Information for the host family
Here you will find information about who can become a host family, your rights and obligations.
The Norwegian Directorate of Immigration (UDI) administers the scheme in Norway. Their website states:
As an au pair, you can improve your language skills and become better acquainted with Norwegian society by living with a family. In return, you contribute with light housework and/or childcare for the host family. An au pair should actively participate in family life and be treated as a family member. This means that you do not have the same obligations as an ordinary employee - even if you receive pocket money/salary. For example, you have the right to eat meals with the family and participate in excursions.
It is important that you and your family agree on the conditions through a contract. You can find the contract here. However, you cannot work more than five hours per day and a maximum of 30 hours per week. Please contact our counseling service if you need help with the contract or have any other questions.
Who can become a host family:
- Host families can be married couples, partners or cohabitants with or without children.
- Host family can be a single parent with children with a care percentage of at least 50%.
- The host family must have good knowledge of Norwegian society and speak Norwegian with the au pair.
- If a member of the host family has the same country of origin as the au pair, you cannot normally be a host family.
- No one in the host family can be related to the au pair.
- At least one of the parents in the host family must have completed UDI's e-learning course for host families in au pair cases.
Your rights and obligations as a host family:
- As a host family, you can only have one au pair at a time.
- You are obliged to pay for Norwegian language courses for the au pair worth at least NOK 8,850 per year.
- The au pair must live with you, eat for free and have their own room.
- You must ensure that the au pair receives a salary/pocket money of at least NOK 5,900 before tax per month.
- You must pay holiday pay to the au pair in accordance with the Holiday Act. The au pair is entitled to ordinary holiday.
- The host family must ensure that the au pair is treated well and that his/her dignity is not violated.
- You are responsible for providing the au pair with insurance that covers the return journey home in the event of serious illness, injury or death.
- You must ensure that the au pair is tested for tuberculosis when he/she arrives in Norway if he/she comes from a high incidence country.
- Because the au pair scheme is a cultural exchange, work should be limited to light housework, childcare and pet care.
- The au pair's working hours must not exceed 5 hours per day - maximum 30 hours per week.
- The au pair is entitled to at least one day off per week, and at least one such day off per month must be a Sunday. At least one afternoon off each week.
- The au pair may not work for other employers or with other families. Citizens from EEA countries are exempt from this restriction.
- The au pair has the right to participate in Norwegian language training and leisure activities. The au pair's work tasks must not interfere with the practice of religion.
- It is important to have a conversation with the au pair so that you agree on the conditions and that no misunderstandings arise.
- As a host family, the the Norwegian Tax Administration counts you as an employer.
- Au pairs are entitled to pocket money/salary. The au pair must receive at least NOK 5,900 before tax per month.
- The au pair is entitled to free board and lodging. This is taxable and the value is determined by the Norwegian Tax Administration.
- The au pair is entitled to 25 working days of holiday in the calendar year. Even if the au pair has not lived with the host family for the entire calendar year, he/she is entitled to full holiday if he/she starts before September 30. If the au pair starts after 30 September, he/she is entitled to six working days' holiday.
- According to the Holiday Act, you must pay holiday pay to the au pair.
- Au pairs are members of the National Insurance Scheme. This means that they are entitled to free health services in the same way as the rest of the population.
- The host family should help the au pair to apply for a residence card from the police, then a personal identity number from the tax office.
- You are responsible for providing the au pair with insurance that covers the return journey home in the event of serious illness, injury or death.
- You must ensure that the au pair is tested for tuberculosis on arrival in Norway if the person comes from a high incidence country. Contact the infection control office in your municipality for this.
- You must pay for the au pair's return journey home.
- You are not required to cover travel to countries other than the home country or if the au pair goes on vacation or chooses to stay in Norway on a new basis.
- You must obtain insurance for the au pair that covers repatriation/repatriation in the event of serious illness, injury or death.
- Both you and the au pair can terminate the contract with a notice period of at least one month. The termination must be in writing.
- You cannot terminate the au pair without just cause. You must provide a written reason for termination if the au pair requests it. The au pair does not need to give reasons for the dismissal.
- The au pair must be paid a salary and is entitled to live with you on the same terms during the notice period.
- Both you and the au pair can terminate the contract immediately if there has been a serious breach of contract.
- You must notify the UDI if the contract is terminated before your permit expires. The au pair must update any new address.
- The au pair can apply to change host family at any time if they have a valid residence permit.
- The au pair can make counter payments to the new host family once they have submitted a complete application to the police.
Here you can download information booklet for the host family.