Au pair in Germany
Au pair in Germany
Official Au Pair in Germany Program Information :
There is an official program to be an au pair in Germany and au pairs may enter through this program, or by applying for a Working Holiday visa. In general, EU/EFTA nationals do not need a visa and non-EU nationals require a visa in order to enter Germany.
Au Pair in Germany Mandatory Criteria
Working hours, free time and holidays
Bulgarian, Romanian and Croation nationals require a work permit to be an au pair in Germany. After entering Germany and before turning 27, the au pair will need a work permit issued from the Zentralen Auslands- und Fachvermittlung (ZAV) before commencing work. Forms are available from the Bundesagentur fur Arbeit. These conditions will apply for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals until 31/12/2013 and for Croations until 01/07/2015.
Requirements for Bulgarian, Romanian and Croation nationals are: passport or Identity Card, Au Pair contract signed by the au pair and host family, proof of basic German language skills, work permit application, registration confirmation and a completed questionnaire by the host family.
For non EU/EFTA nationals you will require a valid passport, a contract which includes confirmation of insurance details from your host family and also an invitation letter/letter of offer from your host family. You will need a recent biometric passport photo, a copy of your return flight ticket or booking confirmation and proof of sufficient funds. You may not be older than 26 years of age at the time of application and placement must be for a minimum of 6 months. Applications should be made at your local German Embassy. The embassy will test your German proficiency and also issue the visa should they be satisfied with your application. You may also be required to provide a police check and a medical certificate. Please allow up to 3 months for visa processing. Employment must commence within 6 months of receiving an au pair visa.
When you arrive in Germany, you will need to register at the local authority (Einwohnermeldeamt) and also at the Alien Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) to receive a residence permit. The initial residence permit is valid for 3 months and must be extended afterwards.
As of September 1, 2011, au pairs must apply for an electronic residence title (Aufenthaltstitel) at the Alien's Registration Office in Germany. The issuing of an electronic residence title takes 4-6 weeks and the cost of a title that's valid for up to one year is 100 Euro.
18-30 year old nationals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada (18-35), Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong may apply at their local German Embassy or Consulate before departing for Germany for a working holiday visa. Please refer to your local German Government website for more information about the working holiday program.
Please find below links to the following german consulates:
Australia - Click Here
Canada - Click Here
Hong Kong - Click Here
Japan - Click Here
New Zealand - Click Here
South Korea - Click Here
Taiwan - Click Here
Au pairs who are nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States may apply for a residence permit after arriving in Germany. You must apply at the Alien's Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) within 3 months of arriving in Germany and before you start your job as an au pair in Germany.
We recommend that applicants contact their local German embassy for current au pair in Germany visa eligibility requirements, as well as for applying for their visa before departing their home country to guarantee all required documents are submitted and accepted.
Official Au Pair in Germany Program Information :
There is an official program to be an au pair in Germany and au pairs may enter through this program, or by applying for a Working Holiday visa. In general, EU/EFTA nationals do not need a visa and non-EU nationals require a visa in order to enter Germany.
Au Pair in Germany Mandatory Criteria
- An au pair in Germany must be between 17-30 years of age for EU/EFTA nationals, minors require written consent from a parent or legal guardian, 18-26 years of age for Bulgarian, Romanian and Croation nationals and for other non-EU nationals 18-26 years of age
- An au pair in Germany must be between 18 and 30 years of age for a Working Holiday visa (35 for Canadians)
- Have a basic knowledge of the German language and prove proficiency
- Not have dependent children
- Have sufficient funds
- Stay for a minimum of 6 months on an au pair visa
- Attend German language classes - not compulsory for Working Holiday Makers
- Not have been an au pair in Germany previously
- At least one host parent must be a German native speaker and there must be at least one child under 18 years of age living at home
- An exception may be granted to families whose native language is not German, provided German is spoken at home on a daily basis and the au pair is not from the same country as the host parents
- Speak German at home on a daily basis
- Have a different nationality to the au pair
- Not be related to the au pair
- Job duties given to the au pair may only include childcare and light housework
- An au pair in Germany is paid 260 Euros per month pocket money
Working hours, free time and holidays
- An au pair in Germany can work a total of 30 hours per week (including max 3 evenings of babysitting) with a limit of 6 hours per day
- An au pair in Germany gets 1 day off per week and must get at least 1 Sunday off per month
- 4 paid weeks of holidays for a 12 month placement or 2 days leave for each full month worked
- If an au pair continues their regular duties whilst on holiday with the family, this does not count as holiday time for the au pair. If the au pair does not continue their regular duties whilst on holiday with the host family, this is considered au pair holiday time
- Other employment is not permitted if the au pair does not join the family on holidays
- We recommend holiday arrangements be clarified with your host family prior to departing your home country and have the arrangements put into your contract
- An au pair in Germany is provided with a private and lockable room of minimum 8 square metres with a window and heating
- An au pair in Germany is provided with 3 meals per day
- Meals and accommodation are to still be provided in case of illness and during au pair holiday time
- The au pair is usually liable for travel costs
- Other arrangements can be negotiated and put in the contract. Please do not make any payments in advance. If you would like to contribute towards the au pair's travel costs, we suggest paying for the return sector once the au pair has completed half of their contract period
- An au pair in Germany must be able to prove they have a minimum of basic German language skills (A1 level)
- The host family must give the au pair the opportunity to attend language classes
- The host family contributes 50 Euros per month to the language course
- An au pair in Germany must stay a minimum of 6 months and can stay up to a maximum of 12 months
- The host family is to arrange and pay for health insurance, that covers illness, pregnancy, childbirth and accidents. Not applicable for working holiday makers
- For EFTA nationals check if your insurance is valid in Germany for illness, pregnacy, childbirth and accidents. If it is, the host family does not need to organise insurance for you
- Working holiday makers must arrange their own comprehensive travel insurance which covers medical, accident and liability expenses before departing their home country
- An au pair in Germany duties are child care and light house work. Ensure your job duties are specified in the contract
- If an au pair in Germany is required to drive, you will need a full, valid driver's licence
- We recommend obtaining an international driving permit from your home country if your licence is not valid on its own in Germany
- Discuss with your host family what happens if you have a car accident, who pays, and have your agreements put in the contract
- For more information see the German Automobile Club
Bulgarian, Romanian and Croation nationals require a work permit to be an au pair in Germany. After entering Germany and before turning 27, the au pair will need a work permit issued from the Zentralen Auslands- und Fachvermittlung (ZAV) before commencing work. Forms are available from the Bundesagentur fur Arbeit. These conditions will apply for Bulgarian and Romanian nationals until 31/12/2013 and for Croations until 01/07/2015.
Requirements for Bulgarian, Romanian and Croation nationals are: passport or Identity Card, Au Pair contract signed by the au pair and host family, proof of basic German language skills, work permit application, registration confirmation and a completed questionnaire by the host family.
For non EU/EFTA nationals you will require a valid passport, a contract which includes confirmation of insurance details from your host family and also an invitation letter/letter of offer from your host family. You will need a recent biometric passport photo, a copy of your return flight ticket or booking confirmation and proof of sufficient funds. You may not be older than 26 years of age at the time of application and placement must be for a minimum of 6 months. Applications should be made at your local German Embassy. The embassy will test your German proficiency and also issue the visa should they be satisfied with your application. You may also be required to provide a police check and a medical certificate. Please allow up to 3 months for visa processing. Employment must commence within 6 months of receiving an au pair visa.
When you arrive in Germany, you will need to register at the local authority (Einwohnermeldeamt) and also at the Alien Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) to receive a residence permit. The initial residence permit is valid for 3 months and must be extended afterwards.
As of September 1, 2011, au pairs must apply for an electronic residence title (Aufenthaltstitel) at the Alien's Registration Office in Germany. The issuing of an electronic residence title takes 4-6 weeks and the cost of a title that's valid for up to one year is 100 Euro.
18-30 year old nationals from Australia, New Zealand, Canada (18-35), Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong may apply at their local German Embassy or Consulate before departing for Germany for a working holiday visa. Please refer to your local German Government website for more information about the working holiday program.
Please find below links to the following german consulates:
Australia - Click Here
Canada - Click Here
Hong Kong - Click Here
Japan - Click Here
New Zealand - Click Here
South Korea - Click Here
Taiwan - Click Here
Au pairs who are nationals of Australia, Canada, Israel, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea and the United States may apply for a residence permit after arriving in Germany. You must apply at the Alien's Registration Office (Ausländerbehörde) within 3 months of arriving in Germany and before you start your job as an au pair in Germany.
We recommend that applicants contact their local German embassy for current au pair in Germany visa eligibility requirements, as well as for applying for their visa before departing their home country to guarantee all required documents are submitted and accepted.
