Au Pair Programme France

 

Au pair contract

You need to sign the au pair contract together with your host family prior to your departure. You can download it from our page Contract. In your au pair contract you should include your precise working conditions (such as working hours, days off, pocket money, etc.).

To be officially recognized as an au pair in France, your contract needs to be validated by the respective areal unit of the DIRECCTE (body in charge of companies, competition, consumption, work and employment, former supervisory board of work on departmental level) at your host familiy's place of residence prior to your arrival in France or within one week upon your arrival at the latest. The au pair contract validated by the DIRECCTE forms an essential part of the documents for your visa application. If you wish to find out which formalities you need to take care of, follow our step-by-step guide on our page How do I get to France?.

Health and social insurance

In France, au pairs are covered in case of illness, accident or maternity. To be entitled to benefits, your host family needs to register you with the French social insurance and, more precisely, with their local Caisse Primaire d'Assurance Maladie (CPAM). You will obtain your social security number which you will need to claim social security benefits.

For this purpose, your host family needs to register you as a "stagiaire aide familial étranger" with the local URSSAF (Union de Recouvrement des cotisations de Sécurité Sociale et d'Allocations Familiales) within the first eight days after your arrival. This will allow them to pay the monthly contributions for your health and social insurance. You will not have to pay any contributions.

General liability insurance

It is a good idea to extend the family's general liability insurance to the au pair. Alternatively, your host family can take out an individual insurance for you.

Driving and driving licence

You should discuss with your host family beforehand if you are expected to drive. Should this be the case, you should find out whether your driving licence is valid in your host country. It is possible that you have to apply for an international driving licence. You can find out more with regard to this topic on the website of the French Road Safety Authority. It is also important to clarify the following questions: What happens in the event of damage? Who pays for the damage? You should discuss these matters with your host family in good time. Often it is possible to extend the family's insurance to the au pair.

Safety

• You should discuss important details with your host family prior to your departure. The best thing for you to do is to phone each other as often as possible. In this context, you can clarify the following questions: When will you arrive? Will your host family pick you up? You will find more important tips to this topic on our page Safety.
• Do not forget that it will be very important for you to have a fair knowledge of French. This will make it considerably easier for you to get used to your new home and the contact to your host family.

Useful link:

• URSSAF: Declaration and payment of contributions by the host family

More information on France for au pairs:

• Quick Check for au pairs
• How do I get to France? (for EU citizens, for non-EU citizens)
• Pocket money, working hours, time off & Co.

More information on France for host families

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