An employment contract has to be signed between the au pair and the host family (as individual employer).

The employment contract will be defined by the hours worked, the tasks, etc.

All the details of the collective agreement ruling for an au pair employed by a private employer can be located here (in French). A draft for the employment agreement can be located here (in French) and for the payslip here.

The list of required documents can be found here (in French). For more information: French Embassy in Russia (in French).

The foreign temporary familial trainee must enter into a written agreement: the placement agreement with the host family, using the following form: Cerfa n°61-2116. The work contract (accord de placement) drawn up with the French family and approved by the local Department of Work and Employment (Direccte) has to be provided when applying for the visa.

This agreement specifies:

• the services the au pair provides to the host family
• the working schedules (5 hours maximum per day)
• the housing conditions and lodging standard
• the weekly rest (at least one day off a week, with a mandatory Sunday per month)
• the amount of your pocket money (legal minimum requirement is between 264,00 and 316,80 Eur

The applicant must have secured employment before applying for a visa. 

An invitation letter is not required.

The candidate must provide an employment contract (accord de placement) signed by the french labor Department (Direccte) in France.

The au pair employee falls under the general Social Security scheme (sickness, maternity, employment injury, basic pensions) and supplementary pension fund for employees of individuals (IRCEM).

The au pair also benefits from unemployment insurance.

An insurance for the entire stay is highly recommended.

The au pair is covered by the French Security System. 

The costs of the social security contributions are to be borne by the host family.

As a non-European wanting to work as an employee in France, the candidate must have been authorized by the French administration. It is only once you have been provided with a work permit that you can receive a valid visa.

The costs of the work permit application has to be borne by the future employer (the host family). The costs of the visa can be found here (in French).

The candidate must apply for the following working holiday visa.

To enter and stay in France, the au pair must request a long-stay visa as residence permit.

The au pair must submit her/his application to the competent French consulate in her/his country of residence. The Foreign temporary familial trainee must attach the placement agreement she/he has with the host family and approved by the territorial services of the Direccte.

As the agreement between the au pair and the host family follows an employment contract, a medical expertise is required.

The additional documents are (originals and copies):

• Three ID pictures
• International passport
• National passport
• Inbound and outbound flights
• Recent bank statement
• Criminal record

The written agreement between the au pair and the host family must be accompanied by the medical certificate of the au pair issued less than 3 months ago and attesting to good health (certificate has to be translated into French by a certified translator if it is established in a foreign language).

The trip will normally be organized by the au pair, of course in accordance with the host family.

Even when everything is clear and all questions are asked, it's good to stay in touch until the journey starts - it's important that also the children get to know that a new au pair is coming and communicating from time to time through Skype is a good way to get used to each other.

The trip will normally be organized by the au pair, of course in accordance with the host family.

Even when everything is clear and all questions are asked, it's good to stay in touch until the journey starts - it's important that also the children get to know that a new au pair is coming and communicating from time to time through Skype is a good way to get used to each other.

What to take with you as au pair? In our community you can find tips from other au pairs!

Please note: Border authorities may examine whether the prerequisites for entry continue to apply. This examination is international practice. The au pair might be refused entry even though (s)he is in the possession of a valid visa, if the prerequisites for entry no longer apply.

Therefore the au pair should carry with him/her documents giving evidence to the purpose of the stay - in particular proof of sufficient funds (au pair contract) and health insurance.

Once arrived in France, the candidate will have to settle his/her situation with the Ofii office, the required documents are here (in French).

An additional tax has then to be paid (details here).

Once he (she) has arrived in France (and at the latest in the three months following the entry into France), the applicant must send the OFII form to the nearest Ofii offfice.

Within 3 months of arrival in France, the au pair needs to validate the visa by the Ofii.

The host family who hires the au pair employee has to report the latter using this form within 8 days of the hiring or the arrival of the au pair.

A Temporary Work permit will not be required at the time of visa application, however, it must be obtained once in France prior to taking up any form of employment. 

The work permit shall be granted by the French Labour Department (Direccte, link in French) for the duration of the position. 

In order to open a bank account, the au pair needs to provide the following documents :

• a valid indentity document with a picture and a signature: passport, etc.
• a proof of address: gas or electricity bill, certificate of residence (provided by the host family
• (a specimen signature card for a joint account)

Note: a bank can ask for a proof of income, especially if the newcomer asks for a credit card or a cheque book.

More details can be find on the website of the French banking federation.

Alternatively, a bank account can be open online in under 8 minutes with N26 (also on Smartphones).

In order to drive in France with a driving licence issued outside the EEA for a maximal period of one year, the driver's driving licence must meet the following conditions:

• be valid
• has been issued by the country where the driver used to have normal residence before coming to France
• must be written in French or accompanied by an official translation

Furthermore, the driver:

• must have the minimum age required to drive a vehicle from the equivalent category (at least 18 for the "B licence")
• must not be under any suspension, restriction or cancellation measure in the country where the driving licence has been issued
• not has been subject in France, before the issuance of the foreign driving licence, of the cancellation of your driving licence
• be used in in accordance with any medical restriction (use of glasses for instance) noted in the driving licence

Driving licence issued by the other countries of the Economic European Area (EEA) are valid in France.

To be valid in France, the driving licence should meet 3 conditions:

• be valid
• be used by a driver that has the minimum age required to drive a vehicle from the equivalent category (at least 18 for the "B licence")
• be used in in accordance with any medical restriction (use of glasses for instance) noted in the driving licence

Furthermore, the driver:

• must not be under any suspension, restriction or cancellation measure in the country where the driving licence has been issued
• or must not have obtained a permit in another European country for a period of prohibition of soliciting or obtaining a driving license in France (for example, to accompany a license cancellation penalty)

In order to drive in France with a driving licence issued outside the EEA for a maximal period of one year, the driver's driving licence must meet the following conditions:

• be valid
• has been issued by the country where the driver used to have normal residence before coming to France
• must be written in French or accompanied by an official translation

Furthermore, the driver:

• must have the minimum age required to drive a vehicle from the equivalent category (at least 18 for the "B licence")
• must not be under any suspension, restriction or cancellation measure in the country where the driving licence has been issued
• not has been subject in France, before the issuance of the foreign driving licence, of the cancellation of your driving licence
• be used in in accordance with any medical restriction (use of glasses for instance) noted in the driving licence

In order to drive in France with a driving licence issued outside the Economic European Area (EEA) for a maximal period of one year, the driver's driving licence must meet the following conditions:

• be valid
• has been issued by the country where the driver used to have normal residence before coming to France
• must be written in French or accompanied by an official translation

Furthermore, the driver:

• must have the minimum age required to drive a vehicle from the equivalent category (at least 18 for the "B licence")
• must not be under any suspension, restriction or cancellation measure in the country where the driving licence has been issued
• not has been subject in France, before the issuance of the foreign driving licence, of the cancellation of your driving licence
• be used in in accordance with any medical restriction (use of glasses for instance) noted in the driving licence

If the au pair wants to stay in France for a longer period than allowed by his/her visa, he/she must apply for a residence permit application within 2 months before the expiration date of the visa. 

The costs and the documentation required can be located here (in French).

The working holiday visa cannot be extended.

Participants are not eligible to receive any unemployment or social welfare benefits while in France.

Have a look at our tips, how to change family!

Also consider the following, especially when the au pair leaves earlier than planned:

• Cancel standing order for pocket money
• Cancel au pair insurance

No administrative requirements found in order to leave France.