Finding an au pair in Iceland: The guide for host families (2026)

Host families in Iceland can find their own au pair – no agency is required. The immigration authority Útlendingastofnun sets the official contract conditions: at least 15,000 ISK pocket money per week, a maximum of 30 hours per week and five hours per day, one day off per week and one free weekend per month. The family must provide a lockable room with a window, meals, health insurance for the first six months, and pay at least half of the travel costs.

This guide is for families in Iceland who are taking on an au pair for the first time or want to try it without an agency. It explains the rules, the costs, the process for au pairs from the EEA and from outside, and how you can step by step find your au pair. All figures come from island.is, the official immigration authority site, verified in October 2026.

Sources: island.is (Útlendingastofnun), Residence permit for au pair, Requirements and Terms of the au pair agreement. Retrieved on 22 October 2026. The amounts are adjusted by the immigration authority; check the current page before applying. This overview does not replace legal advice.

Iceland has a small program with very specific rules. Three things stand out compared to the major au pair countries. First, the weekly allowance is used, not a monthly amount: at least 15,000 ISK, which is 60,000 ISK every four weeks. Second, the working hours are limited to daytime: a maximum of five hours per day, and only during the day. An au pair who watches the baby at night would be doing night work, which is not allowed. Third, the host family provides not only a room and meals but also the health insurance for the first six months and at least half of the travel costs. If the family ends the placement without the au pair’s fault, they must cover the full travel expenses.

The duties are clearly defined: child care, accompanying children to school and leisure activities, and light assistance with daily routines. An au pair may not look after chronically ill children or people in a similar condition. An au pair is not a caregiver or a housekeeper.

• Pocket money: at least 15,000 ISK per week, roughly 780,000 ISK per year. More is allowed but does not entitle you to extra hours.
• Room and board: a lockable private room with a window and full board, both free of charge. This also applies during the au pair’s vacation and sick days.
• Insurance: health insurance for the first six months of the stay, arranged by you, as stated in the contract terms. The requirements page also specifies a minimum coverage of two million ISK for at least three months from the residence registration.
• Travel costs: at least half of the travel to Iceland and back. You may agree to cover more.
• Learning Icelandic: island.is’s contract terms say nothing about this. Discuss beforehand whether the au pair will take a course, who will pay, and record it in the contract.
• Time and paperwork: For au pairs from outside the EEA, the application is paper‑based and must be submitted from outside Iceland. Plan several months in advance.
• Search: On AuPairMatch during the startup phase 0 €. An agency costs extra.

How Iceland compares to other countries is shown in our Pocket‑money country comparison 2026. The rules from the au pair’s perspective are on our country page Au pair in Iceland.

Au pairs from the EEA or EFTA do not need a residence permit. They arrive, register their address and can start. Still use the official au pair agreement and follow the conditions on island.is; they are the benchmark for both parties.

Au pairs from outside the EEA need a residence permit for au pairs according to Article 68 of the Icelandic Aliens Act. The application is submitted by the au pair themselves, on paper by mail or in person at the immigration office, with the signed agreement and proof of the paid fee of 120 000 ISK. Anyone who needs a visa for Iceland usually cannot stay in the country while the application is processed. The permit is valid for the contract period, up to twelve months; according to the residence rights page it can be extended once for a year, but never longer than the contract.

The authorities have their own requirements for you as a family: you must be a married couple, a cohabiting couple, or a single parent, each with at least one child. At least one adult must hold Icelandic citizenship or a permanent residence permit. You must demonstrate sufficient funds for yourself and the au pair, and you may host only one au pair at a time. The au pair must not be related to you.

In conversation, more matters than a résumé. Ask specifically: What have you already done with children of this age? How do you handle long, dark winters and a small town? What do you want to learn in Iceland? Be honest about your daily life, including the tough parts: early mornings, weather, commutes. You’ll find a detailed list in our questions families should ask au pair candidates.

On AuPairMatch you can start a video call directly from the chat, without exchanging phone numbers or external apps. Messages are automatically translated into your language, with the original just one click away.

• Calculate monthly amounts. Iceland pays per week: at least 15,000 ISK, every week, including holiday weeks.
• Plan evenings and nights. No more than five hours per day, and only during daytime. Nighttime child care counts as night work and is not allowed.
• Forget the insurance. The family arranges health insurance for the first six months before arrival.
• Submit the application from Iceland. Anyone who needs a visa usually cannot stay in the country while it is processed. The application must be filed from abroad.
• See the au pair as a household helper. If you are looking for a household helper, hire one. An au pair cares for children and lives the cultural exchange; light assistance with daily life is part of family life, not the job.
• Overlook the age. The birth date on the day of application is decisive. An application after the 25th birthday will be rejected.

Because in Iceland the au pair files the application themselves and the family doesn’t need an agency, you can take the whole search into your own hands. On AuPairMatch you create a family profile, see which au pairs match your wishes via the match score, and contact them directly. Messages and profile texts are automatically translated into your language, with the original just one click away. The video‑call introduction happens right on the platform. In the startup phase this is free for host families, including contact.

AuPairMatch launched in 2026 and is growing; established providers now have more profiles. With us there is no agency fee and no middleman: you talk directly with the people who want to come to you.