Live-in nannies and live-in caregivers are qualified professionals who provide care for children, the elderly, or those with disabilities or special needs. Live-in caregivers work unsupervised, and live in the private home of their employer, for the duration of their contract.

Hiring a live-in nanny or caregiver from overseas is a simple, three-step process. Following this procedure can save you hundreds, and even thousands, of dollars in fees and agency charges, and still be entirely legal and safe.
Here's what to do:

1. Find a professional nanny or caregiver using Live In Nanny's database Search Now
   
   a) Search our database and find candidates whose experience and personalities meet or exceed your requirements.
   b) Send a direct message to the candidate or candidates you are interested in. Include your name, a brief description of your needs and your situation, and your contact details.
   c) The candidates will respond directly to you, by email, phone, or video call.
   d) Interview the candidates by telephone or by computerized video call (e.g. Skype).
   e) Select the best candidate who has the experience, skills, and personality that is the best fit for you and your family. In order for your preferred candidate to be approved to take the position, she is legally required to have the correct, appropriate, and legitimate qualifications, as well as verified experience. For example, you can not hire candidate with eldercare experience for childcare position.
    

2. Obtain a “Labour Market Impact Assessment”, also known as an “LMIA” (LMO old name) from the office of Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC). The LMIA allows your chosen caregiver to apply for her work permit. Including the required advertisement period, receiving the LMIA normally takes six to seven weeks.
   For a list of LMIA application forms and a sample employment contract that you can use as a guideline, click here - LMIA application forms and Employment contract.
   For more information on LMIA's in general, click here.
    

3. Once you have received the LMIA, make a copy for your records and send the original to the caregiver you have chosen to employ. Your caregiver will then take it to her nearest Canadian embassy to apply for her work permit. Note: Some Canadian embassies process applications quicker than others. For assistance, contact the Canadian embassy located in your caregiver's home country, by email. They will be happy to help with any queries you may have and are known for their responsiveness.
    

Typically, the entire hiring process will take no longer than four to six months.

Assistance in Processing Hiring Paperwork
It is a legal requirement that you do the necessary paperwork to legally hire an overseas caregiver to work in Canada. However, paperwork isn't always easy for everyone. Because of this, we are happy to provide this specialist service for you, at a small cost.  Please feel free to contact us for more information.