Do you live in Europe and want to host an au pair? You’ve come to the right place.
Find out what you need to do to become an au pair host family in Europe.
We’ll explain how to host an au pair in Europe so you can enjoy a rewarding experience.
Do you have a spare room and would like to host an au pair?
Learn about the requirements for hosting an au pair in your family
See below 👇 for more information on the criteria.
You must be able to cover the expenses associated with hosting an au pair: full board 🍝 (three meals a day), room and board, spending money, health insurance* 🩺, etc.
💸 In Italy, host families typically give their au pairs about €70 per week. We recommend that our families give €80. After all, the Au Pair Program is a cultural and linguistic exchange that allows the au pair to learn a language through classes and explore the country by participating in activities. This program requires you to be open-minded 🧠.
You and the au pair cannot be of the same nationality 🇮🇹. Additionally, you must commit to welcoming the au pair and treating them as a member of the family, as well as helping them adjust to their new environment. This will ensure that everyone has a pleasant stay 👍.
*If necessary, to avoid additional costs, we recommend that you take out private insurance regardless of the au pair’s nationality. The family is responsible for paying the insurance costs.
The room provided for the au pair must be suitable and at least 8 m². It must also be furnished with the bare essentials (a bed 🛏️, a closet, a table, and a chair) or more if possible. There must be a window that lets in natural light and a door with a lock to ensure the au pair has some privacy. You must also provide the au pair with access to a bathroom 🛀. The room can be located in your home or nearby.
⚠️ No family members are allowed to share the Au Pair’s room. The Au Pair must be informed that their living arrangements will be separate from those of the family.
🦋 Tips: We recommend providing a room that’s part of the same living space as the family’s; this facilitates better integration and helps build a good relationship between you from the start 👍
Contract
It is mandatory to draw up an agreement 🤝 with the au pair and sign the contract before their arrival (this is also a requirement for obtaining a visa). The contract specifies the duration of their stay and the terms of the au pair’s placement (allowance amount, working hours, days off, house rules, etc.).
We’re here to assist you with the administrative procedures based on your package; ➡️ see our subscription plans and options.
Work and Free Time
📅 Au pairs are not allowed to work more than 30 hours per week. They are entitled to one full day off per week—preferably on a fixed day—and one full weekend per month. Be sure to allow your au pair some free time so they can explore the country, enjoy activities, attend language classes, etc. They are responsible for covering these costs.
Regarding vacations, paid time off, and Italian public holidays, it’s up to you to make arrangements in advance to agree on the number of days off. This information will be included in the contract.
⚠️ Overtime must be agreed upon in advance and must be compensated with time off or pocket money.
On your dashboard 🖥️, you can select the tasks you want the au pair to perform. ☑️ Check only the ones you want to assign to the au pair.
⚠️ An au pair helps with light household chores (taking out the trash, loading the dishwasher), but cannot be considered a housekeeper.
If the au pair needs to use a car 🚗 as part of their work, you must provide a vehicle for them to use, on which they will be insured.
🦋 Tip: We recommend discussing the future schedule with your au pair in advance so you can include it in the contract. We know that our host families often arrange driving lessons for their au pairs to help them get used to driving abroad; this also helps put the families’ minds at ease.
⚠️ For stays longer than 3 months, the host family must register their au pair with the Civil Registry Office (Anagrafe) and obtain a social security number. The host family must pay a flat-rate registration fee. Please check with your local health authority (ASL).
We are providing you with the European Agreement on Au Pair Placement and its Protocol so that you have as much information as possible about the Au Pair Program.
Read testimonials from our host families and au pairs.
Listen to the stories shared by guests on the podcast *La Grande Famille*, hosted by Manuela Dizier-Chanfreau.
You’ll find firsthand accounts and valuable advice from entrepreneurial moms on hosting an au pair.
Become a host family
Become an a pair
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