Information
Sweden, Family and Au Pair
Our Commitment
We handle the entire process with matching, agreements, migration documents, and visa applications, as well as legal advice, applications to language schools, and other forms of support you may need as au-pair or host family. As far as possible, we also make sure that each au-pair has a valid accident and health insurance.
- Our services for host families include a three-month replacement warranty.
- We follow the rules and regulations in your country, wherever you live.
- We co-operate with local immigration authorities and embassies around the world.
- We always make sure that our customers are enjoying our services.
If you wish to work as an au-pair in Sweden you must have a work and residence permit (“arbets- och uppehållstillstånd” in Swedish). Working for more than three months in Sweden requires a work and residence permit, no matter what work you do.
An au-pair lives with a host family and receives a minimum payment of SEK 3500 before tax for light household duties and child care.
The aim of the visit is to acquire international experience and have the opportunity to learn Swedish and get acquainted with Swedish culture. If you have a permit to work as an au-pair you are consequently not permitted to work as a nanny or housemaid full-time.
A previous period spent as an au-pair in another country immediately prior to the planned stay in Sweden could reduce the chances of you being granted a permit in Sweden. It could be a sign that you are not really an au-pair, but a regular full-time nanny or housemaid. For work that is shorter than three months, citizens in certain countries must have an entry visa.
If you wish to work as an au-pair in Sweden you must have a work and residence permit (“arbets- och uppehållstillstånd” in Swedish). Working for more than three months in Sweden requires a work and residence permit, no matter what work you do.
An au-pair lives with a host family and receives a minimum payment of SEK 3500 before tax for light household duties and child care.
The aim of the visit is to acquire international experience and have the opportunity to learn Swedish and get acquainted with Swedish culture. If you have a permit to work as an au-pair you are consequently not permitted to work as a nanny or housemaid full-time.
A previous period spent as an au-pair in another country immediately prior to the planned stay in Sweden could reduce the chances of you being granted a permit in Sweden. It could be a sign that you are not really an au-pair, but a regular full-time nanny or housemaid. For work that is shorter than three months, citizens in certain countries must have an entry visa.
Requirements for work and residence permit
In order to be granted a work and residence permit you must
- have a valid passport
- be at least 18 years old but not turned 30
- be able to argue that you have a distinct interest in and use for the Swedish language
- confirm that you are admitted to a course of language study
- have a written invitation from your host family in Sweden stating the terms and conditions of your employment as an au-pair
Your host family must offer you
- a certficate of a comprehensive health and accident insurance
- a maximum of 25 hours housework per week
- studies in Swedish for a large part of the remainder of a 40-hour work week
- board and lodging
- a minimum salary of SEK 3500 per month before tax
Applying for a work and residence permit
You must apply for a work and residence permit from your native country or some other country where you are living outside Sweden. Those who receive a work and residence permit will be given a residence permit card. The card is proof of your residence permit. When you enter Sweden, you must show your residence permit card as well as a valid passport.
Different ways of applying
You can apply at a Swedish embassy or consulate in the country you live in. You must use the form Au pair (form number 131011). In order for the Migration Board to be able to issue a residence permit card, you will be photographed and have your fingerprints taken in connection with
- submitting your application or
- when you receive your residence permit
Make sure your application is complete!
Enclose the following documents with your application:
- copies of the pages of your passport that show your identity, the validity period of your passport and whether you have permits to be in countries other than your native country
- a written invitation from your host family stating the terms and conditions of your employment as an au-pair
- a receipt for the application fee
If you plan to work for less than three months and need an entry visa, you must also enclose two photographs in passport format. They must be taken from the front and they must not be older than six months.
Check the requirements of Swedish missions abroad
- Note that the embassy or consulate where you submit your application may require additional documents. You will find more information and contact information on the website of the relevant embassy.
Application fee
Most people have to pay an application fee. If your application is refused, your money will not be returned. You must also pay a fee when you apply for an extension to your permit.
If you are granted a work and residence permit
- The decision will be sent to the embassy or consulate, either the one where you applied or the one that you specified when you applied on the website. If you have not been photographed previously and had your fingerprints taken, you will need to visit a Swedish mission abroad to do so. Once the residence permit card is ready, the mission abroad will issue, or in certain cases send, the card to you.
Important to remember
Persons who stay in Sweden for a shorter period than one year are not entitled to the same welfare benefits as permanent residents. It is important that you and your host family have good insurance cover when you travel to Sweden.
Validity period for a work and residence permit
You can only be granted a work and residence permit for the period you have been offered work. The maximum validity period is one year.
Ever thought about going overseas? Now you can spend an exciting year discovering a new country of your choice. Learn a new language, make new friends, and get work experience at the same time. Join in our au-pair program now!
We carefully select a host family that will take care of you as a family member and welcome you with open arms. We will always make sure that the family meets your expectations. You will be taking care of the child/children and might be required to do some housework. In return you will get your own room, all meals provided, regular time off, and weekly pocket money.
Who can apply?
– You are at least 18 years of age.
– You like children and have some child care experience/education.
– You have graduated from high school.
– You have no criminal record.
– You would be interested to stay with your host family for 6 to 12 months.
– You will purchase your own flight ticket (refunded by your host family).
– You will arrange travel insurance at your own expense.
What does an au-pair do?
During your stay as a family member in your host family you will be required to take care of the child/children. You can work with younger children or school age children depending on which family you decide to stay with. You will be giving them breakfast, lunch, prepare/cook dinner. Join in and play with them, help with school work and drive them to and from school. Sometimes take them places, in short be there for the children as company, for help and support.
The family also wants you to do some lighter housework. You can be asked to do the dishes, vacuum, clean, do the laundry, walk the dog (if they have one), sometimes cook, bake, etc. Your duties will come as a natural part of living with your host family. All your duties will be discussed and put on paper before you go. When and if the family goes on vacation, you will, in most cases, travel along to help with the kids.
In return you will be provided with your own room, weekly pocket money, and all meals catered for. You will have regular days off to study, meet friends, go sightseeing, and do sports or other social activities.
For your information
There will always be one of our offices/agencies nearby. We are there for you, for help and support of any kind. It’s important to us that you have a great time during your stay with your host family. In any event of disagreement, give us a call and we will try our best to solve it. We will supply you with an emergency phone number which you can call 24 hours a day.
In any event of dispute or disagreement with your host family, it’s important to be willing to talk it out and solve it. Most things can be solved if you let them know how you feel. You will have a responsibility to stay the agreed time, otherwise you will lose the refund of your flight ticket. Don’t hesitate to contact us, we are there for YOU. Should the need arise, we will find you another host family. However, we are confident that you are going to enjoy yourself and have a wonderful time!
General rules for European countries
This agreement has been signed by Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Norway, and Switzerland. Similar rules apply to other European countries.
– The au-pair has to be between 17 and 30 years old. The upper age limit may be lower in some cases. Scandinavian Au-Pair Center only accepts applications from au-pair candidates between 18 and 30 years of age.
– The au-pair is allowed to work for the same family for a maximum of 12 months, in exceptional cases 24 months.
– The au-pair must have a medical certificate not older than three months.
– The duties of the au-pair must be specified in a signed agreement between the au-pair and the host family. The agreement must also specify the payment to the au-pair.
– The au-pair must not work more than 35 hours per week. (May differ in some countries.)
– The au-pair has the right to be totally free from work at least one day each week. The day off must be a Sunday at least once each month.
– The au-pair has the right to take a language class.
– If the au-pair needs insurance not provided by the authorities in the host family’s country, such insurance should be paid for by the host family.
– Both the au-pair and the host family must give at least 14 day’s notice if the au-pair leaves earlier than agreed upon. Only in case of serious misbehaviour or other serious circumstances can the au-pair leave or be asked to leave immediately.
In Germany, there is a special rule saying that at least one of the parents in the host family must speak German from birth.
Special rules for au-pairs from EU-countries
– Au-pairs from EU-countries must register within 3 months and get a residence permit
Special rules for au-pairs from non-EU-countries
– Au-pairs from non-EU-countries need visa
– Au-pairs from non-EU-countries must be under 25 years of age (30 in Scandinavia)
– Au-pairs from non-EU-countries need residence permit and work permit
Fill in your application
When we receive your application, we will put it on file and start the search. You will be notified as soon as the right host family has been found. They will also contact you. This is a good time to find out more about the host family and what they expect from you. Prepare a list of things you would like to know in advance.
If there’s a match, we will go ahead with the rest of the procedure. Travel arrangements will be made. Contracts will be prepared. You and the host family will both receive a copy.
If you don’t prefer the host family we have found, we will continue our search until you are fully satisfied.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us at +46 722 58585854 or mail us at info@aupairsweden.se
Important
– The family must pay half the flight ticket cost for the au-pair.
– If the family decides to pay for a return ticket, it’s possible to split the amount in 52 weekly payments and pay the au-pair a small amount each week, in addition to the weekly pay.
– The family must pay for a language class for the au-pair if that is a law in the family’s country.
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call us at +46 722 54897546 or mail us at info@aupairsweden.se
An affordable child care option
An au-pair in your home is one of the most affordable forms of child care available. When you choose an au-pair, you give your family a flexible and dependable form of live-in child care at a reasonable cost.
Flexible live-in child care
Au-pairs provide your children with personal care in the familiar environment of your home. Your au-pair will arrange her weekly working hours to fit your own schedule. In addition to caring for your children, an au-pair can also assist you with household responsibilities, such as preparing your children’s meals and helping them to keep their rooms neat, as well as driving them to and from school, appointments, and activities.
Personalized matching
Through our personalized matching process we will professionally match your family with an au-pair. We evaluate your child care needs, lifestyle, and personality when selecting the best au-pair for your family. With our unique one-to-one matching process, you can be assured you have the exclusive choice of an au-pair. You will not be competing with other families for your desired candidate.
Carefully screened au-pairs
Each au-pair candidate is personally interviewed and screened before being considered. Au-pair candidates must provide personal references, child related references, a criminal background check, a current driving licence (if required), and verification of education. Part of the interview process is conducted in English to ensure English language skills. All references are verified. We select only those candidates in whom we have complete confidence.
What is expected of an au-pair?
Cultural interaction. The au-pair should be willing to share with the host family, especially the children, what life is like in his/her country. Even teaching the children a bit of the language is encouraged. Children typically respond well to this type of interaction, and it helps them to understand how the world is different in different places.
Up to 35 hours per week of child care (45 hours in the US). This is expected to fit the host family’s working schedule. There is a requirement for a full two days off during the week. (Generally the au-pair will take this time off during the weekend.) Child care is defined by the parents and may include diaper changing, bathing, dressing, and transportation to and from school, feeding, playing, and general interaction.
Light housework. This means that the au-pair keeps his/her personal space neat and tidy, does his/her own laundry, shares the duty of laundry with the host family (as reasonable), and shares with the host family the job of keeping the area used by the children neat and tidy.
What is NOT expected of an au-pair?
More than 35 hours per week of child care (45 hours in the US).
Heavy housework. The au-pair is not a maid!
What the au-pair explicitly cannot do
– Abuse alcoholic beverages. Technically, no partying.
– Abuse the children physically, emotionally, or verbally.
– Abuse the property of the host family in any way.
– Break any laws governing the host family’s country of residence.
– Be solely responsible for the children for more than 24 hours on a regular basis.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to questions that many families will have. Please call us at
+46 722 854857548 if you have a question that is not answered here.
We have three children. Do we pay extra?
No. What you pay us and the au-pair is not related to the number of children you have.
How long will it be before our au-pair arrives?
The time it takes to find an au-pair varies, depending on the specific needs of your family and the availability of an au-pair with corresponding qualifications. If you require an au-pair immediately, contact our office at +46 42 20 44 02 and we will do our best to accommodate your family!
Will our au-pair be able to care for an infant? Is there an additional fee?
Yes, your au-pair will be able to care for your infant child. Your family will be matched with an au-pair who has prior infant care experience. There is no additional fee for caring for infants.
I am a single parent. Will I be able to have an au-pair?
Absolutely! It might take a little longer to find the right au-pair for your family, but many single-parent homes have enjoyed the benefits of having an au-pair.
What happens if it just doesn’t work out?
It’s a good idea to let some time pass before assuming there are irreconcilable differences, perhaps a month. The au-pair may need a little time to settle in and the host family may need a little time to get accustomed to the new family member. Mismatches are a rare occurrence. If difficulties continue, we will rematch you with a different au-pair as soon as possible.
We have young boys. Is it possible for us to host a male au-pair?
Yes. The majority of au-pair candidates are female, but there are also many qualified male au-pairs available.
