Most Canadian families hiring a foreign caregiver through a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) must pay a $1,000 processing fee per position. This fee is non-refundable, even if the LMIA is refused or withdrawn.
However, there are specific exemptions for caregivers, which allow some families to avoid paying this fee.
1. Standard LMIA Fee
- The LMIA fee is $1,000 per caregiver position.
- It must be paid by the employer at the time of application.
- Employers cannot recover the cost from the caregiver — this is prohibited.
2. Exemptions for Caregiver LMIAs
a) Care for a Family Member With Medical Needs
Families are exempt from the LMIA fee if they are hiring a foreign caregiver to:
- Provide care for a family member who has a medical condition, disability, or chronic illness.
- This applies whether the caregiver is a home support worker or another qualified caregiver.
b) Child Care When Family Income Is Below $150,000
Families are also exempt from the $1,000 LMIA fee if they:
- Hire a home child care provider (e.g., nanny).
- Have a total gross annual family income of less than $150,000.
This exemption ensures middle- and lower-income families can still access affordable caregiver support.
3. When the Fee Still Applies
- Families with income above $150,000 hiring a child caregiver must pay the fee.
- Employers hiring caregivers for general household duties (not tied to child care or medical needs) must also pay.
- If applying for multiple caregiver positions, the fee applies per position unless an exemption applies to each case.
4. Why These Exemptions Exist
The Canadian government introduced these exemptions to:
- Help families who truly need caregiving support for children or relatives with medical conditions.
- Reduce barriers for households with limited income.
- Support vulnerable groups such as children and persons with disabilities.
Key Takeaways
- The standard LMIA caregiver fee is $1,000 per position.
- Families are exempt if:
- They are hiring a caregiver for a family member with medical needs, or
- They are hiring a home child care provider and earn under $150,000 annually.
- Employers cannot pass LMIA costs to caregivers under any circumstances.
👉 Families should carefully check if they qualify for an exemption before applying.