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Become an au pair in Canada
Country guide · au pair

Become an au pair in Canada

The verified guide to prepare your au pair stay in Canada.

Sources

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Age
18–35 years
Visa
Required

Structural fact

There is no "au pair" visa in Canada

Canada recognises no "au pair" status. Access runs through an open Working Holiday work permit under IRCC's International Experience Canada (IEC) programme — and only if your nationality has a youth mobility bilateral agreement. Here is how it actually works.

No au pair status
No visa and no national agreement: the au pair arrangement stays private between the family and the person hosted.
IEC / Working Holiday
Open work permit via International Experience Canada (IRCC), Working Holiday stream.
Bilateral agreement required
Not every nationality qualifies, and not every partner country opens Working Holiday (e.g. Switzerland).
Invitation pool
Working Holiday runs by rounds of invitations: creating a profile does not guarantee a place.
Annual quotas
Each country has a quota; pool opening dates vary by country.
No framed pocket money
No official pay framework: terms (lodgings, meals, allowance) are private.

Source: IRCC — International Experience Canada programme : who can participate in IEC (countries and streams). Verified on 24/09/2026.

Your journey, step by step

  1. Check eligibility for the International Experience Canada (IEC) programme according to nationality IRCC Au pair eligibility in Canada: who qualifies — and who does not
  2. Apply online to the invitation lottery/pool of the working-holiday (IEC) stream, then obtain the invitation IRCC
  3. Submit the open work-permit application and enter Canada before the letter of introduction expires IRCC / Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA)

The official data for Canada

Legal status

  • International Experience Canada — Working Holiday All Open work permit (IEC working-holiday) under a bilateral agreement

Visa

Required — Open work permit (IEC/working-holiday) + eTA / visa depending on nationality

The young au pair is generally admitted through a Working-Holiday (IEC) open work permit from the International Experience Canada programme, then works for a family on a temporary basis.

18–35 years depending on the bilateral agreement of the country of origin (the limit varies from 30 to 35 years, working-holiday route).

Working time

Canada has no dedicated “au pair” status. Au pair work is generally carried out a few hours a day (part-time) in exchange for board and lodging, under a Working-Holiday permit (IEC); no official au-pair hour ceiling exists.

Agreement

Hosting agreement / private arrangement — Written family / au pair agreement (recommended)

IRCC / host family (private framework) · In line with the permit (entry into force + duration of stay)

There is no standard national au pair contract; the family and the au pair agree on the conditions (lodging, meals, pocket money, hours).

Pocket money

No official “au pair pocket money” framework in Canada. The conditions (lodging, meals, a small allowance) are private between the family and the IEC au pair.

Contributions

Canada Revenue Agency (CRA)

Canadian tax regime applicable to income (if allowances are paid)

Au pair allowances, if paid, may be taxable; documenting the arrangement is recommended.

Tax

No tax advantage specific to au pairs

Depending on the income declared in Canada

Canada does not provide a tax advantage dedicated to hosting an au pair.

Official sources

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  3. Chat and video call in the mobile app
Your first contact with a familyMessages and video calls in the mobile app; your phone number is never shown on your profile.
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