What is a host family? Your Complete Guide (2025)

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Here’s everything you need to know if you’re asking, “What is a host family?” from someone who has been there!

A host family is a person or family that agrees to have a student live in their home for a set period of time, usually while they study. Host families offer housing, cultural support, and a welcoming environment for students who are visiting a new culture. Many students will stay with a host family as part of their study abroad programs while they’re in college or university, but some high schools also have exchange programs. 

My experience studying abroad

I have lived with host families three separate times. This post will cover the basics of living with a host family, but I’ll also include my own perspective based on my experiences.

I first lived with a host family for three weeks in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala while studying at Proyecto Lingüístico Quetzalteco. It was my first time traveling abroad.

Later, I lived with a traditional host family in Amman, Jordan for a full semester. For about four days in the middle of my Amman homestay, our program traveled to another region of the country for a planned outing. During that time, I temporarily stayed with a different host family for a few nights in the Badia region of Jordan. 

Living with host families offered me a chance to experience Guatemalan and Jordanian culture in ways that wouldn’t have been possible if I were staying in a hotel. 

What is a host family?

Host families are people who agree to take in a host student or an au pair. They can come from all walks of life, though they should have sufficient space in their home for a private or semi-private room for their exchange students. A host family could be a single person, a couple, or a couple with children, all of whom would agree to provide a caring living accommodation. 

Typically speaking, host families are thoroughly vetted by the agency that places students. This usually involves an interview, a home visit, and continuous monitoring by the school. Students may be placed with a specific family for a variety of reasons, including age and gender.

The arrangement should work for everyone and be mutually beneficial. Host families get to share their culture and home with someone from another background. Most of the time, host families are compensated modestly and students’ expenses are provided for by their program fees. 

What does a host family provide?

A host family typically provides students with a private or semi-private room, meals, and a supportive environment. Whether or not your host family provides every meal, or just some meals, will depend on their agreement with your program. 

If you have any questions about what will be provided during your homestay, reach out to your study abroad program. You can do this before or after you arrive in the target country. Program staff will be best able to provide clarity around the agreements with the families and support you in case there is some dispute. 

Why you should consider staying with a host family

Living with a host family is a wonderful way to experience a new culture. You’ll have the opportunity to see a family in their day to day life, which offers a rare glimpse into the inner workings of a country. You’ll have a chance to eat more local food, practice the local language, and likely head out on outings to places you’d have never otherwise visited. 

In some cultures, it can be incredibly difficult to get an “insider” view. In these cases, it’s especially beneficial to live with a host family because you’ll have people to introduce you to various parts of the culture. One of the best parts of living with a host family in Jordan was the opportunity to try foods that are traditionally made in the home and not available in restaurants. 

Finally, you’ll have a chance to make lifelong connections with your host family. Some people leave and never see their families again, but others will stay in touch for years or even decades. I know a woman who recently attended her host father’s 90th birthday and she’s been a part of their family ever since she studied abroad as a college student. 

Host Family Tips and Useful Information

The family that has chosen to host you has most likely done so because they want to support a student and facilitate a cross cultural connection. If they’re first time hosts, they’ll probably be figuring it out as they go, just like you are. I’ve stayed with three host families, and all three have been different in their composition, openness, and desire to connect with me. 

There’s not one definition of a “typical” family 

The people who are drawn to host international students could have all sorts of family structures and living preferences. Just like your home and your neighbor’s home are probably a bit different, it’s likely that you’ll have a different experience than other students in your program. 

When I studied abroad in college, students lived with host families that represented many cross sections of Jordanian society. Everyone I spoke to had a positive experience with their family. Mutual respect and an interest in learning about other cultures is the cornerstone of a positive host family experience. 

Mentally prepare to live with a host family

Just like you’ll want to mentally prepare to study abroad, it will help if you dedicate some time to thinking through what it will be like to live with a host family. Are there dietary needs that you’ll have to communicate? What do you want them to know about you? 

If your program is placing you with a host family, it’s probably because they think there is going to be a lot of value for you as a student. Approach the situation with an open mind and remember that you don’t need to know everything. 

Finally, pre-accept that there will be times you simply don’t understand what’s happening or how to respond. Cross-cultural communication and relationships can be tricky, and it’s perfectly OK if you find yourself at a loss for how to respond from time to time. Just do your best to be respectful, to comply with the host family’s house rules, and to be as flexible as possible. 

Host family safety

Most people will complete their homestay experiences without any concerns about their safety. Programs that coordinate homestays are usually very experienced, and they often have hosts that will host students year after year. However, if you ever have any concerns about your safety while living with a host family, it’s imperative that you talk to a staff member at your program immediately.

When I stayed with a temporary host family in Jordan for a few days, I had a negative experience and felt uncomfortable around one of the family members. I reached out to both my primary host family and my program to try to find a solution. Afterwards, I was told that the temporary host family would be removed from the roster and unable to host students in the future. 

Further reading: How to Stay Safe While Traveling

Managing dietary restrictions with your host family

If you have dietary restrictions, and especially if you have severe allergies, reach out to your program as early as possible to let them know. They may be able to find a host family that is equipped to support you, or they may have other ways of helping you navigate this situation. Depending on the culture and food options available, this could be a minor or a major conversation. 

House rules

Most of the time, host families set house rules for students in their care for the duration of their stay. Most families will clearly communicate their house rules shortly after you arrive. These rules can range from curfews to household chores to quiet hours. Always do your best to respect the house rules. 

House rules may be set for your safety, the well being of the family, or just based on the way that the family likes to operate. Keep in mind that expectations may vary from culture to culture. As a general rule, you should not bring a friend over or allow anyone to enter your host family’s home without first asking permission. 

FAQs about host families 

Before I lived with a host family for the first time, I had no idea what to expect. Here are some frequently asked questions about host families, as well as some additional information I thought would be helpful. If you have any other questions that I should add to the list, let me know. 

Who can be a host family? 

The study abroad program will have ultimate discretion over who can be a host family. For this reason, it’s always best to participate in programs that have good track records and reviews that reflect happy students. 

The makeup of a host family is not standardized, so you may see a few different compositions. Some host families are small and tight knit, while others could involve huge families with people wandering in and out of the house all day. Here are a few common host family structures that you could encounter:

Traditional families

There are many family structures that you might consider “traditional” but they’ll typically be families with one or two parents and their children. In Jordan, I lived with a couple and their three adult children, all of whom lived in the house. In Guatemala, I lived with an older couple, their adult children, and their two grandchildren.

A traditional family could be larger and livelier than the other family types on this list, but this isn’t always the case. Many homestay programs will place students in “traditional” families. 

If you happen to be placed in a homestay family with small children, you’ll get the added benefit of having a tireless language buddy. Children speak in simple sentences, typically devoid of the slang that you’ll hear from adults. So, speaking with children can be great practice for language-learners. 

Single-person families

Another common host family structure is a single-person family. Essentially, this is a lone adult who has decided to host a student on their own, and it will usually be the two of you in the house. This can be a great way to bond with your host parent, since there won’t be as much hustle and bustle in the house. 

Single host parents may have adult children who live nearby and stop by occasionally.

Empty-nester families

Empty-nester host parents are adults whose children have grown up and moved out of the house. These host parents’ adult children (and, potentially, grandchildren) could be common fixtures in the home, or you may never meet them.  

Families hosting more than one student

Some programs double or triple up the exchange students living with a family. If this happens, you could be living with one or more other exchange students, sometimes sharing a room. 

While you may get a little bit less one:one time with your host parents and siblings in these situations, it can be very nice to have someone with whom you can share the experience. I’ve only met one person whose family hosted more than one student, but he enjoyed the experience because it was an opportunity to expand his social circle. 

Transitional host families or short term placements

Sometimes study abroad programs will use transitional host families. These are families who agree to host a student for a short amount of time so that the program can find a longer term placement. This could give the program time to work out a scheduling issue, find a good fit based on your personality, or just to give the host family a break between exchange students. 

When I studied abroad in Jordan, we had a weeklong expedition to the Badia region. While we were there, we stayed with host families for a few days in order to experience life in another region of the country. 

Occasionally, students will be placed with a traditional host family and it will turn into a long term placement. This will depend entirely on the program, and not all programs make use of transitional host families. 

How does a host family work?

As you may have noticed from other sections in this post, there may be some variation from family to family, and program to program. Most of the time, a host family will provide students with a room, meals, and social support for a set period of time. Agencies, universities, and other education institutions recruit host families and place exchange students. These agencies are responsible for placing students, managing conflicts, and providing any financial compensation on behalf of the program.

Do I need to bring a gift for my host family?

Yes, you will need to bring a gift for your host family. Select a thoughtful gift that represents your local area, especially if it’s made by artisans in your area. If you go to school far from your hometown, you can select gifts that remind you of your hometown or the area where you go to university. Both are representative of your life and totally appropriate.  

Do host families get paid?

Yes, in most cases host families are compensated for housing a student in their home. The exact amount that families receive will vary, but it is typically enough to cover the student’s living expenses. Typically, students receive room and board from their host families, as well as inclusion in occasional family outings. 

Although host families usually receive compensation, this is usually not the primary motivator. Most people host students in their home because they want to share their culture and provide a welcoming environment.

How are families for au pairs different?

An au pair is a type of live-in nanny that is hosted by a family in a foreign country. This situation is different from a study abroad host family in a few ways. Principally, the host family for an au pair is also their employer, so there is a working relationship between the au pair and the host family. 

When students are studying abroad, they typically pay for a study abroad program to find a host family and provide for their needs. There is usually little to no expectation of housework or other support for students living in host families, aside from perhaps cleaning up after themselves. 

What should I do if I have concerns about my host family?

If you are having a hard time communicating with your host family, first try to address your concerns with them directly. Sometimes communication breakdowns are caused by relatively small issues that can easily be resolved. In situations where directly addressing the issue isn’t enough to resolve it, reach out to your study abroad program for support. 

Most programs will have support staff whose job it is to help students and their host families. Depending on the situation, they may offer advice, meet with the parties directly, arrange for a temporary host family to give you some space, and/or place you with an entirely new host family. 

If you ever feel unsafe or threatened with your host family, reach out to your program immediately and ask to be removed from the home. If necessary, alert the local authorities. These situations are very, very rare, but you deserve to feel safe at all times while living with a host family. Be sure to also alert your college or university so that they can take steps to address the situation with the program later. 

Related Post: Is Studying Abroad Lonely?

Final thoughts on living with a host family

Living with a host family is a wonderful way to experience a new culture, make connections while studying abroad, and to practice language learning. As a host student, you’ll want to do your best to stay curious, and to be respectful and patient while living abroad. Be sure to take a few photos with your host family so that you can remember your time together! 

I hope you have a wonderful study abroad experience and make memories to last a lifetime. If there are other travel and study abroad topics you’d like to see covered on Amber Everywhere, shoot me an email and let me know!