We are often asked “how can I immigrate to Canada as a caregiver and what skills do I need to qualify for Canadian immigration as a caregiver?”
Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC receives many inquiries about the caregiver program, from both potential employers and foreign workers alike. It is a well-known fact that it is hard to find qualified workers to care for some of the most precious people in our lives: our children and our elders.
The caregiver program has significantly changed in the last decade, from the Live-in Caregiver program to a few other pilots, including the changes to the legislation in 2014 and ending with the most significant amendments implemented in June 2019. There have been a series of improvements, along the way, including no longer requiring mandatory residence in the employer’s home as was previously the requirement. This was related to the fact that the caregiver must travel alone to Canada without the ability to have their families accompanying them to Canada.
It was not rare that after a separation of at least three years, many families were broken, never to be together again. Or in many cases, after the caregiver went through the program, sacrificed years, the application was refused because one of the family members was inadmissible, medically or criminally. Under the current legislation, there are two programs for caregivers:
Home Child Care Provider and
Home Support Worker
The changes to the program are significant for all caregiver applicants and we will mention a few:
The caregiver applies for permanent residence from the very beginning and their family will be included in their application;
They will not be restricted to working for a specific employer, thus trying to eliminate abuse and exploitation of the caregivers by their employers;
The employer will not need to submit a Labour Market Impact Assessment (LMIA) application to Service Canada (ESDC), thus making the job offer more “user-friendly” to the employers in dire need of caregivers;
When the work permit as a caregiver is approved, the whole family (qualifying dependents) can accompany them to Canada with immigration status of their own;
Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) established a cap of 2750 visas per year for each of the two categories for a total of 5500 Canadian immigration caregiver visas annually. This year, the cap for the first category (Home Child Care Provider) was reached by the middle of January 2022. The second category of caregivers (Home Support Workers) is still open. The requirements to apply are similar to the requirements for permanent residence and work permits:
The application made is for both a work permit and permanent residence, submitted at the same time to Immigration, Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC);
The applicant must meet the requirements for a work permit in Canada, meaning mainly that they have experience as caregivers in one of the two streams (National Occupational Classification – NOC CODES 4411 or 4412)
The work permit issued by IRCC to the applicant is an “occupation-restricted” open work permit, meaning the caregiver can work for any employer, but only as a caregiver, no other occupation;
The applicant must receive a genuine offer of employment from the employer (no LMIA required);
the employment will have to be full-time (at least 30 hours /week),
paid work, with regular vacation time and at minimum the hourly rate established by IRCC for the occupation;
the employment offer must be from a Canadian employer outside of Quebec;
Language level requirement: the applicant must pass the General International English Language Testing System (IELTS) that is managed by the British Council (cost is approximately USD 250) or Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program (CELPIP) language test (English or French) and score a minimum of Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) 5 in each skill: writing, reading, listening and speaking;
Education requirement: the applicant must have had completed a post-secondary program / credential of at least one year. If the degree or diploma was obtained abroad (outside of Canada), the applicant must obtain first the Educational Credential Assessment report, from an organization recognized by the IRCC. The report will show the equivalency of their credential compared to a Canadian credential;
Again, the National Occupational Classification (NOC) used for the two streams of caregivers are codes 4411 or 4412;
Last, but not least, the whole family that submits the application must be admissible to Canada. IRCC will conduct a background check for every family member of 18 years or older. The whole family will have also to pass a medical test. A few reasons for inadmissibility might include:
Security reasons;
Human rights violations;
Criminality including driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs, use or sale of drugs;
Misrepresentation;
Previous Removal Order from Canada;
Financial reasons – meaning you and your family are not able to support yourselves;
Medical reasons;
If previously been to Canada and not complied with the conditions (example – one overstayed his/her status, studied or worked without a permit, etc.)
IRCC will review the permanent residence and work permit applications and, if the applicant and family meet the eligibility criteria, they will issue an open work permit for one of the two NOC codes, as stated above.
Processing times for Canadian caregiver applications take approximately 12 months or longer, for a successful foreign worker to receive a work permit. Therefore, employers who want to hire caregivers from abroad, must plan ahead, as this might take some time.
Very professional, fast response time.
Excellent service
Mark Rasmussen
1 month ago
I recently needed a consultation only with Bellissimo Immigration Law Group.
They were punctual and quite insightful as to my situation and thorough. I never felt rushed and also had a second colleague of theirs enter the consultation to confirm everything we had discussed. I will iuse them in the future. Spectacular.
Canadian Greeb
3 months ago
Nice law firm
Very nice staff
Slowly but surely
Carol
4 months ago
I had a truly excellent experience with Bellissimo Immigration Law Group. Keely is knowledgeable, warm, and incredibly detail-oriented, and Mario brings a wealth of experience and insight.
I was helping my son’s nanny navigate a very complex immigration situation. She had been living with us in Canada for three years when we began her permanent residency application. During the process, we discovered an issue with her original work permit application. While it was an honest mistake, we knew it could have serious implications and wanted to handle it carefully.
We consulted several immigration lawyers, and most advised that it would be a difficult case. Many suggested submitting an explanation and hoping for the best. The Bellissimo team also acknowledged the challenges but recommended a different approach — applying on Humanitarian and Compassionate (H&C) grounds. Mario had experience with this path and believed it would give us a stronger chance of success.
The application process was thorough and required a significant amount of work. Keely guided us every step of the way. In total, we submitted over 80 supporting documents, many beyond the basic requirements, to fully demonstrate our nanny’s life in Canada and her contributions to our family and community. Keely and Mario also prepared a comprehensive submission that tied everything together clearly and persuasively.
Due to COVID backlogs and changes in immigration policies, the process took several years. Throughout that time, the Bellissimo team continued to check in and monitor our file — they truly don’t just submit and walk away, which we really appreciated.
We are so happy to share that our nanny has now received her permanent residency. Looking back, I am convinced that their strategy, attention to detail, and dedication made all the difference.
I would highly recommend Bellissimo Immigration Law Group, especially for anyone dealing with complex or non-straightforward immigration cases.
Amanda Suckra
6 months ago
"When our spousal sponsorship was denied due to a large age gap, we felt judged and defeated. Bellissimo Law Group changed everything. Alexandra Goncharova and her team are absolute experts in these sensitive cases; they didn't just provide legal advice—they gave us our future back.
Alexandra was meticulous, fearless, and prepared us so thoroughly that our refusal was successfully overturned. If you are facing a complex appeal where the odds seem stacked against you, Bellissimo is the firm you need, Highest recommendation!"
Kenneth Perry
8 months ago
Bellissimo Immigration Law Group made a complex process feel clear and manageable. Their team was professional, attentive, and genuinely committed to helping me succeed. I always felt informed, supported, and in excellent hands. I’m truly grateful for their work and highly recommend them.
Nasir Khan (Nasikan)
8 months ago
I had an excellent experience working with Alexander on my IAD appeal. She guided us through every step with patience, clarity, and professionalism. The way she prepared us for the interview and handled the hearing was truly impressive. Our appeal was approved, and we’re extremely grateful for her hard work and dedication. Highly recommended!
James Christie
8 months ago
Lisa Fletcher
9 months ago
I am thankful that I was able to use the services of Bellissimo Law Group. Hannah, my immigration attorney, walked me through every step and answered every question I had. The process was made so much easier with her help and we achieved success! I am now a Canadian citizen! Thank you, Hannah and the team at Bellissimo.
Abeer Malik
9 months ago
My mother’s super visa was initially rejected when I applied on my own. However, with the help of lawyer Lijing Cao and immigration consultant Shuai Dong, her visa was successfully approved. They did an amazing job the entire process was seamless, and their communication was always prompt and professional. I highly recommend them 100%!
ARAFAT MUNSHI
9 months ago
Really helped me clarify a lot of things.
Nickeisha Delisser
10 months ago
I am deeply grateful to Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC for assisting me during one of the most challenging periods in my life. When all seemed lost and there was a very high possibility that I might have to leave Canada, they took on my case with such care, professionalism and expertise. They guided me through the federal appeal process with confidence and compassion and secured approval for my permanent status in Canada.
As I have utilised other legal services before Bellissimo, I can assure you, where others fall short, they deliver.
AK
10 months ago
Very helpful and knowledgeable people. You do have to stay on top of things but overall I found them very supportive and involved in my case.
kala Mulqueeny
11 months ago
Mario Bellissimo and Keely Anderson are outstanding professionals. I couldn’t recommend them more and would give 6 stars if I could. My experience with them demonstrated to me why they are so consistently and highly ranked by their peers. I am a New York Attorney and Australian lawyer myself so can be harder to please with legal related services than perhaps others, but this firm was exceptional.
I was assisting a close friend with a Canadian visa application . From our first call with each of them they drilled down into the details of her case and gave more than the allocated time to truly understand the situation prior to providing advice. It was a complicated case and not unreasonably, they indicated the odds of success / failure of a successful visa application were even. But they assured us they would try their darndest to help ! Their experience was obvious and they imbued confidence in their knowledge of Visa law and procedures as well as how it practically operated within the IRCC.
We had previously contacted three other immigration agents all of whom indicated that without misrepresentating the situation, the odds of my friend getting a visa were very low. A fourth lawyer we had spoken to had recommended an honest pathway to applying, but was very hazy on strategy. We did not feel comfortable with any of them.
Bellísimo recommended we provide the IRCC with full disclosure and an explanation - which is how we proceeded. We then proceeded to comprehensively document the situation and received an extensive supporting legal advice to the IRCC from Bellísimo, which distilled the extensive evidence we were able to gather.
Although we understood there were no guarantees as to success, with Bellísimo lawyers’ guidance we felt rest assured that we ultimately submitted the best possible application and were honest in doing so.
Whilst initially I noted a discrepancy between the fees that the immigration agents charged and those that Bellísimo charged, there is no question that as lawyers, their fees were reasonable and the quality of the work they did was infinitely superior to those of the immigration agents. I definitively believe we got value for money and their fees were reasonable for the work and effort provided.
Ultimately the application was successful. We were thrilled.
We feel indebted to Keely and Mario for their assistance and unreservedly recommend them individually and their firm for outstanding immigration law advice.
Oleksii Yermolenko
11 months ago
Thank you for professional advice, which helped me to resolve my problem in short term and save thousands of dollars on medical expenses
Harold Bubu
11 months ago
I was referred to Bellissimo Law Group by my brother-in-law after my application was denied.
The team carefully reviewed my GCMS notes, identified the issues, and recommended pursuing a judicial review.
Thanks to their expertise and guidance, the outcome was positive. They later assisted me with the application, and I am now in Canada pursuing my studies.
I am deeply grateful for their professionalism and support throughout this process, they respond immediately and give you the answers to your worries, this is the part that every applicant wants during the process of their application and Bellissimo law group have it.
I will always recommend Bellissimo law group to anyone who has such problems.
HAROLD
Nicolas Nkomeje
12 months ago
I had the pleasure of working with Bellissimo on my application, and their professionalism and expertise made the entire process smooth and stress-free.
They provided clear guidance, were always responsive to my questions, and ensured all documents were accurate and submitted on time. Thanks to their support, my application was successful. I would highly recommend Bellissimo to anyone seeking reliable immigration legal services.
Milena Stoj
12 months ago
I'm so happy that I found Bellissimo Law Group. They did amazing job for me, I got my Super visa in such a short time, I couldn't believe. Thanks to their professionalism and experience they deserve highest marks for the job they do.
Hugo Sousa
1 year ago
The Best Immigration Law Firm in Canada!
We are forever grateful to Bellissimo Law Group for helping us achieve Permanent Residence in Canada. Our case was complex (so much so that other immigration professionals referred us directly to Mr. Mario Bellissimo, recognizing him as the top expert in the field).
From our very first consultation with Mr. Mario Bellissimo, we felt supported and confident. He provided a clear, honest strategy, and we retained their services immediately. By the end of the process, everything played out exactly as he had initially outlined.
We want to especially thank Lijing, Shuai, and all the other incredible team members who worked on our case and helped in any way (including David, Michelle, Michael, Justina and other support). Each one brought professionalism, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to our success. The legal team was always responsive, detail-oriented, and they genuinely cared about our situation.
Bellissimo Law Group is more than a law firm: they are your strongest ally in ensuring a successful immigration application. If they take your case, your chances of success are high. Whether your case is complex or straightforward, do not see hiring their services as an expense. Instead, see it as one of the best investments you can make in your future and peace of mind. They truly are the best of the best, and we wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone navigating any immigration process in Canada.
We are endlessly grateful to the entire team at Bellissimo Law Group!
Daryna Tymchenko
1 year ago
We are beyond grateful to Bellissimo Law Group for their exceptional service and professionalism throughout our permanent residency process. From the very beginning, their team demonstrated deep expertise, attention to detail, and a genuine commitment to helping us succeed.
A special thank you to Lijing and Shuai — working with them was an absolute pleasure. They were always responsive, knowledgeable, and guided us with patience and clarity at every step. It’s rare to find such a dedicated and experienced legal team, and we truly felt supported and confident throughout the entire journey.
Thank you again to everyone at Bellissimo Law Group. We wholeheartedly recommend them to anyone looking for trustworthy and results-driven immigration lawyers!!
Hatem Khalil
1 year ago
Isa
1 year ago
I called to get some information about booking a consultation in the near future and the receptionist was friendly and helpful. She answered all the questions that she was able to and send me information on the process. I have read all the great reviews and am confident that your law firm is what I need to make my sponsoring journey less of a nightmare for me lol.
Carol Connelly
1 year ago
We had a great experience with Bellissimo Immigration Law Group. We had a number of questions about medical admissibility for a study permit application, and Bellissimo seemed to have a lot of experience with medical issues. We scheduled a consultation, which was easy to set up. We got excellent and specific advice during our consultation with Keely Anderson, and at the end she encouraged us to apply on our own, as our case actually wasn't as complicated as I had feared. (I appreciated the honesty!) With the advice we received, we felt confident in our ability to complete the application on our own, and the study permit was approved.
Jo M
1 year ago
If I could write poetry, I would have written a poem for Mr. Bellissimo.
I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Like others said, when you go into a consultation with Mr.Bellissimo and his team, you get real answers. Not guarded words. Not someone holding back until you hire them. Just sincere advice, shaped around what’s truly best for you.
In our first meeting, he brought up that I might be eligible for Legal Aid — something no other lawyer had even mentioned. And in the second, he paused and really looked at the full picture of my life — my teenagers, our challenges, our future. He gave me advice that actually went against his own benefit. He thought like a parent. He thought like someone who genuinely cares. That kind of integrity is rare.
I was so touched. Because in a world where most people lead with their own gain, he led with empathy and honesty. He truly put himself in my place — and guided me with heart.
I am so touched and I am forever grateful for you Mr.Bellissimo. 💛
Ellaine Camacho
1 year ago
I am incredibly thankful and grateful for the outstanding support I received from Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC. My journey with them includes two major Immigration challenges and their expertise helped me overcome both successfully.
First case: Loss of Status in Canada. I lost my legal status in Canada 2019 and thanks to their guidance and dedication I was granted Permanent Residency under Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds, March 2023. Their team handled my case with professionalism, compassion and deep legal knowledge.
Second Case: Refused Family Sponsorship (Dependent Child). My family sponsorship was refused November 2024 due to not meeting the Minimum Income Cut-Off. With their help I filed an appeal and it was successful, July 16, 2025! Now, I will soon be reunited with my child and I couldn't be more grateful.
The entire team is highly skilled, approachable and truly committed to their clients. I salute their outstanding service and unwavering support. Based on my personal experience, I highly recommend Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC to anyone facing immigration challenges especially those involving Humanitarian and Compassionate Grounds.
Special mention and heartfelt thanks to Ana Martinez, Alexandra Goncharova, Keely Anderson, Simran Sra and Mario Bellissimo.
I am truly very satisfied with their service. Thank you, Bellissimo Immigration Law Group PC for helping me rebuild my life and reunite with my family. May God Bless You All!🙏
