The north of France is reputed for its warm, friendly people and has a high student population. It has a rich industrial past, particularly in the textile trade, and has an important place in the French economy. It is also at the forefront of new technologies. Culture too is high on the agenda, particularly this year with Lille designated European capital of culture.
As an Au pair in France, you’ll receive:
- Placement with a carefully screened host family
- A private room and full board
- A stipend of at least 300 Euros per month
- Up to 2 weeks of vacation, depending on your program’s length
- At least one and a half consecutive days off per week (and at least one Sunday per month will be free)
- Transportation card or the possibility to use the family car
- Basic health, accident and liability insurance through the French Social Security System (except summer au pair placements)
- ISE card – International Student & Youth Exchange Identification Card
- Pre-departure packet, including program guide, Au pair notebook, tips and more
- Arrival packet with logistical information and contact info for other Au pairs in your area
- Monthly gatherings (for participants close to Cologne)
- Sometimes the host family can offer you some perks such as contributing to the language course fees, paying for a bus or rail pass, etc
Free time
To give you time to study and visit France, your host family has to allow you :
– one or two days off a week, if possible at the weekend, with at least one Sunday a month for worship,
– enough free time for your French lessons and leisure pursuits,
– one week paid holiday after 6 continuous months with the family.
Fee
The Au pair program in France usually costs $600 AUD, but we have a promotion during this month: If you register and send your application this month your placement fee is only :
$500 !
Other costs to consider:
- Airfare
- Visa required for programs longer than three months
- Language classes required for programs longer than three months – classes usually cost around 400 Euros per trimester (every 10 weeks)*
- Personal spending money
- Insurance for short-term au pairs (basic insurance is provided for long-term au pairs the the French Social Security System)
*After your placement is confirmed, our International Cooperator or your host family will help you find a language school where you can enroll in French classes.
The Au pair program in France usually costs $600 AUD, but we have a promotion during this month: If you register and send your application this month your placement fee is only :
$500 !
Program Length
- Long-Term Au Pair: Six to 12 months
- Summer Au Pair: Two to three months
Program Dates
We can match au pairs with host families throughout the year, but the best time to start is in the late summer or early fall (August/September). This is when there is the highest demand among families.
Your exact program dates will be agreed upon by you and your host family. After you submit your application, expect to wait around four weeks for a host family match. You will meet your host family over Skype before finalizing the placement.
Application Deadlines
We are currently accepting applications for au pair programs beginning in January.
To be an Au pair in France, you must:
- Be an Australian citizen between the ages of 18 and 26
- Have a high school diploma
- Have previous child care or babysitting experience and a genuine love of children
- Be able to commit to a placement for at least six months
- Meet the visa requirements for France
- Attend French language classes while in France (this is a requirement to meet the France Visa requirements for the Long-Stay Au Pair Visa program)
- Have basic skills in French – long-term au pairs must be able to show proof on a high school or college transcript that you have taken at least one French class of any level
- Complete a successful interview with an Au pair World staff member
- Possess the physical and mental capacity and dedication to carry out the responsibilities of the program without interruption
- Provide a clear criminal background check
Au pair World reserves the right to refuse acceptance to an applicant who we believe to be unsuitable for our programs for any reason.
