What to Know About Becoming an Au Pair in Italy

If you’re looking to make a bit of extra pocket money during your time studying Italian in Italy, becoming an au pair can be a great option. Combining the experience of living with an Italian host family and getting to work with young children is a rewarding way to make the most of your time abroad. In this article, we’re covering everything you need to know about being an au pair.

What is an au pair?
An au pair, specifically, is a person who lives with a family in a foreign country to help with childcare and light housework in exchange for accommodation and some money. It is generally expected that the au pair will also take language classes and learn about the culture of the country. An au pair is also young, making it the perfect job for someone looking to gain some experience while exploring a new place in between schooling or between the school years and job years.

The usual—and perhaps safest—pathway to becoming an au pair is through a program that matches potential au pairs with potential families. There are many of these that you can find online, by reading reviews of the various programs to certify legitimacy and, if possible, talking to people have been au pairs before.

General requirements
Depending on which “program” you go through, there are various requirements you will have to meet as an au pair. The following list is a general one that you will find on most sites:

• Between 18 and 30 years of age
• Unmarried and no kids
• Not the nationality of the country in which you are being an au pair
• Desire to work with children and willingness to do light housework

Keep in mind that these are only the basic requirements and most programs will ask for more, including: a medical certificate of good health, sufficient financial support, references, and a background check. You might even need to demonstrate that you have prior experience working with kids.

The host family will generally have to meet certain requirements too. They should be able to provide you with your own room and adequate time off to attend language courses and integrate into the culture. The family should also be a different nationality than the au pair.

What kind of visa do you need as an au pair?
If you are an EU citizen (and therefore hold an EU passport), then no visa is required to move to Italy. You will, however, need to register your presence at the municipality where you will be staying with your host family.

If you are a non-EU citizen, there are a few options for you. First, if you are planning to remain in Italy for fewer than 90 days, no visa is required; you can enter on your passport.

If you are planning to be in Italy for longer than 90 days, though, you will need a visa. Unfortunately, there is no “au pair visa” you can obtain to be an au pair in Italy. If you are a citizen of Australia, Canada, or New Zealand, you can apply for a working holiday visa. You should note, however, that there are only a certain number of these given, and while the visa lasts a year, you are only allowed to work (in this case, as an au pair) for six months on it. Along with the au pair documentation (a declaration from the host family), you will need to show proof of sufficient funds for your stay, as well as health insurance coverage.

For other non-EU citizens, a student visa is the only option. (You cannot apply for a work visa as an au pair). With a student visa, you will need to be enrolled in a course for at least 20 hours per week. You are also only allowed to work 20 hours per week. Like the working holiday visa, you will also need to show proof of sufficient funds and healthcare coverage in your application. Take now, however, that if you are planning to enroll at a language school, some consulates are becoming stricter about issuing student visas for those studying the Italian language, due to the influx of requests in recent years. It might be the case that if you are enrolling to study at a low level of Italian, you could be denied. (For example, the San Francisco consulate requires proof of “continuous study,” that you have previously studied the subject you intend to study in Italy).

Once you arrive in Italy, it is important to apply for your residence permit (permesso di soggiorno) within 8 days. You will need to fill out a “kit” at the post office and submit it, along with copies of your documentation there, to receive an appointment at the Questura. Bring both originals and copies of your documents to the Questura appointment, where you will be fingerprinted and then handed a “receipt” in place of your official residence permit card before it arrives.

Finally, you will also most likely need a codice fiscale, or Italian Tax Code, once you are in Italy. You can easily request this from your local Agenzie delle Entrate.

What can you expect as an au pair in Italy?
Unless your visa causes other restrictions, au pairs can work for up to 30 hours per week (over 6 days) and cannot work more than 5 hours per day. They are entitled to one day off a week, and at least once a month, this must fall on a Sunday. Otherwise, Italy does not enforce strict regulations surrounding holidays and hours (again, apart from what your visa might dictate), so this will be something to discuss with your host family. Au pairs can expect to make between €250 and €300 per month. It is also expected that the au pair will study Italian and learn more about the culture while there.

Conclusion
Being an au pair can be a valuable and enriching way to spend your time abroad in Italy. If you think you can meet the requirements above, and would like to utilize one of our language courses during your stay, don’t hesitate to contact us at info@italiancitizenshiplanguageschool.com.