Can you become a Host Family in Norway?
Host Families need to meet some
requirements to host an Au Pair in Norway and start this cultural exchange with all its benefits. Make sure you meet the following requirements:
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You have at least one child under the age of 18.
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You only want to host one Au Pair at a time.
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You are able to afford the costs of the program.
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You have a private room for your new family member.
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You are able to pay for the Norwegian language course (at least NOK 8,850 per year).
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You are willing to pay for insurance in Norway.
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You are willing to sign the official contract from the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI).
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You are willing to consider the Au Pair a family member.
If your family fulfills all the requirements, we would like to help you connect with the right candidates!
The first step is to create a
profile and personalize it with
pictures and information about your family. Do not forget to write a “welcome”
letter to future participants and define the expectations you have. If possible, try to describe how a typical day of the family looks like.
The second step is to start the communication with possible candidates. Our users can send standard messages and add others to their list of favorites. If you choose to
become a Premium Member you can send personalized messages and get additional support.
Make sure your prospective Au Pair can be part of the program. Have a look at the requirements for Non-European Union and European Union participants. We have gathered all the information about the
program’s regulations,
visa process and Host Family duties for you in our step by step guide.
Hosting EU and Non-EU applicants in Norway
There are some official requirements candidates need to meet to live this adventure in Norway. Candidates from Non-EU/EFTA member countries need to
apply for a visa to be part of the program. Nevertheless, by keeping the doors open to all participants you have a better chance of finding the right candidate for your family.
In general, Au Pairs need to have experience in taking care of children, be healthy and can’t have children of their own or even be married. Of course they also have to be interested in immersing themselves in the Scandinavian culture and learn Norwegian.
All candidates with a passport from the European Union and EFTA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland) only need to meet the following requirements:
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Age: 18 to 30
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The purpose of the applicant’s stay in Norway must be a cultural exchange
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Knowledge of English or Norwegian
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Passport or ID to register at the local office
Besides the participation criteria above, the candidates are also expected to return to their home country at the end of the stay.
After exchanging a few messages and seeing each other face to face during a
skype interview you can agree to sign the
contract. Then there are just some steps left:
Participants in Norway whose stay is longer than three months need to register through the registration scheme for EU/EEA nationals. This can be done for free during the first three months after their arrival. You can find more information about this in the
official migration site of Norway.
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Enroll in the Social Security System
Participants in Norway will need to enroll in the Social Security System and pay income taxes. After enrolling, participants will get an ID number and a tax card at the registration office. Please remember that the family is in charge of paying this tax on behalf of their Au Pair.
Candidates outside of the European Union/EFTA need to apply for a visa in their home country and then apply for a
residence permit in Norway. These are the requirements to be part of the experience:
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Age: between 18 - 29 (at the time of applying for the visa)
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Passport (valid for the length of the stay)
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Ability to afford the visa and travel expenses
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Willing to sign the contract provided by one of the Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND) approved agencies.
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Au Pair willing to return to their home country at the end of the stay. The circumstances in their home country must also indicate that they will be able to return.
If you’ve found the right candidate you will need to make the agreement official through the
contract. Afterwards, there are just a couple of arrangements to take care of. These are the steps to follow:
1
Insurance and Tuberculosis test
Although Au Pairs automatically become a member of the Norwegian National Insurance scheme once the residence permit is valid, we suggest getting an additional
private health insurance. It should cover accidents, illness and liability during the length of the stay.
Host Families also have to make sure their new family member takes the mandatory tuberculosis test as soon as the Au Pair arrives in Norway.
All Non-European Union/EFTA citizens must register at the corresponding office to process their residence permit in Norway. This should be done within the first days of arrival.
3
Enroll to Social Security System
After registering and processing the residence permit, the Au Pair will have to enroll in the Social Security System. Participants will get an ID number and an income tax card at the corresponding office. It is important to mention that Host Families are expected to pay for the taxes on behalf of their Au Pair. That means that the
Au Pair’s salary should include an extra amount to be deduced as an income tax.