CANADA

Canada do not offer an Au Pair Programme, however, au pairs can legally work in the country under the "Live-in Caregiver Program"

The Canadian Live-n Caregiver Program is administered by Human Resources Development Canada and Citenship and Immigration Canada (CIG). HRDC assesses and confirms offers of employment to workers. CIG ensures that potential candidates meet the criteria for the program and issues the permit.

The live-in Caregiver Program is a special to bring workers to Canada to do live-in work as caregivers when there are not enough Canadians to fill the available positions.  A "live-in caregiver" is someone who provides unsupervised care of children, the elderly or disabled in a private household.

There are conditions for a live-in caregiver:

• An Employment contract between the employer and the caregiver is required to obtain a visa at the Canadian Embassy or Consulate.
• Employee must have the equivalent of a Canadian High School degree.
• The Caregiver should read, speak and understand English and French.
• The Caregiver must have six months of full-time training in a classroom setting or twelve months of full-time employment, including at least six months of continuous employment with one employer in a field of the caring occupation related to the job she/he is seeking as a live-in caregiver.

Successful applicants receive an employment authorisation allowing them to work in Canada as caregivers.  After a period of two years of employment. program participants can apply in Canada to become permanent residents; they maybe granted permanent resident status provided they meet certain requirements.

NOTE: the two years of employment must be completed within three years of the caregiver's arrival in Canada.

Detailed information and application help about this program can be found on the CIG web site.

Apply to the Canadian Consulate/Embassy for more up-to-date information.