No minimum stay is officially stated for an au pair in Italy.

No minimum stay is officially required to au pairs in Italy.

No minimum stay is officially required to students-au pair in Italy.

2 years

According to European Agreement on "au pair" Placement, article 3

Placement of an "au pair" which shall initially be for a period not exceeding one year, however, it may be extended to permit a maximum stay of two years.

12 months

• Maximum 5 hours a day
• Maximum 6 days a week

• The person placed as an au pair must provide the host family services consisting of participation in normal household chores. The time actually devoted to such tasks will not exceed, in principle, the duration of 5 hours per day. (Italian Act of May 18, 1973 No. 304)

• The person placed as an "au pair" shall be given adequate time to attend language courses as well as for cultural and professional improvement; every facility regards the arrangement of working hours shall be accorded to this end.
•  The person placed as an "au pair" shall have at least one full free day per week, not less than one such free day in every month being a Sunday, and shall have full opportunity to take part in religious worship. (Article 8 European Agreement on "au pair" Placement)

• Maximum 5 hours a day
• Maximum 6 days a week

• The person placed as an au pair must provide the host family services consisting of participation in normal household chores. The time actually devoted to such tasks will not exceed, in principle, the duration of 5 hours per day. (Italian Act of May 18, 1973 No. 304)

• The person placed as an "au pair" shall be given adequate time to attend language courses as well as for cultural and professional improvement; every facility regards the arrangement of working hours shall be accorded to this end.
•  The person placed as an "au pair" shall have at least one full free day per week, not less than one such free day in every month being a Sunday, and shall have full opportunity to take part in religious worship. (Article 8 European Agreement on "au pair" Placement)

Please remember that working holiday visa holders are allowed to work not more than 6 months in Italy (also a limit of no more than 3 months with the same employer applies).

• Maximum 5 hours a day
• Maximum 6 days a week

• The person placed as an au pair must provide the host family services consisting of participation in normal household chores. The time actually devoted to such tasks will not exceed, in principle, the duration of 5 hours per day. (Italian Act of May 18, 1973 No. 304)

• The person placed as an "au pair" shall be given adequate time to attend language courses as well as for cultural and professional improvement; every facility regards the arrangement of working hours shall be accorded to this end.
•  The person placed as an "au pair" shall have at least one full free day per week, not less than one such free day in every month being a Sunday, and shall have full opportunity to take part in religious worship. (Article 8 European Agreement on "au pair" Placement)

• Please remind that, student visa holders are in Italy allowed to work up to 1040 hrs per annum (e.g. 20 hrs per week for a year or 40 hrs per week for 6 months, still, when employed as au pairs, they cannot exceed 30 hrs per week, also as students they have to reserve at least 20 hrs per week to the Italian language course). More generally, since it is a combination of two different experiences (being a student and an au pair), the legal limits that apply to each of them overlap one another, with the most restrictive one prevailing.

• 1 full day per week minimum
• 4 free evenings per week minimum

As per Italian law, au pairs are entitled to one full free day per week (of these free days, at least one per month must be a Sunday) also, it is common practice to grant at least 4 free evenings per week.

• 4 weeks per year
• 2 workdays per worked month are granted in case the au pair stays less than a year
• It is common practice that bank holidays are also free for au pairs.

Normally, if an au pair follows his/her host family on vacation and still has to attend his/her duties, that is considered as "normal" work time (of course, travel expenses are on the host family) vice versa if the au pair is free from her usual tasks; that would be considered as a vacation and consequently, that time should be deducted from his/her vacation time. In one case or the other, the au pair is still entitled to receive the pocket money.

According to Italian law and European Agreement on "au pair" Placement

A person placed as an "au pair" shall render the receiving family, services consisting of participation in day-to-day family duties

The definition of these services, the rights and obligations of the au pair and the receiving family, the manner in which the person placed as au pair is to share the life of the family (while at the same time enjoying a certain degree of independence) will be the subject of an agreement in writing determined between the au pair and the host family.

So far the law, which allows a certain degree of flexibility in order to allow the parties to satisfy their mutual needs, more in general, good sense and common practice suggest to look at the au pair as an extra member of the family (au pair literally means "on equal terms") which lends a helping hand, this leaves no room at all for exploitation.

Which work should be done by an au pair? which is definitely not ok? Take part in the discussion in our community!

There is no official regulation regarding what is deemed to be an unsuitable task for an au pair to perform. The law leaves enough room to the involved parties to define what is in their best interest. Nevertheless, again common practice (and common sense!) come in handy in these cases (e.g. the au pair shouldn't be expected to take care of elderly members of the family as he/she is not a caregiver).

Join our community and discuss what do you definitely think an au pair doesn't have to do!

The law does not define the amount of pocket money which an au pair is entitled to. Common practice in Italy is to pay 250/300 € per month (for a weekly commitment of 30 hrs) such amount should be payable also in the case of illness and holidays.

Board and lodging are provided by the host family for free, this also includes holidays and (possible) illness periods.

According to the European Agreement on "au pair" Placement, the au pair

where possible, shall occupy a separate room

In this regard, as an example, we can cite that among the strict acts and formalities that have to be performed before the entry of a non-EU worker, there is the obligation to certify the habitability and health and medical fitness of the provided accommodation (certificate to be requested from the municipality of competence for residence). Similarly, it is not illogical to assume that such high standards, even in cases where they are not explicitly and preventively required, must be in fact met.

Unless otherwise stated by an agreement between the au pair and the host family, every possible expense for language courses is to be borne by the au pair.

There are no official regulations regarding who has to pay the au pair's travel expenses. Nevertheless, it is common practice that they are sustained by the au pair.

According to Italian law, the host family is expected to provide for the au pairs health, accident and maternity coverage; either registering them to the national health system and/or by subscribing to a private insurance.

In this respect, it is useful to keep in mind that EU citizens which hold a valid European Health Insurance Card (TEAM in Italy) are covered for a stay of up to three months and can access the sanitary system just paying a cost-sharing charge.
For a stay over three months of an EU au pair, or in case the au pair is not in possession of a TEAM card (either because he/she is a non-entitled EU citizen or simply because he/she is not an EU citizen) a medical insurance is required (in the case of an invitation letter for a VISA request, it is among the documents to be borne by the host family).

Au pairs have in Italy the opportunity to access the Italian national health system (even for stays under three months - residence required) paying a reduced flat-rate contribution.

It's also important to note that, even when not specifically requested by law, it is common practice (and highly recommended) that the family subscribes to a civil liability insurance for damages either caused by au pairs during their stay or suffered  while performing their tasks.

According to Italian law, the host family is expected to provide for the au pairs health, accident and maternity coverage, either registering them to the national health system and/or by subscribing to a private insurance.

In this respect, it is useful to keep in mind that in order to apply for a Working Holiday Visa, New Zealand citizens are required to have a:

certificate of insurance with a schedule of a benefits policy confirming full unlimited
medical and hospital coverage for the entire validity of the visa (or up to Euro 30.000)

it is common practice that for au pairs, such insurance is to be borne by the host family, (limited to the period they live with the family)

more information can be found here.

Au pairs have in Italy the opportunity to access Italian national health system paying a reduced flat-rate contribution.

It's also important to note that, even when not specifically requested by law, it's common practice that the family subscribes a civil liability insurance for damages caused by au pairs during their stay or suffered while performing their tasks.

Candidates to Italy's study visa program, are normally required by the consular offices where the visa request is presented, to provide proof of international medical insurance that is covers throughout the Schengen area. More details regarding required insurance/s can be obtained through the local branch of the Italian consular network.

In addition to that, it is useful to keep in mind that, according to Italian law, the host family is expected to provide for the au pairs health, accident and maternity coverage, either registering them to the national health system and/or by subscribing to a private insurance.

Au pairs have in Italy the opportunity to access the Italian national health system (even for stays under three months - residence required) paying a reduced flat-rate contribution.

It's also important to note that, even when not specifically requested by law, it is common practice (and highly recommended) that the family subscribes a civil liability insurance for damages either caused by the au pairs during their stay or suffered  while performing their tasks.

To the best of our knowledge, in Italy, au pairs are not required to pay any social security contributions.

Au pairs are not, to the best of our knowledge, expected to pay (au pair related) taxes in Italy.

• pocket money: 275€
• insurances: ~ 45€
• board and lodging: ~ 210€
• ev. public transportation ticket needed to perform assigned tasks (e.g. to accompany children to school): ~40€
• ev. higher car insurance in case the au pair is allowed to use it for the same reasons as above

This sum up to about 570€ per month

The au pair and the family are free to decide, within the time frame prescribed by law, the duration of the contract.

In case this is not determined, the law permits the termination of it by any of the involved parties with a two weeks notice.

In any case, the contract can be immediately terminated by either party in the event of serious misconduct by the other party, or if other serious circumstances require it.