You want to employ someone who is a citizen of a non-EU/EEA country and who will work as an au pair.
An au pair is a person who lives temporarily with a host family and receives compensation for helping with childcare and light housework. The purpose of the person’s stay in Sweden is to improve their language skills and experience Swedish culture.
As an employer (host family), you start the application for a residence permit for your au pair. You do this by providing information about the employment to the Swedish Migration Agency via our e-service. When you are finished, the au pair will receive a link to the e-service, where they fill in their information, submit and thus complete the application. Only then is the application registered with the Swedish Migration Agency.
In addition to the requirements for the au pair, as an employer, you must meet the following requirements in order for the person you want to employ to be able to get a residence permit as an au pair:
The person you want to employ must be at least 18 but not over 30 years old
You must offer food and accommodation
The au pair may work a maximum of 25 hours per week, helping with childcare and light housework
You must offer a certain salary/wages
You must offer cash compensation totalling at least 10 per cent of the price base amount per month, before tax (the current price base amount can be found on the SCB website
External link.).
You must sign a written agreement stating the terms of employment and salary/wages
You must take out accident insurance for the au pair
The insurance must cover accidents during working hours, accidents on the way to and from work, and illness if the au pair becomes ill as a result of their work. Accident insurance that only provides financial compensation in the event of an accident that occurs during the au pair’s leisure time is not sufficient. The insurance must cover the au pair’s period of illness and situations in which an injury causes permanent disability. The insurance must be taken out by the time the employment begins.
You or the au pair must have, or have applied for, comprehensive medical insurance for the au pair
The comprehensive medical insurance must apply for the entire period of time that the au pair is to be in Sweden and cover the costs of emergency and other medical care, hospitalisation and emergency dental care. It must also cover the costs of medical repatriation. The insurance must be taken out by the time the employment begins.
The agreement must state the scope of the au pair’s work (maximum 25 hours per week), the combined number of hours the au pair will be working and studying, information about their board and lodging, and information about accident insurance. An au pair’s work responsibilities include childcare and light housework. The combined number of hours the au pair will spend working and studying must not exceed 40 hours per week.
Make sure you have access to the information about the au pair and the employment that you will need to provide in the e-service:
Information about the person you want to employ
Name, date of birth, citizenship, education and email address. Please note that it is via this email address that the au pair will log into the e-service to continue their application for a residence permit, so double check it carefully.
Information about the host family
Contact details for the host family.
Certificate that you have taken out accident insurance for the au pair
This document must state that the insurance relates to the au pair, the period during which the insurance applies, which insurance company is providing the accident insurance, and the insurance policy number.
Certificate that you have applied for or taken out comprehensive medical insurance for the au pair
If the host family has taken out the insurance for the au pair. This document must state the insurance company with which you have taken out the insurance, the insurance policy number, and the period during which the insurance applies. The medical insurance must apply for care in Sweden.
A copy of their power of attorney to act as a representative.
Power of attorney (107011)
Pdf, 1.1 MB.
Read more about power of attorney
2025-04-01
The possibility of changing tracks ends on 1 April
On 1 April, the Swedish Parliaments decision to remove the possibility of changing tracks will come into force. This affects people who have been granted, or applied for, a residence permit on the basis of work after their asylum application has been rejected through a so-called change of track.
2025-03-05
The Swedish Migration Agency's new website has now been launched
On 5 March, the Swedish Migration Agency launched a completely new version of migrationsverket.se, with a new structure and a more user-friendly navigation. The purpose of the new website is primarily to make it easier for visitors to find the information they need.
2025-01-07
New EU Blue Card rules now apply
As of 1 January, new requirements and rules apply for anyone who wants to apply for an EU Blue Card and existing Blue Card holders.
2024-12-19
After the end of the year, seasonal workers will need employment contracts
In order to get a permit as a seasonal worker, it is no longer enough to have a job offer in Sweden. Instead, starting 1 January 2025, you will need to have an employment contract signed by both parties.
Power of attorney means that you give someone permission to represent you, for example to apply on your behalf.
Read more about power of attorney
