Pocket money, working hours and contract for au pairs in Iceland

There is an official au pair contract for Iceland. Au pairs and host families must speak beforehand about the details of the au pair stay (working hours, schedule, holidays, pocket money, etc.) and then sign the contract. This is the best way to avoid future disappointments.

Downloads

• Official au pair contract in Iceland

Termination
If the au pair contract is terminated, then a form must be filled out and sent to the Directorate of Immigration. There's a period notice of 15 days if the au pair initiates the termination and 30 days if the family does.

An au pair residence permit can be granted for a period of 12 months maximum. It cannot be renewed.

The primary responsibility of au pairs is to help with childcare in the family. In addition, they also help with light housekeeping chores. They may also help the children with school homework or with taking care of the family pets, but not as their main responsibilities. An au pair is not a nanny and not a pet caregiver.

More information on housework:

• Is an au pair required to help with housework?

Au pairs in Iceland receive weekly pocket money of 15,000 IKR.

More information on this topic:

• Is there extra pay for babysitting?

Au pairs in Iceland are entitled to their own room that can be locked and has a window. They also are entitled to have all their meals with the family or the children. Board and lodging are thus provided free of charge in return for the au pair's work in the family.

More information on the topic:

• What should an au pair room look like?

Au pairs work a maximum of 30 hours per week or 5 hours per day. 

More information on the topic:

• What are working hours and what is free time?
• How are public holidays handled?

Au pairs are entitled to one free day per week as well as at least one free weekend per month.

For each 6 months of the au pair stay in Iceland, the au pair is entitled to one week of holiday. This holiday time can be spent as au pairs choose, either on their own or with the family.

More information:

• Going on holiday with your au pair
• Going on holiday without the au pair

The au pair shall be given adequate time to attend a language course. Working hours shall be arranged so as to make this possible. Au pairs pay for the cost of a language course themselves.

More information on this topic:

• Do au pairs have to attend a language course?
• Which language level do I need to become an au pair?

To be safely and fully insured, au pairs from all countries (EEA and non-EEA) need to have a comprehensive private au pair insurance for au pair stays in Iceland. Host families in Iceland are required to cover the costs for this insurance. 

AuPairWorld recommends the PROTRIP-WORLD insurance package for this purpose. It is especially designed for au pairs and other young people spending time abroad. Among other benefits, this insurance covers the full costs of inpatient and outpatient medical care (often not covered in full with the EHIC card for EU au pairs), plus return transport to the home country for medical reasons (not covered at all with the EHIC card).

More information on insurance:

• Expert advice and online insurance purchase from AuPairWorld's partner DR-WALTER.
• Au Pair Wiki: How should I be insured as an au pair?

According to the law in Iceland, the au pair and host family should reach an agreement on the payment of travel costs. The family may pay them in full or in part, but as a minimum the family should cover half of the travel costs. If the contract is terminated beforehand, there are certain rules depending on who terminates it and how it is terminated. 

We recommend that host families pay the travel costs once the au pair has arrived in Iceland and not in advance.