How Does Canadian Nanny Sponsorship Work?

Canada offers special immigration routes for people in specific occupations. This includes nannies and caregivers. Prospective nannies and caregivers who wish to come to Canada and the employers who have hired them can learn about the Caregiver Program Canada currently offers by using this guide.

Nanny sponsorship and Caregiver Sponsorship Canada programs were designed for foreign nannies and caregivers.

These programs allow special foreign workers who qualify as caregivers to come to Canada and work.

Some of these workers may also be eligible to apply for permanent residence and stay in Canada.

Foreign nannies can come to Canada and work under any of the following programs, provided they meet their minimum requirements.

• Home Child Care Provider Pilot Program and Home Support Worker Pilot Program
• Live-In Caretaker Program
• In-Home Caregiver Programs
• Interim Pathway for Caregivers

Prospective applicants should note that the Live-In Caregiver Program, In-Home Caregiver Program, and the Interim Pathway for Caregivers Program are currently closed for applicants.

Therefore, this guide will discuss the eligibility requirements and steps for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot Program and the Home Support Worker Pilot Program.

The Home Child Care Provider as well as the Home Support Worker Pilot Program provide an immigration pathway for foreign caregivers and nannies with the right skills and experience. The current eligibility requirements are as follows:

Caregiver and nanny applicants must meet one of the following education requirements:

• Completion of 1 year or more in a Canadian post-secondary education program.
• Completion of foreign education that is equivalent to the above requirement (This education must be acquired within the last five years. Applicants must also provide an Educational Credential Assessment (ECA) report.)

Applicants must possess recognized full-time Canadian work experience that qualifies under the program’s criteria.

Those applying through the Home Child Care Provider Pilot must meet the work duties criteria described under Home Child Care Providers described in the National Occupation Code – NOC TEER Code 44100.

Applicants applying through the Home Support Worker Pilot must meet the work duties criteria described under Home Support Workers described in NOC TEER Code 44101.

Candidates will be classified into one of two categories depending on the amount of work experience they possess.

Category A

Caregiver applicants who have less than 12 months of recognized Canadian work experience (as of April 30, 2023) by the time they submit their application for permanent residence will be sorted into Category A.

These candidates will receive an occupation-restricted work permit (OROWP) which they can use to obtain additional work experience within the next 36 months. Applicants can apply for permanent residence once they have gained 24 months of recognized Canadian work experience.

Category B

Applicants who have a minimum of 12 months of recognized Canadian work experience (as of April 30, 2023) by the time they submit their application for permanent residence will be sorted into Category B.

These applicants will be allowed to proceed with the next step in their immigration process once they demonstrate they have gained work experience in the last 36 months.

Category A applicants are also required to possess a valid job offer and demonstrate they possess the ability to perform their duties as a nanny or caregiver.

• Foreign caregivers and nannies who meet the eligibility requirements above can fill out their permanent resident applications and provide supporting documents.
• They will also be required to submit their work permit along with their application.
• Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will then contact applicants about any additional documents or information they need to provide before making their decision.

Prospective employers who wish to hire foreign workers for live-in caregiver jobs must complete a multi-step process. This includes:

• Ensuring the Caregiver Meets the Minimum Program Requirements
• Agreeing to Provide the Right Wages, Working Conditions, and Occupation Duties
• Completing Recruitment and Advertisement Requirements
• Completing a Labour Market Impact Assessment
• Post-LMIA Requirements

Employers must ensure their chosen work meets the minimum program requirements. These requirements are related to:

• English or French language proficiency
• Education, training, and experience
• Regulated occupation requirements
• Providing a record of employment
• Proof of an individual requiring care from a caregiver
• Proof of address
• Proof of financial ability to pay the caregiver
• Transportation and Housing

Employers must agree to pay the caregiver a fair wage based on the prevailing wage in their specific occupation and location. They must also meet certain workplace requirements safety, breaks, days off, and overtime pay.

Employers must demonstrate they attempted to recruit Canadian citizens and Canadian permanent residents to fill the role but were unable to find suitable candidates.

Employers must then submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application with supporting documents.

Successful employers will receive a positive LMIA letter. They can then send the caregiver a copy of this document and ask them to use it to apply for their work permit. The caregiver can then enter Canada and start work in their caregiver or nanny role.

Prospective caregivers, nannies, and those who wish to hire them should reach out to us for assistance. Our qualified team of Regulated Immigration Consultants is familiar with the caregiver and nanny sponsorship programs and can guide you through the process.