Do employers of live-in or live-out caregivers still need an LMIA?

Yes, most Canadian families or individuals who want to hire a foreign national as a live-in or live-out caregiver must obtain an LMIA through Service Canada before the caregiver can apply for a work permit. The caregiver programs in Canada are federal programs, and the rules apply uniformly regardless of province.

The caregiver space has seen significant policy changes over the years, with the federal government restructuring the available streams and pathways multiple times. As a result, the specific program available at any given time — and whether a standard LMIA or a caregiver-specific stream applies — depends on current IRCC and Service Canada policy.

For caregivers working with children or with seniors or individuals with high medical needs, separate caregiver-specific streams may exist with different LMIA rules or specific work permit pathways. These streams have historically offered routes to permanent residence after accumulating sufficient Canadian work experience.

Because program requirements for caregivers change with some frequency, getting up-to-date legal advice before beginning the process is important for both the employer and the caregiver.