The au pair contract

We advise au pairs and host families to sign an au pair contract, in which you clarify in advance what you expect from each other, ensuring a fair work arrangement between you and your host family. It is important to put into writing what your concrete tasks will be, how much holiday you are entitled to or when and how many hours you will have to work, for instance. As there is no official au pair contract in Canada, host families and au pairs usually use the British au pair contract.

Contract termination

There is no official notice period for au pairs in Canada. But, if you wish to terminate the au pair contract you have signed, we recommend you do so by giving two weeks' notice, leaving enough time for your host family to find a replacement au pair and for you to either organise a return trip or find a new host family.

Health insurance

Health-care insurance (which covers medical care, hospitalization and repatriation) should be taken out for the entire duration of your stay in Canada. The cost of this insurance should be beared by you. However, we advise you to ask your host family if they would agree to help you pay for it.

Please contact the Canadian embassy in your country and ask if they can recommend an insurance company that offers adequate health-care insurance.

Driving licence

You may be allowed to drive in Canada with your own driving licence for a few months. However, after a certain period of time, you will most likely have to take a driving test in Canada to continue driving in your host country. Should you need to drive in Canada, please contact the corresponding motor vehicle licensing agencies in the province where your host family lives for further information.

Should you be driving your host family's car, both au pair and host family should clarify issues of insurance and liability beforehand. You should also discuss who is to bear the costs for material damage in the event of a car accident.

How to be on the safe side

• Have you already spoken to your future host family on the phone or via skype? Read the most important questions to ask your host family to get to know them better before you make the decision to be their au pair.
• Would you like some tips on how to search safely on AuPairWorld? Maybe you already have a family but have questions about how to prepare for your stay? Read our tips on safety and security.
• Do you have sufficient knowledge of the language spoken in your host country to be able to express your wants and needs? It is especially important that you are able to make yourself understood in case you feel ill or if you need to warn your host children of an imminent danger.