Responsibilities. The au pairs main responsibilities are taking care of children, their laundry and doing light housework. The au pair takes part in domestic housework, but is not supposed to clean the host parents bedroom or do their laundry.

Working hours. The au pair is expected to work 30 hours per week or 120 hours per month. The host family can ask the au pair to watch over the children 1- 3 evenings per week for 1-5 hours at a time. The au pair should get paid extra for those hours. They should have two days off per week and at least one weekend off per month (from approx. 18:00 on Friday until approx. 08:00 on Monday morning).

Vacation. After every 6 months the au pair has stayed with the family she/he get one week paid vacation. The family and the au pair should discuss and choose that week together.

Pocket money. The Ministry of Social Affairs in decides the amount of pocket money per month for au pairs. Since January 2005 the amount shall be minimum ISK 10.000 per week (approx Eur 115 or Usd. 155 pr. 30.03.07). The au pair should get paid weekly on Friday or Saturday unless she/he and the host family have agreed on otherwise. If the au pair is paid monthly, an agreement regarding this arrangement should be signed by the au pair and the host family and sent to Viviene. Pocket money for extra hours at day and nighttime shall be minimum ISK 400 (approx Eur 4,50 or Usd 7,00 pr. 30.03.07) per hour.

 Au Pairs travel cost. The au pair is responsible to buy her/his airfare to the host country. However, the family is responsible to reimburse 1/12 (one/twelfth) of the total cost of the airfare each month the au pair stays with the hostfamily. The amount is maximum ISK 4.500 (approx Eur 51,50 or Usd 69 pr. 30.03.07) each month or maximum ISK 54.000 (approx Eur 618 or Usd 822 pr. 30.03.2007) if the au pair stays for 12 months.

 Visa. Au Pairs from Finland do not need to apply for the visa.

Driving license.  The Au pair can use her/his own driving license in , provited that the liciense is valid the whole time while staying in .

Au Pair Club.  In order to be able to keep track of our au pairs, assist them if needed and see if everything is going well, we operate an “Au Pair Club”. These meeting take place every third month. At these meetings the au pair meet up with other au pairs and they get to know each other. At the “Au Pair Club” we discuss various things that have to do with being an au pair, adjusting to new culture and customs and the au pairs share information. We also do other things like going bowling, ice skating, hiking etc. The au pairs choose where the meetings take place, so in fact it is up to you how much fun it is.

 Icelandic Studies.  Being an au pair is a cultural exchange and the program is meant to give young people from all over the world opportunity to stay in different countries for some months and get to know the host country’s culture and customs. Therefore it is compulsory that the au pair studies Icelandic while staying in the country. The host family should assist the au pair to find the appropriate courses. The au pair is responsible for paying the course, although many host families choose to reimburse the au pair this cost as a “Bonus” if they feel the au pair has been taking good care of their children. The families will help au pair to choose the right courses to study Icelandic.