Hard time finding a great daycare solution or a reliable sitter? Have you ever considered an au pair? This might be the perfect solution for you! Hosting an au pair comes with a lot of perks. It is for example way cheaper than daycare, you always have someone who is there for the kids and even helps with household tasks. In our experience, it’s a wonderful cultural experience for families. Excited? Read all about how to become a host family in Switzerland!
What is an au pair?
So, you want to become a host family in Switzerland? But what will you be hosting? In short, what is an au pair? An au pair is someone who lives in your house and helps you with the care for your kids and light household chores. In Switzerland, there are some au pair requirements:
- You are between 17-30 years old;
- Your own language must be different from the spoken language of the host family;
- You are unmarried and have no children;
- You are willing to take a language course.
Requirements to become a host family in Switzerland
Not only the au pair has to fulfill some requirements, but also the host families have to be sure they are allowed to become a host family in Switzerland. The requirements for host families in Switzerland are:
- At least one of your children is of school age or younger;
- You have a Swiss citizenship, a C permit (for “settled foreign nationals”) or a B EU/EFTA permit (for “resident foreign nationals”);
- Your au pair helps with childcare and light housework in your home;
- You have very good knowledge of the language spoken in your region of Switzerland;
- You are of a different nationality and speak a different language than your au pair;
- At least one of the parents can support the au pair during half of their working hours;
- You cover the costs of a language course for your au pair
Process for your au pair to come to Switzerland
To travel to Switzerland, it’s important that your au pair has a valid ID or passport. Before they can start working, they have to apply for a temporary residence permit from the immigration and labor market authorities.
The following documents are required for the application:
- Passport;
- The au pair contract with the duration of your stay;
- The certificate from the municipality with confirmation of your registration;
- A passport photo.
Au pairs from non-EU countries
Au pairs who need a visa to enter Switzerland, so au pairs from non-EU countries, can come and work in Switzerland for a maximum of 12 months and a minimum of 6 months.
Au Pairs only from the US, Canada, Australia, or New Zealand can come on a visa as an au pair in Switzerland. Only some cantons allow for non-EU au pairs, so it is important to verify before moving forward with a candidate if they will be eligible for a visa in your region.
What kind of insurance do you need to have?
An au pair is seen as an employee in Switzerland. This means that the pocket money is subject to social insurance contributions. The host family must request a certificate of insurance for the au pair from the social insurance organization. So you need the same insurance as other employees.
The host family must take out health insurance, accident insurance, pension insurance, and unemployment insurance. Half of the contributions are usually paid by the family, and the other half comes from the au pair’s gross income.
More information for au pairs from the EU countries in Switzerland can be found right here.
Contract
Au pairs and host families must sign 2 copies of the au pair contract before one can start as an au pair with the host family. The contract contains more information about the duties of the au pair and expectations of the host family. Such as the duration of the stay, the number of hours, holidays, language course, pocket money, etc.
The au pair and the host family should discuss mutual expectations before arrival. These agreements must then be laid down in a contract. In Switzerland, the au pair contract is equivalent to the normal employment contracts for domestic workers. There is not one official au pair contract for the whole of Switzerland. We recommend that you contact the relevant Swiss Migration and Employment Office to obtain the form necessary for this.
Three copies of the contract must be signed. The au pair and the host family each receive a copy, and the third copy goes to the Immigration and Labor Market Authority.
It is possible to terminate the contract earlier than stated in the contract. For example, when the au pair and the host family do not get along. The Swiss regulations indicate that the contract usually has one month of probation. During this time, the contract can be canceled with a notice period of 7 days. After the probation period, the au pair contract can only be terminated in writing with a notice period of one month.
Minimum and maximum stay
If the au pair comes from the EU, the au pair and the host family can agree on the duration of the stay. Typically, they start for a one-year stay and can extend up to two years.
As stated in the paragraph above, au pairs who are subject to visa requirements must be able to show a minimum 6-month contract. The maximum duration is 12 months and cannot be extended.
Earnings
As a host family in Switzerland, you will have to pay the au pair between 500 and 800 CHF per month after deductions, regardless of the hours worked. This equates to approximately 1700 to 1880 gross CHF monthly before health insurance, accident coverage, and social security contributions.
Au pairs receive their pocket money also during holidays and when they fall ill. The au pair is to pay 50% of their insurance and social security taxes and the host family will pay the other 50%.
Language course
Au pairs are required to attend a language course of their canton when they are an au pair in Switzerland. They must come in with some knowledge of the canton’s language but cannot be a native speaker.
If there are two languages in the canton they are living in, the au pair can choose their language course of choice. Host families should pay at least 50% of the language course for the au pairs, but most cover the cost entirely.
Amount of working hours
Au pairs in Switzerland can work either 5 hours for 6 days or 6 hours for 5 days depending on their agreement with their host family. The maximum amount of normal au pairs hours is 30 with a few cantons allowing for 40.
If agreed upon, au pairs can work an extra 2 to 3 evenings a week babysitting.
Days off and holidays
The au pair gets at least one and a half days off per week. Twice a month, this day should be a Sunday. You as a host family should make sure that the au pair has at least 4 evenings free per week.
The au pair is entitled to 4 weeks of paid holiday for a 12-month period. If they are younger than 20 years old, they are then entitled to 5 weeks of paid holiday. If the au pair accompanies the family on holiday, then it cannot count as their own holiday time if they are working.
We recommend that au pairs have public holidays off as it allows them to fully experience Swiss culture and get to know the traditions of their canton and country.
Why choose Nanny Nina to find you an au pair?
So you want to become a host family in Switzerland? Great! We can help you with that. We have a big database with a lot of potential and qualified candidates. We have all screened them thoroughly and made sure they are great candidates for your family.
Are you excited to become a host family in Switzerland? Sign up here as a host family in Switzerland, and we will do the rest!
Enjoy your time together!
Frequently asked questions
Is the au pair a certified childcare provider?
Is an au pair entitled to board and lodging?
