Norway’s au pair scheme has now ended for most new applicants, following years of debate about whether the arrangement had moved away from cultural exchange and become a source of cheap domestic labour.
For many years, becoming an au pair was one of the best-known ways for young people to experience everyday life in Norway.
The idea was simple enough. An au pair would live with a Norwegian family, learn about Norwegian society, improve their language skills, and help with childcare and light housework in return for pocket money, board and lodging.
That was the theory.
In practice, the scheme became increasingly controversial. Critics argued that many au pairs were being used as live-in domestic workers, often in vulnerable situations because they lived in the same home as the family that controlled their work and immigration status.
In 2024, Norway formally brought the scheme to an end for most new applicants. That means this article is no longer a guide to finding au pair jobs in Norway. Instead, it explains what the scheme was, why it ended, and what options, if any, remain.
What Was The Au Pair Scheme In Norway?
The au pair scheme was originally designed as a cultural exchange arrangement. Young adults from abroad could live with a family in Norway, take part in family life, learn Norwegian, and experience the country from the inside.
In return, the au pair could help with childcare and light household tasks. Host families were required to provide food, accommodation, pocket money, and support for Norwegian language classes. The au pair was also entitled to time off and holiday rights.
For some people, the arrangement worked well. Living with a Norwegian family could offer a real insight into the language, routines and social norms of Norway in a way that ordinary travel never could.
It could also be a practical stepping stone for young people who wanted to learn more about the country before deciding whether to study or work here later.
But the arrangement also had obvious weaknesses. The au pair lived in the family home, depended on the host family for accommodation and income, and was often far from their own support network. The line between cultural exchange and domestic work was not always clear.
Why Norway Ended The Au Pair Scheme
The decision to end the scheme did not come out of nowhere. For years, trade unions, campaigners and politicians raised concerns about exploitation, working conditions and the true purpose of the arrangement.
The Norwegian government argued that the scheme had changed character. What had once been intended as cultural exchange had, in many cases, become a way for families to access cheap help in the home.
This was especially controversial because domestic work takes place behind closed doors. Unlike a normal workplace, a private home is difficult to monitor. When the worker also lives in that home, the balance of power can become even more complicated.
There were also questions about whether the scheme reflected modern Norway. With high labor standards, strong worker protections and an expensive childcare system, critics argued that an arrangement based on low “pocket money” and live-in domestic help no longer fitted comfortably with Norwegian values.
The government announced plans to abolish the scheme in 2023. The change took effect from 15 March 2024.
Can You Still Become An Au Pair In Norway?
For most people outside Europe, the answer is now no. From 15 March 2024, Norway discontinued the au pair residence permit. New applications submitted after that date are not granted under the old scheme.
There were transitional rules for people already in the system. Those who had registered their application and booked an appointment to submit documents by the deadline could still be considered. People who already held an au pair permit could also apply to renew or change host family, but only within the maximum two-year au pair period.
As time passes, these transitional cases will naturally disappear.
For citizens of EU and EEA countries, the picture is slightly different. Because EU and EEA citizens have rights under free movement rules, they do not need the same kind of residence permit as people from outside the EEA.
In practical terms, this means that some family-based cultural exchange or live-in help arrangements may still be possible for EEA citizens.
However, this is no longer the old Norwegian au pair immigration route. Anyone considering such an arrangement should check the latest information from UDI and make sure the work, pay, tax and living arrangements are legal and properly understood.
The national Au Pair Centre, previously run by Caritas, was discontinued from 1 January 2025. Caritas still offers broader support for immigrants through its resource centres, but the dedicated au pair service has ended.
What Replaced The Au Pair Scheme?
Norway has not introduced a direct replacement for the au pair scheme.
This is an important point. The end of the scheme does not mean there is a new, similar visa under another name. For people outside the EU/EEA, moving to Norway generally requires another legal basis, such as skilled work, study, family immigration, or another specific residence permit category.
For families in Norway, the end of the scheme means that childcare and domestic help must be arranged through ordinary legal channels. That may include kindergartens, after-school programmes, babysitters, cleaners or other paid services, all subject to relevant tax and employment rules.
For young people who had hoped to use the au pair route as a way to experience Norway, the best alternatives will depend on nationality, education, finances and long-term plans.
Some may consider studying in Norway. Others may look for seasonal work, internships, volunteering opportunities, or ordinary employment, although each of these has its own rules.
Advice For Readers
If you are hoping to move to Norway, it is important not to rely on outdated articles or agency pages that still promote the au pair route. The old residence permit has been discontinued.
Start with UDI, the Norwegian Directorate of Immigration, which is the official source for residence permit rules.
Be especially careful with agencies or websites that suggest Norway is still open to au pair applicants from outside the EU/EEA without explaining the 2024 changes, especially those that require a registration fee.
Norway is a country with strong labor protections, but the au pair system always sat awkwardly alongside those values. It was not quite a normal job, but it still involved real work. It was described as cultural exchange, but for many families the attraction was practical help with children and housework. For critics, the decision was long overdue.