The Live-in Caregiver Program allows professional caregivers to work in Canada. Caregivers are people who are qualified to work without supervision in a private household providing care for children, elderly persons or people who have disabilities. The live-in caregiver must reside in the employer's home.
There are four main criteria you must meet to qualify under the Live-in Caregiver Program :
A successful completion the equivalent of a Canadian high school education. Studies reveal that the majority of new jobs in Canada require at least a high school education.
You must have six months of full-time training in a classroom setting or twelve months of full-time paid employment, including at least six months of continuous employment with one employer in a field or occupation related to the job you are seeking as a live-in caregiver. You may have gained your training or experience in areas such as early childhood education, geriatric care, pediatric nursing or first aid. You may also have completed your training as part of your formal education. This experience must have been obtained within the three years immediately prior to the day on which you submit an application for a work permit.
You have the ability to speak, read and understand either English or French at a level that allows you to function independently in a home setting. For example, you must be able to contact emergency services if required and to understand labels on medication. You will be unsupervised for most of the day and should be able to communicate with someone outside the home. A good knowledge of English or French will also enable you to read and understand your rights and obligations.
You must have a written employment contract between you and your future employer. The contract defines your job duties, hours of work, salary and benefits. The contract also reinforces your employer's legal responsibilities to you. This requirement helps provide a fair working arrangement between the caregiver and the employer and provides both parties with a clear understanding of what is expected of them and does not leave room for doubt.
An important requirement of the program is that employees must reside in the employer's home. The Live-in Caregiver Program exists only because there is a shortage of Canadians or permanent residents to fill the need for live-in care work. There is no shortage of Canadians or permanent residents available for caregiving positions where there is no live-in requirement.
Immigrants who have worked in Canada as live-in caregivers may apply for permanent residence after certain conditions have been met. A foreign national can become a member of the live-in caregiver class and can therefore be eligible for permanent residence if :
They have submitted an application to be in Canada as a permanent resident;
They are a temporary resident;
They hold a work permit as a live-in caregiver;
They entered Canada as a live-in caregiver and, for a cumulative period of at least two years within the three years immediately following their entry,
 
i.
 Stayed in a private household in Canada, and
ii.
Provided child care, senior home support care, or care of a disabled person in that household without supervision;
Neither they nor their family members are, the subject of a removal order or an admissibility ----hearing under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act or an appeal or application for judicial review arising from such a hearing;
They did not enter Canada as a live-in caregiver as a result of a misrepresentation  concerning their education, training, or experience, and
Where they intend to live in the Province of Quebec, they competent authority of that  Province is of the opinion that they meet the selection criteria of the Province.

The cumulative period mentioned above may be in respect to more than one employer or household and need not be without gap. However, it may not be in respect of more than one employer or household at a time (i.e. concurrent employment).

A family member of a live-in caregiver may apply to remain in Canada as a permanent residence if the following apply :
The family member is a family member of the live-in caregiver, and was included in the live-in caregiver's application to remain in Canada as a permanent resident at the time the application was made; and
The family member is not inadmissible.
Family members abroad will be processed for permanent residence at the visa office in their country of residence. They will not be issued immigrant visas only after the live-in caregiver has received his or her permanent residence.
The entire family will be required to pass medical and criminal screening in addition to meeting the other requirements. All your family members must pass medical and background checks, whether or not they are accompanying the live-in caregiver. Similarly, the live-in caregiver will be granted permanent resident status only after his or her family members have passed their medical and criminal screening.