver must then apply to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) for a work permit in order to work in Canada.

 
6. How can an employer access the live-in caregiver program?   Top  
A: Employers are responsible for finding foreign live-in caregivers through their own efforts.

Once a foreign caregiver has been identified, the employer must file an Application For a Foreign Live-in Caregiver to Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC) so that the offer of employment can be assessed. Information regarding criteria against which an employer will be assessed is contained in the section entitled Role of HRDC.

 
7. How much does it cost to apply as a live-in Caregiver?   Top  
A: There is no fee to apply to HRDC to assess an application for a foreign live-in caregiver.

 
8. What steps must an employer take to apply?   Top  
A: The following table outlines the steps that an employer must follow in order to have a job offer approved by HRDC.
STEP

ACTION BY EMPLOYER
1 The employer must obtain an Application For a Foreign Live-in Caregiver from HRDC.
2 The employer must complete the application and submit it to the Human Resource Centre (HRC) serving the employer's area.
3 The employer should attach any additional information that will assist HRDC to assess the application, such as, an outline of specific efforts that have been made to recruit a Canadian or a foreign worker already in Canada.
 
9. What happens after an application is approved?   Top  
A: The following table describes the stages in the process after HRDC approves an Application For a Live-in Caregiver.
STEP

DESCRIPTION
1 HRDC sends a letter confirming the approval of the application to the employer.
2 HRDC sends notice of the approval to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) at the visa post where the caregiver will be applying for a work permit.
3 CIC issues a work permit if the foreign caregiver:
  • Is considered to be eligible for the program.
  • Meets all other Immigration requirements.

 
10. Ontario Wage Rates and Room and Board Rates   Top  
 
DESCRIPTION HOURLY RATE
GREATER TORONTO AREA (GTA) $9.00 per hour / Starting February 2007 $9.25 per hour
OUTSIDE GTA $9.00 per hour / Starting February 2007 $9.25 per hour
HOURS OF WORK 30 to 48 hours per week
OVER 44 HOURS PER WEEK Paid at time and a half
MAXIMUM ROOM AND BOARD $85.25 per week, $369.42 per month
 

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