Have you sorted out all the important documents you need? Read this page to find more information on the au pair contract, insurance and your safety in general.
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.
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-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.
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.
We are continually researching and updating our host country information, but cannot guarantee that all material provided is complete and correct. If you notice gaps or inaccuracies, we would like to hear from you.