Please note that we are currently updating this section. The form “Important information for au pairs and their host families on entitlements and obligations” is not yet available in English.
A fact sheet will also be available shortly.
Au pair is a work arrangement that allows young people to increase their language ability and gain greater knowledge of Norway and Norwegian culture by living with a Norwegian family. In return, the au pairs carry out tasks such as housework and childminding for their host family.
The aim of the au pair arrangement is to facilitate cultural exchange.
NB: Separate rules apply for citizens of EU/EEA countries. However, this permit covers EEA/EFTA citizens who are subject to transitional rules and who apply for a permit to work as an au pair.
In order to obtain a work permit as an au pair:
- You must be aged between 18 and 30
- It must to be likely that you will return to your home country after the permit has expired, and the conditions for a return must be in place
- The host family may be a married couple with or without children, partners or cohabitants with or without children, or a single father or mother with children. Single people without children cannot be a host family.
- A permit will not be granted for work with own family members, i.e. siblings, cousins, brothers/sisters-in-law, uncles or aunts.
- The family must convey Norwegian language and society, and speak Norwegian on a daily basis.
- As a main rule, you cannot be of the same nationality as anyone in the host family
- If one or more of the host family members are of a foreign nationality or background, this should generally not be the same as yours. If one of the host parents is of the same nationality as you, they must have lived in Norway for at least 10 years.
- The host family may only have one au pair employed at a time.
- The host family must spend time with you in daily life
- There needs to be a concrete offer of employment, and the UDI’s standard contract needs to be signed by you and the host family
- You may not work for other employers that your host family, and you may not combine work as an au pair with other work. This is regardless of whether you receive payment for this work or not
- Normal working hours must not exceed 5 hours per day, and max 30 hours per week. You may not work more than 30 hours, even if you are paid extra.
- You are entitled to holiday totalling 25 working days per calendar year.
- You are entitled to a minimum of 48 hours off per week (free period). The free period must, as far as possible, be continuous and never less than 24 hours.
- You may perform tasks such as household work, child care as well as pet care. The au pair permit does not give permission to for work solely as a maid or nanny
- You must be given the opportunity to take part in Norwegian language tuition and leisure activities.
- The host family must pay for your Norwegian language tuition with up to NOK 6000 per year.
- You must get free board and lodging, and receive payment of at least NOK 4,000 per month
- You must live with the host family for the entire period of the contract, and be given your own room in the host family’s home
The form “Important information for au pairs and their host families on entitlements and obligations” (attachment 2 to circular 2007 - 020) needs to be signed by the au pair, the host family and the au pair agency.
As a main rule you need to submit your application at a Norwegian foreign service mission (embassy/consulate) in your home country, or in a country where you have had a work or residence permit for the last six months. If you are a skilled worker/specialist, you may submit the application with the police in the district you live. In addition, you need to either:
- Have a residence or work permit lasting three months or more
- Have been granted a visa for three months
- Are entitled to live in Norway for three months without a permit (i.e. without a visa) or
- Have been granted a visa, i.e. a job seeker’s visa, for a period of less than three months.
The option to apply for a work permit in Norway is not applicable to skilled workers/specialists who are living in Norway while applying for asylum or while waiting to leave the country following a failed asylum application. You may also see the UDI circular 2002-001 (on the job seeker visa) and 2002-002 (on the right to apply for work permit from Norway)
The host family may apply for a work permit on your behalf, if you give them written power of attorney. The application must be submitted to the police in the district in which the host family lives. In such a case, the host family will be informed of the decision on your application (via the police), and the family must inform you of the decision. It is a condition that you must be living in your country of origin. It should be noted that the case processing time will be longer if the host family submits the application (see below).
You may not start working until you have received a work permit. The police may, on request, issue a temporary believe it is likely that your application will be granted. In this case, you must meet the conditions for submitting an application from within Norway.
If you require a visa to enter Norway, you must take a copy of the work permit to your nearest foreign service mission in order to obtain an entry visa for Norway. The foreign service mission will make an independent assessment of whether a visa may be granted.
If the UDI at a later stage grants a permit, the decision is valid from the date the temporary permit was granted. It is not taken into consideration when you arrived in Norway and started working.
In addition to a completed application form, you must include:
- UDIs standard contract signed by you and the host family.
- Signed form “Important information for au pairs and their host families on entitlements and obligations". This documents is so far only available in Norwegian.
- Documentation of the host family’s nationality (for example a copy of their passports)
- Copy of passport. The passport must generally be valid for at least two months after the period for which the permit has been granted. If the application is submitted in Norway, the date of arrival should appear clearly.
- If the application has been submitted in another country than your home country: documentation that you have had legal residence in this country for the last six months
- If the host family consists of one parent: documentation on his/her share of the custody
- A signed power of attorney to the host family, if applicable
- Passport photo/other photo which meets the set requirements
- You must also pay a fee
All documents attached to the application have to be translated into English or Norwegian.
NB: The requirement for documentation varies from country to country, and may change over time. You should therefore check what requirements currently apply by contacting the Norwegian embassy in the country from which you are applying.
Case processing times vary. For an overview of average processing times for the various types of permit, visit www.udi.no/caseprocessingtime. You can also contact the Information Service (OTS) by e-mail or by calling (+ 47) 23 35 16 00.
The case processing time may be longer if the application is submitted by the host family in Norway. This is often due to the police’s large case load.
In order to avoid unnecessary case processing delays, it is important to take care when completing the application form and to include all the requested documentation.
- The permit to work as an au pair is granted for one year at a time, and cannot be granted for more than two years in total.
- The permit does not constitute grounds for a settlement permit.
- As long as you have a valid work permit as an au pair, you may submit an application to change host family at any time (This is considered an application for renewal)
- If you wish to renew your permit to work as an au pair, either with the same host family or with a new host family, you must submit a new application at least one month before your current permit expires.
- You cannot start working for the new family until you have been granted a new work permit as an au pair
- The application must be submitted to the police in the district where you live. You must do this in person.
- The same requirements for documentation as for the first time work permit (you may however be 30 years of age)
- You must also pay a fee when applying for renewal.
Philippine authorities don’t acknowledge the au pair arrangement, and don’t want their citizen to be granted work permit to go to Norway as au pairs. Norwegian immigration authorities has to comply with Norwegian law, and cannot reject or refuse to process cases for work permits as au pairs based on the laws in other countries.
This means that Philippine nationals may be denied permit to leave their home country even if they have been granted a work permit as au pair in Norway. Norwegian authorities are unable to assist in such case.
If your application for a work permit is rejected, you may appeal against this decision. If you appeal, your application will be re-examined by the UDI. The UDI may overturn the decision and grant the requested permit. If the UDI upholds the decision, the case is sent on to the Immigration Appeals Board (UNE) for new consideration.
If you are still unsure about anything relating to how you apply for this type of work permit, more information can be found in the UDI’s circular on work permits for au pairs. You can also contact your local Norwegian embassy or consulate, or the Information Service (OTS).
