Au Pair: Questions & Answers
Moving away from home for a whole year can seem difficult to plan at first and you may have many questions running through your mind. What do I bring and what do I need? How do I do this or how do I arrange for that? Here are the most common questions and answers that you may have before you leave for Switzerland or Liechtenstein. We hope that you will find our answers useful!Summary of Questions:
What do I need to organize before I leave?
PassportResidence/Working visa
Airplane ticket
Sort out your personal and financial situation
International driver's license
Health check-up
What do I need to pack?
Luggage allowanceSeasonal clothes
Medication
Passport size photos
Personal items
Books
Electronic Items
Linens
Should I bring Swiss Francs with me?
Yes, change some $ in SFrExchange rate for $ to SFr
How much money to bring?
Train pass
Will someone pick me up at the airport?
What should I wear while I am working?
Should I be trying to learn how to speak German/French before I arrive?
When will my vacation days be?
How can I be reached in Switzerland?
When do I get my salary?
What do I need to organize before I leave?
One that will not expire during your stay and will still remain valid for 3 months after your departure from Switzerland or Liechtenstein. If you do not already have a valid passport, allow yourself a few weeks to sort out your travel documents well in advance of travel dates. Please note that it will take up to 10 working days for a new passport when the application is brought in person to one of the regional offices, and 20 working days when applications are sent by mail (excluding mailing time). The cost of a new Canadian passport is about $85 and it remains valid for a period of 5 years.
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- The family employing you will initiate all official Residence/Working Visa paperwork and will mail you a document that you should sign and return promptly to the family. They will then forward the complete package to the local authorities for approval (It usually takes about 4 weeks).
- You visa will be valid for one year. In general, it cannot be prolonged or transferred to another family.
- Once approved in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, you should pick up your Residence/Working Visa in the designated general consulate (please refer to the chart below).
Designated Swiss Consulates |
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| If you live in ... | The consulate you need is in ... |
| British Columbia, Alberta, Yukon, NWT | Vancouver Consulate General of Switzerland World Trade Center 790-999 Canada Place Vancouver, BC, V6C 3E1 Tel: 604 684 2231 |
| Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, Nunavut | Toronto Consulate General of Switzerland 154 University Avenue Suite 601 Toronto, Ontario, M5H 3Y9 Tel: 416 593 5371 |
| Quebec, PEI, Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, New Brunswick |
Montreal Consulat general de Suisse 1572 Av. Dr Penfield Montréal, PQ, H3G 1C4 Tel: 514 932 9757 |
- Before visiting the consulate, check opening hours (they are often only open for a few hours in the morning).
- When you go pickup your Residence/Working Visa in Canada, you should bring your passport, a passport size photo and about $55. The consulate does not accept credit or debit cards.
- If you are unable to attend the Consulate General in person, you will need to send your passport and all other requirements via courier or mail. If you choose this option, please check with your designated consulate how long you will have to wait before getting all documents back to make sure that it won't delay your traveling plans.
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This is very important and could be the most expensive part of your trip. You need to look into prices for the best airfares to get you into Switzerland or Liechtenstein. You will usually be paying the entire upfront cost of the ticket, and most of the time if your employer is happy with the work you have done during the year they will reimburse you at least half the price of the ticket. A few things to keep in mind when booking your ticket:
- Direct flights and weekend flights are usually more expensive. Try to look for a weekday flight through Amsterdam, London, Paris etc.
- Tickets are usually more expensive at the end of July and at the end of December. You may want to avoid these weeks.
- See if the airline has youth and/or student tariffs. For most airlines you are considered a youth if you are under the age of 25. Some require an ISIC card/International Youth Card, and some do not.
- We recommend asking for a one year open end ticket. It will allow you to return home on that ticket within the year and they usually come with one date change for free. One way tickets are usually more expensive and you run the risk of prices rising dramatically when it is time to come home.
- Do you have documents (driver's license, health insurance, etc.) which need to be renewed in Canada for the year that you will be gone? Renew them before you leave in order to avoid any hassles upon your return?
- Do you need to reimburse loans/debts in Canada during your stay abroad? You may want to consider opening a joint bank account or give power of attorney on your current account with/to someone you trust (i.e. one of your parents). It could be useful if something needs to be paid when you are away, or to deposit cheques that may come for you during the year (i.e. Government GST cheques).
- Are you responsible for the lease of an apartment or car in Canada? If yes, make sure that you sort out options and make the right decisions before your departure.
Some families will ask you to drive in Switzerland or Liechtenstein. In this case, you will need to get an International Driver's Permit. It is a special license that allows motorists to drive vehicles in international traffic without further tests or applications. It is easy to obtain in Canada but you will need a valid Canadian provincial driver's license, 2 passport type photographs and pay about $13 to obtain it. CAA travel delivers these special permits. Please visit their Web site to get information on their location, hotline or to print an application for an IDP.
Once you arrive in Switzerland or Liechtenstein, the family will organize a health insurance with accident coverage for the duration of your stay. However, we recommend having a health check-up before your departure to make sure that you will have a good/healthy start in Europe!
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What do I need to pack?
- Luggage allowance. Check with your travel agent or the airline (phone, Web site) to know how many pieces of luggage/ total weight will be allowed. You don't want to end up paying exorbitant amounts for things you really don't need. Also, as you probably know, luggage on the airplane is restricted. Please check details with your airline.
- Seasonal clothes. Switzerland and Liechtenstein, like Canada, have 4 seasons. However, the climate is in general milder than eastern Canada. Each season lasts about 3 months and the temperature can vary from very hot to mildly cold. You will most likely need a range of cloths between a bathing suit and a light winter coat! A pair of mittens, winter boots or shoes and an umbrella will also be useful.
- Medication. Switzerland and Liechtenstein have pharmacies, but they also have different brands. So if you are very particular about the brand of medicine you use (ex: Tylenol, Aspirin) then it would be best to pack an extra bottle for the year. But if you are not fussy about what you take then you can always get what you need here. If you take any prescriptions medicine, it is a good idea to see your doctor before you leave and ask to get them filled for the year.
- Passport size photos. We recommend bringing 4 passport size photos with you. They come in handy when it comes time to obtain your foreigners card and if you want to get a special pass for the train. You can also make new ones here but they cost over 8 francs compared to a few dollars at home.
- Personal items.
You may want to pack something to remind you of home. A small photo album with pictures of family and friends is always nice to have. A journal to keep track of funny anecdotes or your experiences in Switzerland or Liechtenstein may be a good souvenir when you go back home. You should also pack a month's supply of your favorite cosmetics or other personal products (shampoo, soap, deodorant etc.). Once in Europe, you will be able to buy it again easily. Of note, brands in Europe are different so if you don't want to switch or don't like trying new products, bring a little more. - Books. Larger cities often have English bookstores but bringing a few with you helps. Whether before bed or on a rainy day or on the train into the city, a book can sometimes give you the comfort you need, especially when immersed in a new language environment.
- Electronics. Don't even bother with these! The voltage is 220/50 in Europe and the plugs are different. Your room should be equipped with an alarm clock anyway, and if there is anything else you need I'm sure the family will help you get it.
- Linens. Don't bring any! Your room in Switzerland or Liechtenstein will have all bed sheets and towels that you need.
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Should I bring Swiss Francs with me?
- Yes! Change Canadian dollars into Swiss Francs before you leave Canada. There will be a few things you'll want/need to get before you get paid at the end of your first month of work in Switzerland or Liechtenstein. You may be taking the train from the airport, so you will need francs for that too. If you do not change money before you get here, it is not the end of the world! Any of the bank machines accept Canadian Debit cards (there is one in the airport) and most places will take a Visa or MasterCard (even the pay phones). Please note that if you withdraw money on your debit card when you are abroad, you will have to pay an extra fee and it could become expensive.
- Exchange rate for Canadian dollars to Swiss francs. For an exact answer, check with your local bank! Exchange rates change all the time but in general, the Swiss franc is more or less equivalent to the Canadian dollar.
- How much money to bring? It is entirely up to you. If you don't plan to have many expenses for the first 3 to 4 weeks following your arrival, 50 Swiss francs will be enough. However, if you are unsure about your needs, it is best to bring a few hundred francs to avoid paying fees when withdrawing money from a debit card.
Special train passes.
If you can afford it, we recommend to purchase a half price train pass when you arrive in Switzerland. It will give you a 50% rebate on any train destination in Switzerland. If you combine this pass with a 'track' card, you will travel anywhere in Switzerland by train for free after 19h00. Both special cards will cost a total of SFr 249 for one year but it is a worthwhile investment if you intent the travel during your stay.
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Will someone pick me up at the airport?You should discuss this with the family before your departure. Some families arrange to pick you up right at the airport while others meet you at the train station closest to them. Make sure they know the time and date of your arrival and even your flight number if they pick you up. If you take a train, it won't be a problem because they are extremely easy to use. Just find out from the family which train to take from the airport to get to their neighborhood and then purchase a ticket in the airport (You need a valid ticket before entering the train).
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What should I wear while I am working?You can wear what you want as long as your cloths are presentable / comfortable and practical! Remember that you will be working with children all day and doing some light housework at the same time. Comfortable clothes are obvious, but also clothes that you don't mind if they get a bit dirty. You may be doing arts and crafts or playing out in the backyard more than you are used to! When working with young children, 'sexy' outfits are not appropriate.
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Should I be trying to learn how to speak German/French before I arrive?This is not necessary. One of the main objectives of this experience is to learn a language while you are submerged in it. There is no need to feel stressed about the language barrier before you get here. You would be surprised at how quickly you will learn the necessary phrases to get yourself and the children through the day, but you may be playing charades for the first little while.
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When will my vacation days be?This is another point to discuss with the family. You are entitled to 4 weeks of paid vacation for one completed year of work. Most families will ask you to align your vacation plans to theirs: In Switzerland, most schools start at the end of August and end in the middle of July. During the school year, children have four breaks of two weeks (In October, December/January for Christmas, February for skiing and April/May for Easter).
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How can I be reached in Switzerland?- Telephone. From Canada, people who want to reach you have to dial 011 41 + your number. Some families will organize a private phone number for you, some won't. In both cases, you can confirm the number with the family before your departure and give it to your family and friends. Do remind them that Switzerland has a significant time difference with Canada to make sure that they don't call you in the middle of the night!
- Mail. When someone writes to you, it is best to write the name of the family under yours to make sure that it will reach you without delays.
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When do I get my salary?Normally, families pay your salary in Swiss francs at the end of each month. You will have the chance to open a Swiss bank account during your stay. You will get more details about bank accounts in your welcome document.
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