Let's compare your real childcare options.
Before choosing, see all three paths honestly. Figures updated 2026, based on Quebec public programs and our experience since 2004.
CPE or daycare
Subsidized public network or private daycare
- Presence: Fixed hours 7am to 6pm
- Continuity: Rotating staff
- Location: Daycare facility
- Cost: $9/day CPE — $50+/day private
- Cultural exchange: None
Best for: predictable fixed schedules
European Au Pair
A young European caregiver living with your family
- Presence: Live-in, up to 30h/week
- Continuity: One Au Pair, 1 to 2 years
- Location: Your home (with private room)
- Cost: from $19/hr + room & meals
- Cultural exchange: Languages & culture, daily
Best for: young children, language exposure, family adventure
Live-Out nanny
A local nanny working at your home, going home at night
- Presence: Your schedule, your hours
- Continuity: One dedicated nanny
- Location: Your home
- Cost: from ~$30/hr
- Cultural exchange: Limited
Best for: flexible hours, all ages, local preference
Quebec childcare assistance — what you should know
Several Quebec programs can significantly reduce your real cost. Ida walks you through them during your free consultation.
Sources: Revenu Québec 2026, Retraite Québec, Ministère de la Famille — indicative figures. Personalized estimate during your free consultation.
The human behind the cultural exchange.
Who she is, why your family will love her, the jargon explained simply, and how she gets to your door.
The young European who becomes part of your family.
Her name is Sophie, Lena, Anya or Sofia. She's between 18 and 30 years old, comes from France, Germany, Italy, Spain or another European country. She has experience caring for children — younger siblings, babysitting during her studies, summer camps, or as a junior educator.
She speaks her native language plus French and/or English. She comes to Canada through the IEC program for 1 to 2 years. She lives at your home, in a private bedroom, and works up to 30 hours per week with your children.
For her, this is a transformative year — discovering Quebec, improving her languages, growing up away from home. For your children, it's a daily window onto another culture and another language. A real cultural exchange, not just childcare.
The moment you realized it was the right fit.
For every family, it's different. But there's usually a defining trigger. Do you recognize one of these?
Cultural opening
You want your children to grow up bilingual or trilingual, without paying $2,000/month for a private school. An Au Pair makes it part of daily life.
The young children years
Sleepless nights are wearing you down. A dynamic young European at home gives the family the boost it needs — and the kids gain a "big sister."
A taste for family adventure
You want a joyful, energetic presence that brings a fresh wind into the home. Welcoming an Au Pair is a small family adventure.
An Au Pair isn't just childcare. She becomes part of your story — for 1 to 2 years.
The Au Pair program, explained simply.
No immigration crash course needed. Everything you should know, in plain English.
What is the IEC program?
IEC (International Experience Canada) is the Canadian federal program that allows young people from 35 partner countries (mostly European) to live and work in Canada for 1 to 2 years. The Au Pair is the most common Quebec route under IEC — she gets a temporary work permit, lives with your family, and works up to 30 hours per week.
What is the PVT (Working Holiday Permit)?
The PVT (Permis Vacances-Travail) is the most flexible IEC sub-category. The young European gets an open work permit valid 1 to 2 years and can work with any employer — including your family as an Au Pair. It's the route we use most often. No LMIA, no employer sponsorship needed.
Why $19/hr exactly?
Even via the IEC program, your Au Pair must be paid at least Quebec's minimum wage — currently $19/hr for the 2026 framework. On top of her wage, you provide a private bedroom and meals. Total monthly cost depends on hours, but typical setups land between $2,400 and $3,000/month (wage portion).
How does living with the family work?
The Au Pair lives at your home in her own private bedroom (separate room, ideally with privacy). You provide her meals. She participates in family life as a "big sister" rather than as an employee. She has her own free time, weekends off, and her own social life outside of work hours.
What's the difference between an Au Pair and a Live-In nanny?
The Au Pair is young (18-30), European, here for cultural exchange (1-2 years), and works up to 30h/week mostly with young children. A Live-In international nanny (TFWP) is a professional caregiver (often 30-50 years old, often Filipino/Latin American), trained, here for 2 to 4 years, and works 40-60h/week with all ages. Different needs, different match.
The Au Pair's journey to your home.
From her European application to her arrival in your kitchen.
Recruitment in Europe
2 to 4 weeksRegency selects, verifies and interviews young European candidates through our partner network.
Deep verification
2 weeksCriminal background check, family references, medical screening, language assessment.
IEC visa application
2 to 3 monthsThe Au Pair applies for her PVT or Young Professional permit. Regency guides her through every step.
Arrival in Quebec
1 to 2 weeksFlight, arrival, settling into your home, French/English support if needed.
1 to 2 year stay
renewable onceShe lives with your family, builds bonds with your children, and brings a piece of Europe into your home.
An Au Pair for your family — let's start on the right foot.
30 seconds to answer. Ida calls you back within 24 hours with a first personalized plan.
What you get with Regency.
No commitment · Confidential · Reply within 24 hours
What you experience, from form to her arrival.
No mystery. Here's exactly what happens, in order, and how long each step takes.
You fill out the form
30 secondsNo commitment. We just need your region, family, and how to reach you.
Ida calls you back
24 to 48 hoursFree consultation: your needs, preferences, country of origin you'd like, language goals.
European profiles matched
2 to 4 weeksPre-vetted Au Pair profiles from our European network.
You meet her on video
At your paceVideo interviews — ideally with your kids too. You choose who fits.
Everywhere in Quebec. No restrictions.
Unlike the TFWP, the IEC program has no geographic restrictions in Canada. We place Au Pairs across the entire province.
Greater Montreal & South Shore
Montreal, Laval, Longueuil, Brossard, Saint-Lambert, Boucherville, Repentigny, and surroundings.
Quebec City & beyond
Quebec City, Lévis, Sherbrooke, Trois-Rivières, Saguenay, Drummondville, Gatineau and every other Quebec region.
The questions we hear most often.
If your question isn't here, just call Ida — she probably has the answer.
📋 IEC program & legal
What's the difference between an Au Pair and a Live-In nanny via TFWP?
The Au Pair is a young European (18-30) coming for 1 to 2 years through IEC. She works up to 30h/week, primarily with young children, and her stay focuses on cultural exchange. The Live-In nanny via TFWP is a professional caregiver, often Filipino or Latin American, here for 2 to 4 years, working 40-60h/week with all ages.
How long does the IEC process take?
Approximately 4 to 5 months between your first call and the Au Pair's arrival. Much faster than the TFWP (8-9 months) because there's no LMIA required.
What happens after 1 or 2 years?
Some Au Pairs renew their permit if their nationality allows. Others go home or apply for a different status (student, professional). About 30% of our Au Pairs apply for permanent residency. The bond with the family often continues even after she leaves.
💰 Costs & Quebec assistance
How much does an Au Pair really cost?
You pay at least $19/hr (2026 Quebec minimum). For ~25-30h/week, that's around $2,400 to $3,000/month in wage, plus a private room and meals. Quebec childcare tax credit can reimburse up to 75%. Ida gives you a real net estimate during the free consultation.
What Quebec assistance can I claim?
Same as for a Live-Out nanny: the refundable tax credit for childcare expenses (up to 75% refundable depending on income), Quebec Family Allowance, and other family programs. Regency helps you set up paperwork from day one.
🛡️ Process & guarantees
What if things don't work out with the Au Pair?
The first few weeks always come with some adjustment — cultural differences, missing home, finding routines. Regency stays present to help. If after that the situation is more serious, we find a suitable solution case by case. That's why our matching process is thorough from the start.
How are Au Pair profiles verified?
Each Au Pair goes through: criminal background check, family references, medical exam, language test, and several video interviews with Ida. We work only with proven European partners.
🏠 Daily life with the Au Pair
What does the family need to provide?
A private bedroom for the Au Pair (separate room, ideally with privacy), meals at the family table, internet access. She has her own free time, weekends off, and her own social life outside of work hours.
Can she take care of all my children?
The Au Pair program is best suited for young children (0 to 7 years old). She can take care of older children too, but her real strength is with younger ones. For all ages, a Live-Out or Live-In nanny is often a better fit.
Will she teach my children her language?
Yes — and that's one of the major appeals of the Au Pair. By naturally integrating into the family in her native language (German, Italian, Spanish, French, etc.), she organically teaches your kids without it feeling like "lessons."
A new face.
A new energy.
In your home.
From your first call to her first morning at the breakfast table, we're with you. Take the first step — Ida calls you back within 24 hours.
No commitment · 24h reply · Confidential