Do I need a positive LMIA to qualify under the caregiver pilots?

Generally, no. The caregiver pilots are built around an occupation-specific work permit rather than the standard Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) process, which is what set the older live-in caregiver program apart, since that older program was typically LMIA-dependent. An LMIA is an employer-side document from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) confirming that no Canadian worker is reasonably available for a position, and it is not itself a work permit even in categories where it is required.

Under the pilot structure, a caregiver applicant generally still needs a genuine job offer from an employer in an eligible occupation, and that job offer supports the occupation-specific work permit application. The absence of an LMIA requirement does not mean there is no employer or job-offer requirement at all; it just changes which document supports the application and how it is assessed.

Because immigration policy in this area is set largely through ministerial instruction and has shifted before, the exact structure of any given pilot can change without any change in the underlying law. Before relying on this, confirm the current requirements directly through IRCC's published guidance, or speak with an immigration lawyer about your specific job offer and circumstances.