Au pair in Belgium
Au pair in Belgium
Official Au Pair in Belgium Program Information:
There is an official program to be an au pair in Belgium. Nationals from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Monaco are allowed to live and work in Belgium as an au pair without a work permit or visa. Special arrangements apply for Switzerland. Non-EU nationals must have a valid work permit and must not have previously been issued a work permit for Belgium.
Official Au pair in Belgium contractsAu pair in BrusselsAu pair in WalloniaAu pair in FlandersPlease see below for more information about visas for being an au pair in Belgium.
Au pair in Belgium Mandatory Criteria
Au pair in Belgium General Information
Pocket money
Accommodation and meals
Travel costs
Length of stay
Other Special conditions
Visa InformationNationals from EU countries, i.e. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden and additionally Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are allowed to live and work in Belgium without a work permit or a visa, but must register with the Belgian authorities. Special arrangements apply for Switzerland while Monaco follows the French regulations and are exempted.
Nationals from non-EU countries must have a valid work permit and must not have previously been issued a work permit for Belgium.
The Belgian host family must request an employer permit (autorisation d'occupation/arbeidsvergunning) and a type B work permit (permis de travail B/arbeidskaart B) for the au pair.
Visa Application Process
The Belgian host family must apply for employment authorisation and for a work permit. An employment contract between the host family and the au pair, a medical certificate provided by a doctor appointed by the embassy for the au pair and a certificate of good conduct must also be included with the application. A work permit will generally be issued within 6 weeks after submission of application.
Once the au pair receives the employment authorisation and work permit, they can then apply for a visa from the Belgian embassy or consulate in their place of residence. If you live in Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga or Tuvalu, you apply to the Belgian Embassy in Canberra.
Within 8 days of arrival in Belgium, the au pair must go to the town hall with all required documentation and they will be issued a residence permit for the duration of the purpose of the stay.
Please note that due to new regulations in Belgium, all foreign employees have to register themselves with the Belgian Social Security. This is mandatory for all employees, interns and self-employed. You have to register before arriving as an au pair in Belgium, which can be done online on www.limosa.be. The website is available in Dutch, French, German and English.
Official Au Pair in Belgium Program Information:
There is an official program to be an au pair in Belgium. Nationals from the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Monaco are allowed to live and work in Belgium as an au pair without a work permit or visa. Special arrangements apply for Switzerland. Non-EU nationals must have a valid work permit and must not have previously been issued a work permit for Belgium.
Official Au pair in Belgium contractsAu pair in BrusselsAu pair in WalloniaAu pair in FlandersPlease see below for more information about visas for being an au pair in Belgium.
Au pair in Belgium Mandatory Criteria
- An au pair in Belgium must be 18-26 years old and must receive their work permit before turning 26
- They must not undertake any other form of work whilst working as an au pair in Belgium
- The au pair must have a qualification allowing them to apply for university in their home country, or if they don't have this qualification, they will be required to provide proof of having attended school until the age of 17
- Have basic knowledge of the language of the host family or undertake an intensive language course upon arrival in Belgium
- Attend a language course for the language of the host family at an approved institution and show quarterly that they are still attending the course
Au pair in Belgium General Information
Pocket money
- An au pair in Belgium is paid pocket money of 450 Euros per month
- The money is to be deposited into the au pair's bank account
- An au pair in Belgium can work a maximum 20 hours a week and no more than 4 hours per day
- No other work may be undertaken during an au pair in Belgium placement
- An au pair in Belgium is entitled to 1 day off per week
Accommodation and meals
- An au pair in Belgium must be provided with their own room, 3 meals per day and also have free access to the family home
Travel costs
- The au pair is to required to pay for travel costs to and from Belgium
- Negotiate between AuPair and Host Family
- An au pair in Belgium must have basic knowledge of the language of the host family
- An au pair in Belgium must attend a language course for the host family language at an approved institution. It is compulsory that they also show quarterly that they are still attending the course
Length of stay
- An au pair in Belgium can stay up to 12 months
- The host family must provide comprehensive insurance for the au pair, which covers medical, pharmaceutical and hospital expenses
- An au pair in Belgium must do childcare and light housework
- If an au pair in Belgium is required to drive, they will need a valid driver's licence
- We recommends obtaining an international driving permit from your home country if your licence is not valid on its own in Belgium
- Prior to leaving your home country, familiarise yourself with the laws and road rules for driving in Belgium
- Discuss with your host family what happens if you have a car accident, who pays, and have your agreements put in the contract
Other Special conditions
- At least one of the host family's children must be younger than 13 years of age at the time the au pair starts with the family
- The host family must also provide childcare for any children under the age of 6 i.e. an au pair in Belgium is not to be taken on as a nanny
- A police report must be provided for all family members over the age of 18
- The host family must take out insurance covering the early repatriation of the au pair in case of accident or illness and also agree to pay the costs to the Belgian State that may originate from such early repatriation or from the au pair's stay in Belgium in general
- The host family must agree to give access to their home to officials in charge of supervising the placement of an au pair
Visa InformationNationals from EU countries, i.e. Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden and additionally Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are allowed to live and work in Belgium without a work permit or a visa, but must register with the Belgian authorities. Special arrangements apply for Switzerland while Monaco follows the French regulations and are exempted.
Nationals from non-EU countries must have a valid work permit and must not have previously been issued a work permit for Belgium.
The Belgian host family must request an employer permit (autorisation d'occupation/arbeidsvergunning) and a type B work permit (permis de travail B/arbeidskaart B) for the au pair.
Visa Application Process
The Belgian host family must apply for employment authorisation and for a work permit. An employment contract between the host family and the au pair, a medical certificate provided by a doctor appointed by the embassy for the au pair and a certificate of good conduct must also be included with the application. A work permit will generally be issued within 6 weeks after submission of application.
Once the au pair receives the employment authorisation and work permit, they can then apply for a visa from the Belgian embassy or consulate in their place of residence. If you live in Australia, Fiji, Kiribati, Nauru, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, the Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Tonga or Tuvalu, you apply to the Belgian Embassy in Canberra.
Within 8 days of arrival in Belgium, the au pair must go to the town hall with all required documentation and they will be issued a residence permit for the duration of the purpose of the stay.
Please note that due to new regulations in Belgium, all foreign employees have to register themselves with the Belgian Social Security. This is mandatory for all employees, interns and self-employed. You have to register before arriving as an au pair in Belgium, which can be done online on www.limosa.be. The website is available in Dutch, French, German and English.
