Au pair in Switzerland

Au pair programs and visa information in Switzerland:

According to the bilateraux laws with the European common market, au pairs from the European Economic Union are eligible for au pair visas in Switzerland for a maximum of 18 months. Au pairs must be between the ages of 18 and 25 years.

Relevant documents that the family may need can be found here.

Conditions for EU citizens seeking au pair jobs in Switzerland

You can work as an au pair in Switzerland for a maximum of 18 months. You will receive room and board with a host family in exchange for approximately 25 to 30 hours of weekly work (housework, baby-sitting, etc.). You have the right to one day off per week (at least one Sunday a month) and 4 weeks' vacation per year (5 weeks if you are less than 20 years old). You will be paid between 400 and 700 CHF per month depending on the age, experience and hours of work. Your employer is also required to enroll you in a language school, and will cover 50% of these expenses. The insurance is assumed paid by the au pair, as her EU insurances will be valid in CH as well, however an accident insurance will be payable by the employer. No additional health insurance will be paid by the employer. Employee's share of social costs "AVS" can be deducted from the salary. This amounts to 7% of the salary (including the payment in nature, so room and board accounted at about 30 sfr per diem), so a total salary of about 1400 sfr. /month, for a cost to the EE of about 100 SFR. (although, many families will bear this cost, but it isn't an obligation). There is a legal obligation of adjusting the au pair time schedules so that she can participate in language courses, however there is no definition in the comparticipation to the costs.

Conditions for non-EU citizens seeking au pair jobs in Switzerland

- The Swiss government puts a limit on the number of residence permits for au pairs from Non-EU countries. Please get in touch with the cantonal authorities if you want to invite an au pair from a Non-EU country.

- Au pairs are only admitted to Switzerland if they come from European Union (EU) member countries, the USA, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. Au pairs are individuals who do not speak German and the guest family's everyday language must be German.

- The housewife or houseman does not have the same mother tongue as the au pair.

- The guest family's child or children are under 16 years of age.

- The housewife or houseman is present during at least half the au pair's working hours.

- Families and individuals who have no children may not employ au pairs.

- You can work as an au pair in Switzerland for a maximum of 18 months. You will receive room and board with a host family in exchange for approximately 30 hours of weekly work (light housework, baby-sitting, etc.).

- You have the right to at least 1 ½ days off per week. At least 2 free days in a 4 week period must be Sundays.

- You will be paid a minimum of 600 to 700 CHF per month depending on the age, experience and hours of work.

- Your employer is also required to enroll you in a language school within 4 weeks of entering the country, and will cover 50% of these expenses.

- Au pairs must be insured by the employer for the consequences of sickness and accident in conformity with the law on obligatory accident insurance.

- Tax at source, employee's contributions to the OAP/II/EO/UI, half of the premiums for health insurance and the total premium for non-occupational accidents may be deducted from the au pair's pay. The au pair is obligated to pay taxes on income in the year the 19th birthday is attained.

Permits for au pairs from abroad are issued subject to quota regulations. Limits are placed on the numbers of individuals from specific countries who may come to Switzerland.