• Your employer helps determine if you are eligible. Your employer may need to get a labour market opinion from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC). A labour market opinion confirms that the employer can fill the job with a foreign worker. To work in Canada, you must meet the general requirements for entering the country and for staying here, in addition to those for getting a work permit. This means you may need a temporary resident visa. For information on visas, go to the Visit section on the left-hand side of this page.
• A work permit is not an immigration document. It does not allow you to live in Canada permanently. To live here permanently, you must qualify under an immigration category, such as skilled worker. Live-in caregivers can stay in Canada permanently if they meet certain requirements. If you want your spouse or common-law partner and your dependent children to come with you to Canada, they must apply to do so.

Eligibility to apply from outside Canada

To apply for a work permit from outside Canada, you must submit the following documents:

• a job offer from a Canadian employer
• a completed application, that shows that you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, and
• written confirmation from Human Resources and Social Development Canada (HRSDC) that the employer can hire a foreign worker to fill the job. This confirmation is called a positive labour market opinion.
• In most cases, it is up to your employer to get that written confirmation. Information on the labour market opinion is found under Information for Canadian employers on the right-hand side of this page.
• In some cases, you do not need a labour market opinion.

Eligibility to apply from inside Canada
You can only apply for a work permit from inside Canada if:

• you have a valid study or work permit, or your spouse or parents have a study or work permit
• you have a work permit for one job but want to apply for a work permit for a different job
• you have a temporary resident permit that is valid for six months or more or
• you are in Canada because you have already applied for permanent residence from inside Canada. You will have to pass certain stages in the main application process before you can be eligible for a work permit.

You must also have the following documents:

• a job offer from a Canadian employer
• a completed application, that shows that you meet the requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, and
• written confirmation from HRSDC that the employer can hire a foreign worker to fill the job. This confirmation is called a positive labour market opinion.
• In most cases, it is up to your employer to get that written confirmation. Information on the labour market opinion is found under Information for Canadian employers on the right-hand side of this page.
• In some cases, you do not need a labour market opinion.)

Live-In Caregiver Program

Live-in caregivers are individuals who are qualified to provide care for children, elderly persons or persons with disabilities in private homes without supervision. Live-in caregivers must live in the private home where they work in Canada.
Both the employer and the employee must follow several steps to meet the requirements of the Live-In Caregiver Program.
To work as a live-in caregiver in Canada, you must make an application to the Live-In Caregiver Program. If your application is successful, you will receive a work permit. To find out if you are eligible for a live-in caregiver work permit, contact the law firm to find out who can apply.
If requirements are met, live-in caregivers can apply to become a permanent resident in Canada.
You must meet certain requirements to be eligible for the Live-In Caregiver Program in Canada.
You will need:

• A job confirmation letter from a Canadian employer
• A written contract with your future employer
• Successful completion of the equivalent of Canadian secondary school
• At least six months’ training, or at least one year of full-time experience (including six months with one employer) during the past three years
• Good knowledge of English or French
• A work permit before you enter Canada