The applicant and the host family must complete a written contract issued by the Directorate of Immigration.
Food and accommodation
The host family shall provide the au pair with food and a lockable private room with a window in the family's home. The host family's obligation to provide food and accommodation also extends to holidays and sick days of the au pair.
Health insurance
The host family must purchase health insurance for the au pair that is valid for the first 6 months of the stay.
Pocket money
The host family is required to pay the au pair a minimum of 15.000 ISK in pocket money per week. A higher amount of pocket money does not entitle the family to demand increased work contribution.
Tasks at the host household
The au pair's tasks in the home of the host family may be childcare, accompanying children to and from school and leisure activities, and light housework, i.e. easy cleaning, simple cooking and light shopping.
Au pairs are not to take care of chronically ill children or other individuals in a similar position.
Working hours
The working hours of an au pair may not exceed 30 hours per week or 5 hours per day. The work shall be performed during daytime working hours and longer working hours may not be negotiated. Au pairs are not to perform night work, taking care of children in the night is considered night work.
Free time
Au pairs are entitled to one day off per week and at least one weekend off per month. After 26 weeks of work with a host family, the au pair is entitled to a week-long holiday during which the au pair may reside in a different place from the family.
Travel expenses
The host family and au pair shall agree on the payment of travel expenses to and from Iceland. The host family shall pays at least half of the travel expenses, but it is possible to negotiate for the host family to pay all travel expenses or a larger portion of them.
The host family pays all travel expenses
If the host family terminates the contract, without any breach by the au pair.
If the au pair cannot fulfill the contract due to illness or an accident.
If the au pair terminates the contract on grounds of default or misconduct by the host family.
In the event of a dispute between the host family and the au pair regarding travel expenses, following the termination of the placement agreement (whether it’s reimbursement of costs paid by either party before the placement or foreseeable costs due to the au pair's return home), the Directorate of Immigration does not have means to collect any alleged claims of one or both parties. If the host family and the au pair cannot reach an agreement on their claims, they can refer their case to Icelandic courts for a ruling to resolve such a civil dispute.
Termination of contract
Both the au pair and the host family may terminate the contract on grounds of default by one party or on grounds of other serious circumstances, for example illness that affects the au pair or the host family.
If either the au pair or the host family terminates the contract before the placement period is over, the contract shall be terminated in writing. The party that terminated the contract shall notify the Directorate of Immigration of this by submitting a special form. The termination of an placement contract takes effect when it has been made known to the other contractual party.
If an au pair enters into a new contract with another host family the contract shall be submitted to the Directorate of Immigration along with documents on secure means of support from the new host family.
The au pair is advised to turn to the Directorate of Immigration or the police if he/she needs assistance.
Service provider
Directorate of Immigration