⏱ Reading time: 3 min.

Why is it important to sign an Au Pair contract?

Signing an au pair contract is important for both the Au Pair and the Host Family as it helps establish clear terms of the arrangement and builds trust between the candidate and the family. In this article we listed 5 reasons why it's important to sign a contract before embarking on an Au Pair journey:

Legal Protection
Clear Expectations
Terms and Compensation
Emergency Plan
Cultural Exchange

To download the Au Pair contract template click here:

Download Au Pair contract

Embarking on an Au Pair journey or hosting an Au Pair is a decision that brings both excitement and responsibility. The prospect of cultural exchange, language learning, and shared experiences holds immense appeal for Host Families and Au Pairs alike. However, to ensure a harmonious and trouble-free coexistence for both parties, it is crucial to establish a solid legal foundation and sign a contract. This document outlines expectations, responsibilities, and terms of arrangement for your Au Pair stay including the financial side. In this article, we want to explain the significance of signing an Au Pair contract, by giving you five reasons why both Host Families and Au Pairs should not disregard this important document.

Note: When speaking about signing an Au Pair contract, we would like to stress that it’s important to sign it before the Au Pair arrives in the host country. This way the rights of both parties are protected from the moment they agree to participate in the Au Pair program. By signing the contract beforehand both the Host Family and the Au Pair show that they take the Au Pair program seriously right from the start and are ready to commit to creating a safe and trustworthy environment for both parties. We recommend having at least 3 video calls before you meet in person and it will be a great idea to dedicate one of these calls to discussing your mutual expectations and compiling the draft of the Au Pair contract that can be signed before the Au Pair’s departure.

1. Legal Protection

Legal protection through an Au Pair contract is crucial as it establishes a formal agreement between the Host Family and the Au Pair. This written document clarifies expectations, working hours, compensation, responsibilities, and more. In case of disputes, it provides a structured process for resolution or serves as proof of misconduct of either party, which potentially helps to avoid big misunderstandings between the Host Family and Au Pairs.

Furthermore, the contract ensures compliance with local regulations, safeguarding both parties' rights. This means it’s important to keep in mind the host country’s regulations for the Au Pair program and include them.

2. Clear Expectations

One of the primary reasons for both parties to sign an Au Pair contract is to establish well-defined expectations for both the Host Family and the Au Pair. This aspect plays a crucial role in ensuring a successful and harmonious living arrangement.

By detailing the roles, responsibilities, and daily tasks in the contract, the Host Family and the Au Pair can avoid misunderstandings and conflicts that might arise due to different interpretations of their respective duties. The contract can outline the specific childcare responsibilities, including the number of hours the Au Pair is expected to work, the children's routines, and any specific needs or requirements.

Also, the contract can address household chores and any additional duties expected of the Au Pair, such as light housekeeping or meal preparation. Clarity regarding these things will help the Au Pair and the Host Family to structure their daily routine more successfully and efficiently.

Many Host Families include the Au Pair’s weekly or daily schedule in the contract. This way Au Pairs not only have a clear guideline on what tasks they need to cover at certain times, but also allow them to plan their individual activities ahead of time and have a clear understanding of their daily routine even before they start their Au Pair journey.

In essence, a well-structured Au Pair contract is a great tool that defines the boundaries, obligations, and shared goals of the Host Family and the Au Pair. It serves as a reference point that both parties can go back to when there’s a need to ensure that they are on the same page in their understanding of the Au Pair program. This clarity will ultimately contribute to a positive and fulfilling experience for both.

3. Terms and Compensation

The Au Pair contract also outlines the compensation and benefits offered to the Au Pair. It specifies the pocket money amount, the deadlines for payments and their frequency, as well as any additional details, such as the Au pair room arrangement or transportation reimbursement. The transparency of financial arrangements helps build trust and demonstrates the Host Family's commitment to providing a fair and supportive environment.

It is also important to specify in the contract how the Host Family will contribute to the Au Pair's travel expenses. We recommend that families who wish to contribute by paying all or part of the cost of the ticket to get to the host country do so by reimbursing the cost. The family can reimburse the cost of the ticket in one or more installments after the Au Pair arrives in the host country by adding an amount to the monthly pocket money.

Besides, the contract provides details regarding the Au Pair's paid time off, holidays, or vacation days. By establishing structured time-off arrangements, both parties can plan and manage their schedules effectively, ensuring a healthy work-life balance for the Au Pair.

The contract also includes information about insurance coverage, particularly health insurance, to ensure the Au Pair's well-being and access to medical care during their stay.

4. Emergency Plan

An emergency plan in the Au Pair contract serves as a safety guide that helps both the Host Family and the Au Pair know what to do if something unexpected happens. By including guidelines for emergency situations, the contract provides a clear roadmap for both parties to follow, helping to minimize stress and confusion during challenging times.

The contract can outline specific procedures for different types of emergencies, such as medical crises or unforeseen changes in the Au Pair's circumstances. It might include details on how to seek medical care, whom to contact in case of an emergency, and the steps to take if the Au Pair needs to return to their home country ahead of his/her planned departure.

The contract can also include guidelines for communication between the Host Family and the Au Pair. This can include regular check-ins, feedback sessions, and mechanisms for addressing concerns or issues as they arise.

5. Cultural Exchange

One of the compelling reasons for both the Host Family and their Au Pair to sign an Au Pair contract is the opportunity for a rich and meaningful cultural exchange. Beyond the practical aspects of childcare, the contract can help to facilitate the intercultural experience as well.

By including such points in the contract, the Host Family and the Au Pair can engage in activities that promote mutual understanding, language practice, and exposure to a new culture. The contract can regulate the information regarding Au Pair’s language lessons, or include information on what is done by both parties to ensure a successful cultural exchange. For example, you can include cultural exchange evenings or other similar pastimes with the Host Family into your schedule to be sure you do not skip out on this important part of the Au Pair experience.

Can Au Pairs work more than 45 hours?: No. Every country has its own regulations for how many hours/week the Au Pair is allowed to work, and they correspond to a specific monthly pocket money. In some countries, like the USA, this includes extra babysitting hours. In other Host Countries it depends on the agreement between Au Pair and Host Family.

Who should pay for the travel expenses?: We recommend Host Families to help Au Pairs with travel expenses, though it’s not their obligation to do so. In any case, the Au Pair needs to cover the travel costs initially. If the Host Family would like to support the Au Pair, they can repay the ticket price in monthly installments that will be added to the Au Pair's salary during 10 months. In the case of Au Pair USA and China, the ticket will be covered by the Host Family. We recommend to discuss this topic before the Au Pair’s arrival and note down the conditions in the Au Pair contract. Learn more about other Au Pair costs to participate in the program or Host Family costs for hosting an Au Pair.

Do Au Pairs need an insurance?: Depends - if the Au Pair is an EU citizen and wants to work in an EU country, she won't need an additional insurance. In almost every other case the Au Pair will need an insurance. You can read more about the European Health Insurance Card here.

Can you help me with the paperwork and the placement process?: Unfortunately, we can’t help you with it. We are an online matching agency, thus we can’t interfere in your searching or placing process. We are happy to provide you with all our searching and matching tools and the information about the Au Pair experience. As our platform is available worldwide, we are unable to take care of all the applications we get daily. Feel free to use our service to visit your dream destination and find a great Host Family. We will be also glad to get your feedback! If you have any ideas or comments, get in touch with us.

Can I become an Au Pair?: The Au Pair program accepts participants who meet mainly education, family and age requirements. Please take a look at the full list of Au Pair requirements. If you meet them, register as an Au Pair today and find a Host Family that matches your criteria.

What is the process of becoming an Au Pair?: The Au Pair program is primarily a cultural exchange, thus Host Family and Au Pair need to belong to different nationalities. Below you can see a step-by-step guide that will help you become a part of the Au Pair experience.
1. Register on AuPair.com and create your profile. As an Au Pair you can use the AuPair.com platform for free: send messages, browse profiles and get many other benefits after the registration. To stand out among the participants, you need to create an interesting profile.

2. Search for a prospective Host Family. Once you are signed in as an Au Pair, you can start searching for Host Families in different countries. The platform gives you the opportunity to browse families that match your preferences and destinations. In addition to AuPair.com's suggestions, you can add other families to your Favorites. This way you will have a selected list of users you are interested in. Each added family will receive a notification.

3. Meet up during the video-interview. After shortlisting the most suitable families, it is really important to talk to them to get to know each other better. During the interview both parties will share their expectations and talk about the important details of the cooperation. You will be able to see which family suits you best. In addition to this, a live video-call will protect you from possible scam attempts. Since scammers are afraid to reveal their identity, they usually refuse to join video-calls.

4. Sign the Au Pair contract and close other formalities. The Au Pair contract is a formal document stating all important details discussed between you and your future Host Family. It can help you avoid many possible misunderstandings and problems during the stay. Download the template of the Au Pair contract and edit it together with your Host Family according to your needs and the host country’s laws. Sign the contract and keep it with you. It is one of the visa requirements, though you might also need it for other formalities.

5. Prepare for your trip. There are many important things you need to consider before going abroad: clarifying formalities with the host country’s embassy if you need a visa, gathering all the documents you need for registration in the host country, making sure your insurance coverage is sufficient, packing the suitcase, booking the tickets. If the Host Family is willing to help you with the travel costs, we recommend writing it down in the Au Pair contract and define the installments that will be added to your monthly pocket money during the year. Nevertheless, it is not a responsibility of the Host Family to cover travel expenses.

6. Adapt to the new country. Once you have arrived it's time to get to know your Host Family and the place where you will be living. Normally, it will take some time for the children to adapt to a new person, so don't worry if they seem distant at the beginning.

7. Enjoy your Au Pair experience. Don’t forget that the Au Pair program gives you a unique opportunity to stay abroad for some time and gain new experiences. Explore the country and local culture, meet new people and make sure you enjoy this experience to the max

We want to hire an Au Pair. Can you help?

Online matching agencies, like AuPair.com, let you get in touch with Au Pairs from the entire world. Please note that AuPair.com is not a full service agency. This means that we cannot take over the organisation of the stay. With the help of our platform, you can find your ideal candidate on your own. All further information, e.g. about the au pair contract, the amount of pocket money or the requirements for host families, can be found on our website.

How do we work?

On AuPair.com you can:

totally free search through our database and look for a perfect match
choose one of two accounts: either a free Basic Account or a Premium Account, purchased for a certain price, depending on the length of Premium Membership.

More information about AuPair.com's Premium Membership you can find here.

Basic Users can send requests (invitations and standard messages) to other users, expressing their interest, or add other users to their hotlists.

On the other hand, Premium Users can send to the rest of our service free-form messages, containing i.e. contact data, and are always able to receive an answer, also personalized. Premium Members can also see contact data of other users (with the exception of email address) and some extra content, like videos, references or letters written by Au Pairs.

Still, if your prospective match is Premium, you do not need to purchase Premium Membership to send a feedback and get in direct touch! Only one of the pair Host Family - Au Pair needs to be Premium to push the communication beyond our service and arrange the Au Pair stay

How much does the Au Pair program cost?: It varies on a Host Country regulations, the Au Pair’s nationality, optional Au Pair agency fees and other factors. Please check one of the links below:
Au Pair Costs for Host Family

Au Pair Costs for candidates