An au pair is in charge of taking care of the children and lives within the home of the family. The au pair is provided accommodation and meals and a stipend of spending money. The family gains a loving caretaker for their children and an addition to the family.

The au pair system has been steadily gaining in popularity in Scandinavia. One of the reasons for this slow growth is the perception of the North as cold and clinical, and the fact that few foreigners are interested in learning Norwegian. However, becoming an au pair is the perfect way to afford living in this expensive region. However, the red tape for North Americans is still considerable.

What the au pair must know

Basic application criteria vary from agency to agency, there are a few typical requirements:
• Speak and write conversational Norwegian (or be willing to learn)
• Be between 18-30 years old
• Have a High School diploma or equivalent
• Agree to having a background check performed
• Have at least 6 months child care experience
• Be able to provide 3 references regarding your experience and character
• Be in good physical and mental condition as evidenced by a Physician's Rep
• The minimum stay is six months and the maximum stay is two years

What the family has to do

The family has to welcome the au pair in thinking that she is not just an employee, but an important part of the family. Therefore they will make sure:
• The au pair must have her own bedroom.
• The au pair will work to a maximum of 35 hours per week She should have minimum 2 days off during the week.
• They understand that having an au pair doesn't mean having a servant.
• Au pairs may be asked to do some housework as agreed upon in the contract.
• The host family will register the au pair with the Norwegian Health Service which will cover them during their stay. This means that if they get ill during their stay, they will only have to pay a small fee for the medical treatment at the hospital or the doctor.
• The family should pay an allowance (defined within the contract). Anywhere from 70 to 100 euros a week is acceptable.

Visa & Permits

To receive the necessary paperwork to au pair, it is expected that the au pair will be learning about Norwegian language and culture. A concrete job offer must have been made to the applicant before he or she applies for a permit, and the permit must be granted prior to entry into Norway. Permits are available for up to two years and does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.

To apply, the au pair must submit:
• Application form with (passport) photograph
• Copy of passport
• Standard contract of employment with information on the host family's nationality and a description of work tasks

Aspiring au pairs may hire a company to take care of the legalities. Agencies like Travel Visa Pro can help advise and prepare the paperwork. There are also many agencies that specialize in setting up au pairs.

For more information on visas, consult the UDI au pair site.

Au Pair Agencies

• http://orgs.tigweb.org/atlantis-youth-exchange
• http://www.aupair-agency.com/Aupair-Wanted-Norway.htm
• http://www.aupair.se/
• http://www.newaupair.com/work_nannies_norway.aspx
• http://www.easyaupair.com/aupair_jobs/Norway/
• http://www.interexchange.org/