This page is designed for young Canadians willing to participate in an Au Pair program abroad.
If you are from another country you want to be a Caregiver in Canada, click here.

Au Pair in France

Who is eligible
What the job is about
How to apply


 Who is eligible?


n order to meet the program requirements for France, you need to:

  • Be between 18 and 26 years old
  • Must have learned French for 2 to 3 years minimum. If the applicant has never studied French, we will not be able to accept the application
  • Must have some childcare experience (babysitting, camp counseling, kinder-garden internship...) and possibly childcare related or first aid diploma
  • Should have completed high school and be in good health
  • A driver's license is a plus. If the applicant is used to automatic cars, please note that French cars use stick shifts
  • Be a student in the current year and have studied French in school

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What is the job about ?

Duties and Responsibilities of an Au Pair:

  • Be flexible, because work hours can be scheduled differently according to the family or the day of the week
  • Being a non-smoker is a plus for placement
  • Take the children to school, pick them up, prepare their meals, play with them, supervise their homework, give them bath and bottle...
  • The family will ask to be helped with the housework
  • Help preparing meals, keep own room and the children's rooms in order...
  • Vacuum once a week and tidy up the house or help with the ironing (some families might ask the Au Pair to do that. The housework is of course to be done within working hours. In a typical French family, both parents work, from 8:00 AM to 6:00 or 7:00 PM, therefore they have little time to care for their children or do the housework )
  • Some jobs also require to work on weekends, as shops and restaurants tend more and more to be open on Sundays

The host family is requested to welcome the Au Pair as a family member. In counterpart, the Au pair has to respect the commitment

Family's Responsibilities:

  • Provide the Au Pair with written information of her/his childcare and housework duties
  • Welcome the Au Pair as a family member
  • Facilitate for the Au Pair to join a Sport Club or Local Cultural Center
  • Pay the Au Pair and give her/him the agreed time off

Duration of assignment:

  • Summer stay: 2-3 months from June to September
  • Winter stay: 6 months from January to June
  • School year stay: September to June
  • 1 year-stay: departures between June and October and in January

Time off:

The Au Pair is entitled to 1 day off during the week and hours of free time during the day. The day will probably be off on Sunday. The Au Pair will also benefit of 1 week paid vacation (6 months within long-term stay). Of course, if the family agrees, the Au Pair can take more days off that would be in this case without pay

Resignation:

15 days notice

Pocket money:

  • Au Pair - 30 hours (5-6h a day) = 75 EURO / week
  • Au Pair Plus - 35 hours = 85 EURO / week

The pocket money is usually paid each week
Free board and room (personal bedroom - but exceptional situation)

Enrollment fees:

110 EURO (postal order or bank check; Eurocheck not accepted) (50 EURO non refundable) paid to the partner agency
If the Au Pair cancels application before a host family offer, our partner agency will reimburse the placement fee. If the Au Pair cancels after an offer, no fees will be refunded
In any case, the yearly contribution remains due to the partner agency

Commitment deposit:

There is a commitment deposit of CAD350 (it includes the processing and screening fees; CAD100 refundable)

Au Pair's expenses:

The Au Pair is responsible for her/his own toiletries and entertainment

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How to apply ?

The Application Process:

  • Read the terms and conditions of the program and pay special attention to those specified by our French partner
  • Fill out the Application Form
  • Write a "Dear Family" letter both handwritten and typed
  • Identify 3 different persons who can provide non-related 2 Childcare and 1 Character References
  • Attach 4 smiling passport photos, 1 full length photo, photos of the Au Pair with family or children that can be arranged in a collage
  • Attach own criminal report check or be ready to sign an authorization to be criminal checked
  • Contact us by mail, phone or e-mail to schedule an appointment for an interview

What Happens Next

The full application is reviewed in our office and then submitted to our partner agency in France
In case of acceptance a prospective host family will contact the Au Pair by phone and after that make the decision to whether work together or not. If not another host family will be searched for the Au Pair
The earlier the Au Pair applies the better chances are of placement

Orientation:

Our partner agency in France will help the Au Pair adjust to the new environment; a listing of the Au Pairs in the area and of the French schools, as well as maps and guides are available
The Au Pair can call our partner agency at any time of the year to ask for information or to discuss life as an Au Pair
On request, our partner agency will provide a certificate for the Au Pair stay in France

Visa:

The Au Pair is encouraged to contact the French Embassy to be sure of eligibility (needs to be a student in the current year and have studied French in school). A family placement is needed to apply for visa

Insurance:

For a long-term stay, French families have to declare the Au Pair and it will ensure her/his social security. For a short-term stay, the Au Pair should make sure to have an international medical insurance. In any case, we always advise the Au Pair to have a personal insurance

Travel:

The Au Pair pays for own travel expenses. If applying for a short-term placement, it is better to buy a return ticket

Languages classes:

The Au Pair will certainly have the possibility to follow French classes in a private school. The school fees are at own charge. Please note that schools are often closed during the summer. Upon arrival, the Au Pair will be provided with suitable school addresses

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This chapter is designed to give you an idea about the program and familiarize you with the costs. It does not intent to be a real chart. The airfare, insurance and visa costs may vary from time to time and from agency to agency.

For special requirements please contact us at: aupair@aupair.ca
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