Moving to Canada as a nanny is becoming increasingly popular, and is an excellent life choice for many people. However, Canadian immigration is a complicated legal process, especially if you want to immigrate using a work visa. Canada does offer attractive opportunities for those who plan to live and work in the country using a work visa.
Is There A Nanny Visa?
No, there is no specific nanny visa. However, there are programs that Canada offers that can lead to permanent residency, or if you are not qualified for one of those streams, you can work in Canada temporarily.
The National Occupation Classification (NOC) code for the occupation of Home Child Caregiver is 3112/31102.
For a foreign worker who wants to immigrate to Canada as a nanny, the government offers the chance to become a permanent resident after he or she has worked as a caregiver for two years. There are four possible immigration streams for caregivers. Those streams include:
- Live-In Caregiver Program (currently closed to new applicants)
- Some Child Care Provider Pilot
- Home Support Worker Pilot
- Temporary Work Visa
Related Article: What You Need To Know About Sponsoring a Nanny to Canada
Live-In Caregiver Program (LCP)
Anyone looking to immigrate to Canada as a nanny must fill out the application form for a work permit visa as a live-in caregiver. The government created a live-in caregiver program specifically to help workers from outside the country to work as caregivers to address the shortage of domestic help in the country.
This same program allows caregivers and nannies to apply for residency after two years of working as a caregiver. As the Canadian government has stopped accepting new applicants, you can now only apply to be a permanent resident if you have worked in Canada for at least two years with an LCP work permit or if your first LCP work permit was granted using an LMIA submitted on or before November 30, 2014.
Eligibility
If you are already part of the Live-in Caregiver Program, you can continue to work as a nanny under this program. You’ll need a new work permit, but the other requirements as outlined by Citizenship and Immigration Canada remain the same:
- an education equivalent to a Canadian secondary school diploma
- a minimum of either of the following: six months of full-time classroom training in caregiving, or a year of work experience as a caregiver or in a related job within the last three years (including at least six months of ongoing work with one employer)
- the ability to speak, read and understand one of Canada’s official languages (English or French)
- medical, security, and criminal clearances
- a signed written employment contract from a Canadian employer
How to Apply
Here are the steps to sponsoring a caregiver under the Live-In Caregiver Program:
Step 1: Find a caregiver – As an employer, you are responsible for finding a foreign caregiver independently.
Step 2: Write your employment contract – You and the caregiver are legally required to sign a written employment contract. You must submit the signed contract with your application for a LMIA.
Step 3: You will need to get a positive LMIA before a live-in caregiver can work for you. The assessment verifies that:
- there is a need for a foreign worker
- no Canadians are available to do the job
Step 4: Make sure the caregiver gets a valid work permit – Once you get a positive LMIA, the caregiver must apply for a new work permit within 6 months. If they are eligible, they will receive a work permit that lists you as their employer. This process may take several months.
Home Child Care Provider Pilot and Home Support Worker Pilot
Both programs are 5-year programs that allow for caregivers and their family members to immigrate to Canada with the intent of becoming permanent residents. You can qualify for these streams if you have a job offer in Canada as a caregiver or you have experience working in Canada as a caregiver.
Eligibility
You may be eligible to apply for the Home Child Care Provider Pilot or Home Support Worker Pilot if you:
- have a genuine and valid job offer
- are able to do the job
- meet the language level
- meet the education requirement
- are admissible to Canada
- plan to live outside the province of Quebec as a permanent resident
How to Apply
Step 1: Find a caregiver – As an employer, you can hire an in-home caregiver/nanny by finding an eligible candidate, either overseas or in Canada, and providing them with an offer of employment. The in-home caregiver will then submit their application to one of the pilots. Under these pilots you can decide with the caregiver whether they live in or out of your home.
Step 2: Make sure the candidate is eligible – To get a work permit, the foreign national must show that they meet the eligibility and admissibility requirements above.
Step 3: Make an offer of employment – After you find a candidate that you want to hire as an in-home caregiver/nanny, offer the candidate the job using the offer of employment form.
Temporary Foreign Workers (TWFW)
This option is not one that initially allows you to apply for permanent residency. You will be working in Canada as a caregiver on a temporary basis. However, you can use this type of visa to gain experience in caregiving which could be useful when applying for a different visa at a later date.
Eligibility
You must meet the general temporary work visa requirements. Additionally, you will need to be able to:
- provide care for at least 30 hours each week
- work in the home of the individual being cared for
- the employer must provide an LMIA
While it is not strictly necessary, it can be useful to have more qualifications such as:
- a secondary schooling degree
- completed a childcare program
- experience working with children or individuals needing care
- First Aid and CPR training
Interested in Immigrating to Canada as a Nanny?
If so, Contact VisaPlace today. All our cases are handled by competent and experienced immigration professionals who are affiliated with VisaPlace. These professionals consist of lawyers, licensed paralegals, and consultants who work for VisaPlace Legal an award-winning immigration firm that adheres to the highest standards of client service.
The legal requirements for immigration to Canada as a nanny may be complicated and require a good grasp of Canadian immigration laws. To avoid hassles and to ensure that you provide all the requirements on time, you need the help of an experienced and skilled lawyer who specializes in Canadian immigration law. Increase your chances of living and working in Canada as a Nanny by working with a lawyer who can help you land the caregiver job you need.
Ready for the next step? Book your 1 on 1 consultation now or call us at 1-877-296-0874.
