Au pair is not a typical type of employment, and is not subject to the same rules as regular work. There is however sometimes confusion on this matter, which should be avoided. Au pair work is intended to be an opportunity for young people to educate themselves and become acquainted with another culture. Young people live with a family, take part in light household tasks and/or childcare in the home and take part in family life as appropriate. In return, the person concerned has the opportunity to get to know the country and its people, receives pocket money and accommodation and the opportunity to attend courses.
There are various rules that apply to au pair arrangements that must be complied with, and article 68 of the Foreign Nationals Act deals with au pair arrangements. The main rules that apply are as follows:
The person concerned must be 18-25 years of age.
The tasks of the person concerned must be limited to light household tasks or childcare and must not work in economic activities i.e. manufacturing and sale of products or service on the market for profit.
The maximum working hours per week is 30 hours, or 5 hours a day and the tasks should be done during day work hours.
The au pair shall be paid pocket money. The minimum amount for pocket money is currently ISK 15,000 for each week in work. According to law, the minister shall prescribe the minimum pocket money amount in a regulation.
The au pair shall have at least one working day free per week and at least one free weekend per month.
It must be ensured that the au pair be afforded adequate time for Icelandic studies and to be able to pursue his/her own interests.
If the person in question plans to stay more than 3 months, then he/she must apply for registration to Registers Iceland.
If the person in question is from a state outside the EEA, an application has to be made for a residence permit from the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration before the person enters the country.
It is necessary to sign an agreement between the host family and the person being hosted; here one can see a proposal for such an agreement.
The host family must arrange sickness and accident insurance for the person being hosted before the stay commences.
The host family must guarantee payment for a trip home for the person in question subsequent to termination of the period of work.
Should the person being hosted or the host family wish to terminate an au pair agreement, a declaration of termination of au pair agreement must be submitted to the Icelandic Directorate of Immigration.