23 October 2026
Au Pair Contract: What It Must Include and How to Write It Together
You've found the right au pair for your family and you're about to start. Before you leave, put everything in writing. An au pair contract is not a formality: it's the tool that prevents the most common misunderstandings, such as hours stretching out, unclear tasks, or house rules never stated out loud.
Why a Written Agreement is Needed
An au pair is not an employee and is not a full-time babysitter. They are a person who becomes part of the family for a period, to learn the language and get to know the culture, and in return helps with the children and the household. For this reason, the agreement speaks of hospitality and cultural exchange, not work.
Writing down expectations helps both parties: the family knows what they can ask for, the au pair knows what is expected of them. When doubt arises, you just need to reread the contract instead of arguing.
The 8 Points That Cannot Be Missing
📋 Details and Duration
Names of the parties, start and end date, and any trial period. Two or four weeks of trial allow everyone to understand if cohabitation works, with shorter notice for those who decide to stop.
🧹 Tasks
List what falls under help with the family: taking the children to school, playing with them, helping them with homework, preparing simple meals, keeping their own room tidy. Also indicate what does not fall under this, such as heavy cleaning or care for dependent persons that requires specific skills.
⏰ Hours and Day Off
Usually the commitment does not exceed 5 hours a day and 30 a week, with at least one full day off every week. Write down the usual time slot and how many evenings of babysitting at most are planned.
🍽️ Room and Board and Monthly Contribution
The family offers a decent bedroom, meals, and a monthly contribution for personal expenses. Indicate the amount and the date when it is paid: this is one of the points where the most misunderstandings arise.
📚 Language Course and Free Time
Attending a language course is part of the experience. Decide who pays and how many hours a week the au pair can dedicate to it, without family schedules preventing them from doing so.
✈️ Travel, Insurance, and Documents
Clarify who covers travel expenses and health insurance. If the au pair comes from a non-EU country, find out in advance what documents are needed for their stay.
🌴 Holidays and Illness
Establish how many days of holiday the au pair is entitled to and how to organize things in case of illness. A sick person should be cared for, not replaced at work.
🏠 House Rules and Termination
Evening curfew, guests, use of the kitchen or car, photos of the children on social media: better to say it right away. Also indicate the notice period for those who want to end the relationship and serious cases where it can be done immediately.
Write It Together, Not Alone
The contract works best if you read it together, at your leisure, in the first few days or even before arrival, in a video call. It should not work as a "document to sign" imposed by one party. If something doesn't convince you, this is the time to talk about it.
💡 Some practical tips:
- Use simple words. The au pair may not yet master your country's language: avoid bureaucratic formulas.
- Do a review after the first month. What seemed right on paper may require adjustment.
- Keep a copy each. A printout or PDF is enough.
Download the AuPair Plus template
To help you get started without mistakes, we've prepared an au pair contract template in PDF. It contains all the items described above, with fields to fill in.
Remember that this is a guideline template: for special situations, such as residence permits or tax matters, it's best to consult a professional.
One last thing
AuPair Plus is free for families: no registration or usage fees. If you're still looking for the right person, register and start searching. And if you have any doubts about the contract, write to us: we love helping families get started on the right foot.
