The term, “au pair” comes from the French language, meaning “equal to”. It is a person who usually travels to a foreign country to live with and work for a host family. The person takes care of the children and helps with some light household duties in exchange for full board, housing and pocket money etc.
However, the purpose of the au pairs stay in the host country is not to be a traditional worker, but to acquire international experience, get to know a new culture and learn another language. Usually, the au pair becomes a part of the family and develops a lifelong friendship with the family members.
Christian Au Pair Agency will not only help you finding a trustworthy host family, but also a family that shares the same faith and values, thereby allowing the au pair to get even more out of the stay abroad.
The requirements for being able to work as an au pair through this particular agency can be divided into two categories; legal requirements and requirements made by Christian Au Pair Agency. Furthermore, the legal requirements vary from person to person, mainly depending on nationality.
Since we are a Christian agency, we accept only Christian au pairs. Therefore we require a letter of recommendation from a leader in your church. This letter of recommendation shall be sent to us via e-mail or regular mail after applying as au pair.
The visa requirements vary depending on your citizenship.
Au pairs from EU or EEA Member States and Switzerland
There are no work permit restrictions for au pairs from these countries.
Au pairs from third countries
A citizen of a country outside the EU that wants to work as an au pair, needs to have a residence permit. For work that lasts less than three months, citizens of certain countries also need to have a visa. The purpose of the stay must be to improve your language skills and knowledge of Sweden.
The information on this page is partly taken from The Swedish Migration Agency.
Working as an au pair is a good way to find a job abroad and acquire valuable international experience. The aim of the visit is to have the opportunity to learn Swedish and become acquainted with Swedish culture.
The au pair lives with the host family and helps with the daily household duties, including looking after children. In addition, the au pair babysits approximately for one night every week. What is included in the daily household duties is defined in the au pair placement contract and varies between different host families. However the following duties are common:
The au pair is under any circumstances neither allowed nor required to work as host family’s maid or do heavy household duties. The au pair may, if needed, follow the host family on holidays and participate on any excursions.
The au pair must be offered a maximum of 25 hours of childminding and light household work per week. The total combined time for household work and language studies may not exceed 40 hours per week.
The au pair must be offered a certain compensation for work done, a minimum salary of 10 % of the price base amount per month before tax.
The host family will offer the au pair full board and own room during the stay in the host country.
During the stay in the host country, the au pair must study Swedish for most of the rest of the time, normally paid by the au pair.
There are no official regulations regarding holidays and days off for au pairs. Typically, au pairs should be granted at least one full day off per week, preferably a Sunday. We also recommend that au pairs receive two weeks of vacation during a six-month stay, or four weeks during a 12-month stay.
It is expected that the au pair pays for the cost of flights to and from Sweden. In some cases, the host family may decide to help with part of the cost. However, this is only CAPA’s recommendation, and the family is not obliged to do so.
Would any circumstances require the au pair to leave earlier, he or she should stay with the family until a suitable replacement has been found. In case of serious circumstances of misbehavior the au pair can leave the family with immediate effect. However, the Christian Au Pair Agency will always be there for the au pair and help with all kinds of problems and issues, anytime, anywhere.
The information on this page is partly taken from The Swedish Migration Agency.
The steps for applying as an au pair are described below. They may vary from person to person, mainly depending on nationality. Do not forget that Christian Au Pair Agency is always there to support you and help you with any issues you might have with your application or preparation.
If you meet the requirements for working as an au pair in Sweden, you are welcome to register at our website.
After the confirmation, Christian Au Pair Agency will start the matching process. As soon as a possible host family candidate is found, Christian Au Pair Agency will contact the au pair.
When we have found a matching family and both parties have agreed to the proposal, we will ask you to send us the following documents:
Thereafter we will send the placement contract firstly to the au pair and thereafter to the host family. Once all three parties have signed the contract, each is legally required to uphold the agreements set forth within. Of course you will have the opportunity to communicate directly with the host family, before making any decisions.
In order to be able to apply for residence and/or work permit you will need a certificate from your place of language study stating how many hours per week you will study. The family will sign you up for the language course and send you a copy of the certificate.
If a residence permit is required you are now able to apply for it. You must apply for a residence permit from your native country or other country outside Sweden where you are living.
Applications for entry visas are processed by The Swedish Migration Board.
It is important to communicate with your host family while doing the final preparations. Such final preparations include, among others, the following:
The information on this page is partly taken from The Swedish Migration Board.
The term, “au pair” comes from the French language, meaning “equal to”. It is a person who usually travels to a foreign country to live with and work for a host family. The person takes care of the children and helps with some light household duties in exchange for full board, housing and pocket money etc.
However, the purpose of the au pairs stay in the host country is not to be a traditional worker, but to acquire international experience, get to know a new culture and learn another language. Usually, the au pair becomes a part of the family and develops a lifelong friendship with the family members.
Christian Au Pair Agency will not only help you finding a trustworthy host family, but also a family that shares the same faith and values, thereby allowing the au pair to get even more out of the stay abroad.
The requirements for being able to work as an au pair through this particular agency can be divided into two categories; legal requirements and requirements made by Christian Au Pair Agency. Furthermore, the legal requirements vary from person to person, mainly depending on nationality.
Since we are a Christian agency, we accept only Christian au pairs. Therefore we require a letter of recommendation from a leader in your church. This letter of recommendation shall be sent to us via e-mail or regular mail after applying as au pair.
The visa requirements vary depending on your citizenship. Below you can find more information about the different visas.
Working Holiday visa (subclass 417)
To apply for this visa, you must hold a valid passport from a country involved in the Working Holiday Program with Australia. Eligible countries are Belgium, Canada, Republic of Cyprus, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of the People’s Republic of China (including British National Overseas passport holders), Republic of Ireland, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, Taiwan or United Kingdom.
Work and Holiday visa (subclass 462)
You can apply for this visa if you hold a passport from Argentina, Bangladesh, Chile, People’s Republic of China, Hungary, Indonesia, Israel, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Peru, Poland, Portugal, San Marino, Singapore, Slovak Republic, Slovenia, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, United States of America, Uruguay or Vietnam.
Special Category visa (subclass 444)
You can apply for this visa if you are a citizen of New Zealand.
The information on this page is partly taken from The Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
Working as an au pair is a good way to find a job abroad and acquire valuable international experience. The aim of the visit is to have the opportunity to learn English and become acquainted with Australian culture.
The au pair lives with the host family and helps with the daily household duties, including looking after children. In addition, the au pair babysits approximately for one night every week. What is included in the daily household duties is defined in the au pair placement contract and varies between different host families. However the following duties are common:
The au pair is under any circumstances neither allowed nor required to work as host family’s maid or do heavy household duties. The au pair may, if needed, follow the host family on holidays and participate on any excursions.
There are no specific regulations regarding au pairs working hours in Australia. However, CAPA’s recommendation is that the au pair should work no more than 25 hours a week, 5 hours a day (except when babysitting).
There are no specific regulations regarding au pairs pocket money in Australia. However, However, CAPA’s recommendation is 200-250 AUD for 25 hours/week.
The host family will offer the au pair full board and own room during the stay in the host country.
During the stay in the host country, the au pair will attend a English language course, normally paid by the au pair.
The au pair is entitled to have two days off in a week, one of which should be a Sunday. As a result of the short working days, the au pair will also have plenty of free time during the weeks. During the free time the au pair is free to do whatever he or she wants, such as sightseeing, doing sport activities, meeting friends or taking part in local church activities. In addition to the free time, the au pair is entitled to a paid holiday of two weeks for every 6 months stay.
It is expected that the au pair pays for the flights to and from Australia. In some cases, the host family is happy with the help you provide may decide to help with part of the cost. However, this is only CAPA’s recommendation, and the family is not obliged to do so.
Would any circumstances require the au pair to leave earlier, he or she should stay with the family until a suitable replacement has been found. In case of serious circumstances of misbehavior the au pair can leave the family with immediate effect. However, the Christian Au Pair Agency will always be there for the au pair and help with all kinds of problems and issues, anytime, anywhere.
The information on this page is partly taken from The Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
The steps for applying as an au pair are described below. They may vary from person to person, mainly depending on nationality. Do not forget that Christian Au Pair Agency is always there to support you and help you with any issues you might have with your application or preparation.
If you meet the requirements for working as an au pair in Australia, you are welcome to register at our website.
After the confirmation, Christian Au Pair Agency will start the matching process. As soon as a possible host family candidate is found, Christian Au Pair Agency will contact the au pair.
When we have found a matching family and both parties have agreed to the proposal, we will ask you to send us the following documents:
Thereafter we will send the placement contract firstly to the au pair and thereafter to the host family. Once all three parties have signed the contract, each is legally required to uphold the agreements set forth within. Of course you will have the opportunity to communicate directly with the host family, before making any decisions.
In order to be able to apply for residence and/or work permit you will need a certificate from your place of language study stating how many hours per week you will study. The family will sign you up for the language course and send you a copy of the certificate.
If a residence and/or work permit is required you are now able to apply for it. You must apply for a residence permit from your native country or other country outside Australia where you are living.
Applications for entry visas are processed by Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection. An applicant who is not pleased with his or her decision can appeal the decision with the Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection. For more information, please contact Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
It is important to communicate with your host family while doing the final preparations. Such final preparations include, among others, the following:
The information on this page is partly taken from The Australian Government Department of Immigration and Border Protection.
The term, “au pair” comes from the French language, meaning “equal to”. It is a person who usually travels to a foreign country to live with and work for a host family. The person takes care of the children and helps with some light household duties in exchange for full board, housing and pocket money etc.
However, the purpose of the au pairs stay in the host country is not to be a traditional worker, but to acquire international experience, get to know a new culture and learn another language. Usually, the au pair becomes a part of the family and develops a lifelong friendship with the family members.
Christian Au Pair Agency will not only help you finding a trustworthy host family, but also a family that shares the same faith and values, thereby allowing the au pair to get even more out of the stay abroad.
The requirements for being able to work as an au pair through this particular agency can be divided into two categories; legal requirements and requirements made by Christian Au Pair Agency. Furthermore, the legal requirements vary from person to person, mainly depending on nationality.
Since we are a Christian agency, we accept only Christian au pairs. Therefore we require a letter of recommendation from a leader in your church. This letter of recommendation shall be sent to us via e-mail or regular mail after applying as au pair.
The visa requirements vary depending on your citizenship. Below you can find more information about the different visas and work permits.
Au pairs from EU or EEA Member States and Switzerland
There are no work permit restrictions for au pairs from these countries.
Au pairs from third countries
Au pairs from so called third countries require a residence permit (visa, leave to remain). The residence permit must be applied for in the form of a visa at the relevant German diplomatic mission (this is the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany or authorised local consulate) prior to arriving in Germany.
Exceptions
Citizens of certain countries (e.g. Australia, Israel, Japan, Canada, Republic of Korea, New Zealand, and United States of America) may enter Germany without a visa. Please make inquiries at the German Embassy or German Consulate. CAPA will of course help you with the inquiry if needed.
The information on this page is partly taken from Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Office for Labour, BA)
Working as an au pair is a good way to find a job abroad and acquire valuable international experience. The aim of the visit is to have the opportunity to learn German language and become acquainted with German culture. The European Agreement on Au Pair Placement contains framework regulations on living and working conditions, language classes, social security as well as the rights and responsibilities of the host family and the au pair. Although this agreement has not been endorsed by the Federal Republic of Germany, it is in general followed. In addition, over many years au pair contracts in Germany have also given rise to certain norms.
The au pair lives with the host family and helps with the daily household duties, including looking after children. In addition, the au pair babysits approximately for one night every week. What is included in the daily household duties is defined in the au pair placement contract and varies between different host families. However the following duties are common:
The au pair is under any circumstances neither allowed nor required to work as host family’s maid or do heavy household duties. The au pair may, if needed, follow the host family on holidays and participate on any excursions. The tasks of an au pair do not include caring for the sick or elderly (looking after family members in need of care).
The au pair contract must be of least 6 months’ duration and can cover at the most 1 year. A renewal of employment as an au pair is not permitted even when the maximum duration of 1 year has not been completed.
In general, an au-pair is not allowed to carry out household tasks (including babysitting) for longer than 6 hours a day and 30 hours a week. If this length of time is exceeded for a particular reason, then prior agreement is needed. The extra hours must be compensated for with time off.
The family has the right to expect that the au pair will complete the tasks assigned to him/her in a reasonable period of time. Carrying out personal tasks (e.g. cleaning and tidying of the au pair’s own room) does not count as housework time.
The arrangement of housework time is done according to the needs and habits of the family. However, a degree of regularity in the daily routine is to be expected.
The purpose of working as an au pair is to improve language skills (and if applicable, work experience) as well as expanding general knowledge through a better understanding of the host country. Therefore, an au pair does not receive a wage in the normal sense but only so called ‘pocket money’. This currently amounts to €280 per month, regardless of the length of the housework time.
An au pair usually receives a low income. Therefore, an au pair does not have to file a tax return in Germany. In case of any doubt, individual cases are to be examined. For further information, please refer to the federal central tax office.
Accommodation and meals will be provided by the family for free. In general, the au pair is entitled to his/her own room within the family home.
He/she joins family meals and receives the same food as the family members. If the au pair has a specific dietary requirement, then this should be clearly stated in the application.
Every au pair is entitled to the opportunity to do a German language course in his/her own time as well as take part in cultural and scholarly activities.
The host family is obliged to contribute € 50 a month to the cost of the language course. However, the au pair must bear the costs for other activities himself or herself.
The au pair is entitled to at least 1 full rest day a week. This does not necessarily have to be at the weekend. However, at least one Sunday a month must be kept free for the au pair. In addition, the au pair is entitled to at least 4 free evenings a week.
During the free time the au pair is free to do whatever he or she wants, such as sightseeing, doing sport activities, meeting friends or taking part in local church activities. In addition to the free time, the au pair is entitled to a paid holiday of two weeks for every 6 months stay.
If a family hosts an au pair for a full year, then he/she is entitled to paid holidays of 4 weeks. Otherwise, there is an entitlement to holidays equivalent to 2 working days for every full month.
If the family itself is going on holidays, the au pair often joins them. In such cases however, the au pair also has specific tasks and responsibilities (e.g. looking after children, etc). However, for the au pair a family holiday only counts as his/her own holidays when only nonessential tasks are to be carried out and where the au-pair is not obliged to join the family on holiday. If the au pair does not join the family holiday, then working for another family (e.g. neighbors, friends) is not permitted.
The cost of travelling to and from the host country is usually borne by the au pair. In some cases, the host family is happy to help the au pair with part of the cost. However, this is only CAPA’s recommendation, and the family is not obliged to do so.
In Germany, insurance must be taken out for the au pair in the case of illness, pregnancy and birth as well as in the case of accident. All insurance contributions are paid by the family.
Would any circumstances require the au pair to leave earlier, he or she should stay with the family until a suitable replacement has been found. In case of serious circumstances of misbehaviour the au pair can leave the family with immediate effect. However, the Christian Au Pair Agency will always be there for the au pair and help with all kinds of problems and issues, anytime, anywhere.
The information on this page is partly taken from Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Office for Labour, BA)
The steps for applying as an au pair are described below. They may vary from person to person, mainly depending on nationality. Do not forget that Christian Au Pair Agency is always there to support you and help you with any issues you might have with your application or preparation.
If you meet the requirements for working as an au pair in Germany, you are welcome to register at our website.
After the confirmation, Christian Au Pair Agency will start the matching process. As soon as a possible host family candidate is found, Christian Au Pair Agency will contact the au pair.
When we have found a matching family and both parties have agreed to the proposal, we will ask you to send us the following documents:
Thereafter we will send the placement contract firstly to the au pair and thereafter to the host family. Once all three parties have signed the contract, each is legally required to uphold the agreements set forth within. Of course you will have the opportunity to communicate directly with the host family, before making any decisions.
For your trip to Germany, you need a valid passport or identity card (for EU and EFTA citizens). Check the validity of your documents before leaving your country.
The German Embassy examines your knowledge of German, since your language level should be the equivalent to Level A1 for getting a visa.
Following documents are required when applying the visa:
Note: Other documents may be required. Please contact us or the competent authority in advance.
It is important to communicate with your host family while doing the final preparations. Such final preparations include, among others, the following:
Upon arrival in Germany, the EU/EEA citizens are required to register at the residents’ registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt).
The au pairs from third countries should be registered at the Residents’ Registration Office (Einwohnermeldeamt) and the Immigration Office (Ausländerbehörde) by the host family. The residence permit will first be issued for 3 months and must be extended afterwards. The au pairs from third countries also need to
The information on this page is partly taken from Bundesagentur für Arbeit (Federal Office for Labour, BA)
