Host families provide the exchange student with room and board, and are expected to treat their student as a member of a family, not as a guest. Exchange students cover their own travel costs, health insurance, school expenses, cell phone, and spending money. EF and the US Department of State also designate certain requirements of all host families. For example, host parents should be at least 25 years of age or older, pass a background check and have a stable and suitable household. Let us know if you are interested and we will help you determine if your family meets our program requirements!

Host families are not paid. According to the US Department of State, host families cannot receive financial gain from their participation in a student exchange program. This rule is designed to ensure that host families are participating in the program for the right reasons. However, in recognition of their role as citizen ambassadors, host families may be eligible to receive a charitable tax deduction on their tax return.

You may wonder, how much does it cost to host an exchange student? Having an extra teenager in your home will likely increase your household expenses, such as gas, water and grocery bills. Families are responsible for providing food for three meals a day plus snacks, as well as ensuring transportation to and from school. However, students pay for their own personal expenses such as school activity fees, toiletries, clothes, insurance and social activities.