We’ve put together a side-by-side comparison between Au Pairs and In-Home Caregivers. Check it out to see which form of childcare best suits your family’s needs.
| Au Pair | In-home Caregiver |
| • Must have childcare experience, preferably outside the family such as babysitting, tutoring, completing an internship in a daycare/preschool | • Many have a minimum of 1 year of full-time work experience as nanny, an early childhood education and 1 year of work experience in the according field, or a 6 month care giving training course |
| • Main responsibility: childcare
• Assists with child-related household duties including meal preparation, doing the children’s laundry, and helping to keep their rooms clean |
• Main responsibility: childcare and housekeeping |
| • Always live-in | • Option to live-in or live-out |
| • 10 – 12 months, sometimes 6 months (Dec-Mar) | • 2 years |
| • Between 18-29 years of age | • No age limit, majority are between 25-45 years |
| • High school graduates (ECE certificate for Au Pair Professionals) | • Usually high school or post-secondary education in nursing, midwifery or teaching |
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• No additional costs |
• Family must pay for the caregiver’s roundtrip flight as well as healthcare coverage until eligible for provincial health coverage and LMIA costs. |
| • Applicant must complete a medical exam and police clearance(s) prior to entering Canada | • Applicant must complete a medical exam and police clearance(s) prior to entering Canada |
| • Comes to Canada for a “cultural exchange” – more like a big sister to your children | • An In-home Caregiver may also offer in-home elderly care or disabled adult care |
| • Has a driver’s license | • Rarely has a driver’s license |
| • Proficient in English as a second language or native speaker | • Proficient in English as a second language |
| • Au Pair is paid minimum wage | • Caregiver is paid median prevailing wage |
| • Room and board are deductible, the amount depends on province | • Room and board cannot be deducted |
| • Working hours range from between 25 – 44 hours per week | • Caregiver works full-time between 40 – 48 hours |
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• No additional paperwork needs to be submitted to Canadian Embassy or Service Canada |
• Canadian Embassy processing the application requires potential employers’ Notice of Assessments to determine eligibility, letter from employer, Proof of Identity and Address |
| • No Labour Market Impact Assessment required | • Labour Market Impact Assessment is required |
| • No advertising required | • Advertising using at least four different methods of recruitment |
| • Processing times range between 5 – 16 weeks | • Processing times range between 6 – 9 months |
Interested in getting an Au Pair or In-Home Caregiver? Contact us as 1-800-820-8308 or [email protected]
