How to Sponsor a Nanny in Ontario

The Live-in Caregiver Program offered by the Canadian government has become a popular way for parents to find reliable nannies and for foreign workers to immigrate to Canada. Under the program, a nanny can get a Canadian work permit with the parents of the child under her care listed as her employer. When the nanny has worked in Canada for two years or 3,900 hours, she is eligible to apply for permanent residence in Canada. It is important to note that foreign workers are protected by the same labor laws as all Canadians regarding wages, working conditions and benefits.

Instructions

    • 1

      Get a Business Number from the Canada Revenue Agency. You will be the employer of the nanny, so it is required that you be registered as a business. The process is simple and can be done through the Canada Revenue Agency website (see Resources).

    • 2

      Advertise your nanny position in the National Job Bank. You must prove to the government that you tried to hire a Canadian for the position before you are able to sponsor someone from overseas. Your advertisement must run for at least 14 calendar days and you need to report to the government how many applicants you had and why you did not hire any of them.

    • 3

      Find a foreign nanny. There are many agencies that facilitate these kinds of connections. Always check the references and background of the agency before entering into any agreement.

    • 4

      Make an an employment contract. You must draft and have you and your nanny sign an employment contract before you begin the process of getting her work permit. The contract must include standard employment terms such as wages and hours as well as terms covering transportation costs from the nanny's home country, medical insurance and accommodation arrangements. Find a contract template suggested by Canadian Immigration in the Resources section below.

    • 5

      Apply for a Labor Market Opinion (LMO). You must apply to Human Resources and Skills Development Canada for an LMO. The LMO is a tool to determine whether Canada's labor market can accept a foreign worker for a certain position. You must include a copy of your nanny's contract as well as evidence that you were not able to find a Canadian worker to do the job. Find more information on LMO's in yhe Resources section.

    • 6

      Send information and documentation to your nanny. Once you have received a positive ruling on the LMO, your nanny can apply for a work permit from her home country specifying you as the employer. There is information in your LMO confirmation letter about what documents you need to send to your nanny in order for her to get her work permit. Once she gets the permit, she can come to Canada and work for you.

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