Au pairs from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland

You need a residence permit if you are from a country outside the EU/EEA or Switzerland and work as an au pair in Norway. You are then a member of the Norwegian National Insurance Scheme and are entitled to health care according to the rules in Norway.

Smiling young woman holding a cup in the kitchen

Please note that the au pair scheme in Norway is discontinued (udi.no).

Your rights

As an au pair with a valid residence permit in Norway, you are automatically a member of the Norwegian national insurance scheme.

​This entitles you to medical assistance in accordance with the rules in Norway. This means that you will be covered for necessary expenses for health services from the public health care system and that you have to pay user fees for treatment in the same way as Norwegians do.

Returning home

Your host family must purchase insurance to cover medical transport back to your home country if you become seriously ill or are injured.

​If your host family has not taken out insurance for you, this contravenes the au pair contract. Your host family will then be responsible for covering the cost of transport to your home country in the event of illness or injury. You can find out more about this in the au pair contract drawn up by UDI (udi.no).

 

Example: Arlyn from the Philippines lives with and works for a Norwegian family. She has a resident permit from UDI. Arlyn thinks she has got food poisoning and visits a doctor. She pays a user fee at the same level as Norwegians. It turns out that Arlyn does not have food poisoning but is suffering from copper toxicity. She won't be able to work for several months and wants to travel back home. The transport home is covered by the insurance that the host family has taken out.

Content provided by Helfo

Helfo. Au pairs from countries outside the EU/EEA and Switzerland. [Internet]. Oslo: The Norwegian Directorate of Health; updated Thursday, March 21, 2024 [retrieved Thursday, November 21, 2024]. Available from: https://www.helsenorge.no/en/foreigners-in-norway/au-pairs-from-countries-outside-the-eu-eea-and-switzerland/

Last updated Thursday, March 21, 2024