Canada Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP)

Overview

Under the Canada Live-in Caregiver Program (LCP), a Canadian citizen could employ a foreign national as a caregiver if no Canadian citizen or permanent resident was available for the job. The program provided a pathway for permanent residence after two years of work.

Why was it started?

The program was created to provide a legal pathway for in-home caregivers in Canada.

How does it work?

This program fell under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and required a Labor Market Impact Assessment (LMIA). Applicants needed to be able to provide at least 30 hours of full-time care to children under 18, people 65 or older, or people with disabilities. They were required to live and work in a private household and meet specific requirements, depending on the type of care and the individual receiving it.

What impact has it had?

The requirement to live with the family left caregivers vulnerable to labor and personal abuse. Critics argued that the program needed to be reformed to better ensure the safety of caregivers. The program ended in 2014. There was a significant backlog of applications for permanent residence under the LCP, resulting in very long processing times.