Specific countries

Being an au pair in Austria

• Age : Au pair has to be between 18-28 years old
• Salary (pocket money) :An au pair can expect to earn between €50 - €60 per week.
• Number of hrs to work and days off : Au pair should perform easy housework and take care of the children of the host family for a maximum of 25 hours per week
• Duration of stay : An au pair can work in Austria for up to 12 months
• Visas : Au pairs from within the EU do not require a visa to work in Austria. Au pairs from outside the EU can apply for an Austrian residence permit which is valid for a maximum of 12 months and is required to be renewed after 6 months.
• Language requirements : There are no language requirements for Austria however, it is suggested that an au pair has a basic understanding of German, the national language of Austria, in order to live independently. For example, to make it easy to contact emergency services or read medicine labels if necessary
• Travel costs : Travel costs to Austria from the au pairs home country should be covered by the au pair. However, if the host family wants to pay for a part of the costs, it is suggested that they do so after the au pair has stayed with them for at least half of the agreed time.
• Language courses : There are no requirements for an au pair to attend language courses in Austria

Being an au pair in Germany

• Age : Germany has an au pair program for young people aged 18 to 24. Au pairs from the old EU countries may even enter Germany as an au pair until they are 30 years old.
• Salary (Pocket money) : Minimum €260 per month for 30 hours of work a week
• Number of hrs to work and days off : Maximum 30 hours/week
• Visas : Au pairs from the old EU countries and Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway can enter Germany as an au pair with just a passport but will need a residence permit to work legally. Those from the new EU countries need an employment permit and must be registered at the Foreign Nationals Authority. Au pairs from non-EU countries need a visa to work in Germany.
• Duration of stay : With the permits required an au pair may work for 12 months maximum
• Language requirements: Au pairs from the new EU countries and all non-EU countries are required to have a basic knowledge of German
• Health Insurance : The host family is required to pay an au pair insurance which includes health insurance, accident insurance and third-party insurance for the au pair
• Travel costs :Travel costs to Germany from the au pairs home country should be covered by the au pair. However, if the host family wants to pay for a part of the costs, it is suggested that they do so after the au pair has stayed with them for at least half of the agreed time.
• Language courses : Au pair should be allowed time to attend language courses

Being an au pair in the US

• Age : Au pair must be between 18 and 26 years old
• Salary (Pocket money) : Au pairs must be paid at least $139.05/week, which is based on the minimum wage in the US
• Number of hrs to work and days off : Au pairs are not to work more than 10 hours a day and 45 hours a week and they should get one and a half days off weekly plus a full weekend off each month.
• Visas :People from almost all countries can become au pairs in the United States. However, in order to legally become an au pair in the US it is necessary for an individual to obtain a J1 Visa. In order to get this visa, an au pair has to go through one of the 12 government-designated au pair agencies.
• Duration of stay : Au pairs may work for a family as an au pair for up to 12 months and may apply to stay for an extra month in order to travel round the US.
• Language requirements : Au pairs must be able to speak English and are required to have a high school diploma or the equivalent.
• Health Insurance : It is not a requirement to have insurance to work in the US however, it advised that an au pair has both health and travel insurance.
• Travel costs : Travel costs to the US from the au pairs home country should be covered by the au pair. However, if the host family wants to pay for a part of the costs, it is suggested that they do so after the au pair has stayed with them for at least half of the agreed time.
• Language courses : Whilst living with a host family, an au pair is required to enroll and attend a course at a post-secondary institution. The host family is required to pay the first $500 toward the costs of this required course. An au pair is also required to receive at least 8 hours of child safety and 24 hours of child development training.

Being an au pair in the Netherlands

• Age: To work as an au pair in the Netherlands an au pair must be aged 19-25
• Salary (Pocket money): An au pair should receive about €340 per month
• Number of hrs to work and days off: An au pair will work a maximum of 6 hours per day and a maximum of 30 hours per week and should have 2 days off per week
• Visas: In order to work as an au pair in the Netherlands, there are various requirements that an au pair has to meet. If they meet these requirements, they are then required to get an authorization for temporary stay (an MVV). Once in the Netherlands, they are also required to get a residence permit to work for longer then 3 months.
• Duration of stay: An au pair cannot stay in the Netherlands for longer than one year
• Health Insurance: In order to work in the Netherlands for longer than 3 months an au pair is required to have health insurance with coverage in the Netherlands
• Travel costs: Travel costs to the Netherlands from the au pairs home country should be covered by the au pair. However, if the host family wants to pay for a part of the costs, it is suggested that they do so after the au pair has stayed with them for at least half of the agreed time.

Being an au pair in Belgium

• Age: Au pair must be between 18 and 26 years of age, with an additional condition that the au pair receives her work permit before being 26.
• Salary (Pocket money): An au pair should receive an allowance of €450 a month which must be deposited in to a bank account specifically for the au pair.
• Number of hrs to work and days off: The au pair must be given at least one day off a week and one full weekend off per month
• Duration of stay: The duration of the stay can be up to 12 months
• Visas: An au pair must apply for an employment authorization and a work permit B to the immigration service. The application forms must contain a medical certificate and an employment agreement.
• Language requirements: Au pair must have a basic knowledge of one of the national languages, being French, Dutch or German. The language of which they have basic knowledge must also be the language they come to Belgium to improve and the language of the host family
• Health Insurance: Family must take out insurance for the au pair covering he/she for illness, hospitalization and accidents, for the entire duration of the au pairs stay
• Travel costs: Travel costs to Belgium from the au pairs home country should be covered by the au pair. However, if the host family wants to pay for a part of the costs, it is suggested that they do so after the au pair has stayed with them for at least half of the agreed time.
• Language courses: Au pair must attend language courses and the school he/she attends must produce a certificate every 3 months, proving the au pairs regular attendance

Being an au pair in France

• Age:An au pair must be aged between 18 and 28 years old
• Salary (Pocket money):An au pair should receive about €320 per month
• Number of hours to work and days off:An au pair works about 30 hours/week (depending on the different contracts each au pair has with their host family). They will have minimum 1 day and half off per week.
• Duration of stay: With a work visa or permit an au pair is allowed to work in France for up to 12 months
• Health Insurance:It is not a requirement to have insurance to work in France however it advised that an au pair has both health and travel insurance
• Travel costs:Travel costs to France from the au pairs home country should be covered by the au pair. However, if the host family wants to pay for a part of the costs, it is suggested that they do so after the au pair has stayed with them for at least half of the agreed time.
• Language courses:Au pairs are required to take part in a language course