⏱ Reading time: 10 min.
Are you looking for an exciting experience abroad, but you are not sure if you are eligible to participate in the
Au Pair program? Though each country has specific
requirements for participants, there is also some common criteria for participation that can be applied to the majority of Au Pair programs.
Video: The road to becoming an au pair
In the following video, we're looking at how you can use www.aupair.com to become an Au pair.
Let's discuss these requirements in details.
You need to be at least 17 years old and not older than 30 to apply for the program. Check out the specific
age requirements for each country.
You need to be able to communicate on a daily basis with your Host Family. If the host country’s requirements don't state otherwise, usually good command of English or the host country's official language is more than enough. The Au Pair program is for you to practice a
foreign language, so don't worry if you are not fluent yet!
... abroad? If you also like to hang out with kids, the Au Pair program is a perfect solution!
Read more
If you need a visa to participate in the Au Pair program, you might be required a
language certificate proving your knowledge of the target language.
You are also allowed to improve your proficiency by attending a
language course in the host country. In some countries, language courses are mandatory.
In order to take part in the Au Pair program, you can't have children of your own. This is also a very important criteria to be entitled to the Au Pair visa. In many countries, you need to be unmarried as well.
You need to have at least a school diploma (depending on the country). Some Host Families might ask for additional certificates or documents proving your experience in childcare.
Visa (if required)
You must fulfill the requirements of the host country's embassy to be entitled to the Au Pair
visa. If you are interested in participating in the
Au Pair USA program, check the requirements for the
J-1 visa. Read also more information about the
working holiday visa, which is issued to Au Pairs in several countries.
Au Pair's expenses
You must be able to cover the travel expenses required to reach the host country and get back home, unless you have agreed with your
future Host Family on different
terms. Though we encourage Host Families to support their Au Pairs with travel costs, this is not a mandatory requirement and totally depends on the family’s decision.
You have to be healthy and not a smoker. Although smoking is not an official criteria, the chances to
find a Host Family are much higher for non-smoking Au Pairs.
At AuPair.com you can find thousands of Host Families from all over the world. Read our tips and find the perfect one.
Learn more
You also need to love spending time with kids. As the
Au Pair duties are mainly related to childcare, this experience will be enjoyable for you only if you like taking care of children. Most Host Families expect their Au Pair to have some kind of experience in childcare. You might have done some babysitting or worked in a kindergarten or another social institution for a while. The more references you can show, the better you can convince a Host Family.
|
Target country |
Age |
Language |
Education |
Visa |
|
Australia |
18 - 30 years |
Good command of English |
No regulations |
Depends on your nationality - for more details check visa regulations in Australia |
|
Austria |
17 - 30 years |
Basic german (with certificate) |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Belgium |
17 - 30 years |
No regulations |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Canada |
18 - 30 years |
Basic knowledge of English or French |
No regulations |
Depend on your nationality - for more details check visa regulations in Canada |
|
China |
18 - 29 years |
Good command of English |
At least a school diploma |
Depend on length of the stay - for more details check visa regulations in China |
|
Denmark |
18 - 29 years |
Knowledge of English, German, Swedish, Norwegian or Danish |
Completed 8 - 9 years of schooling |
No visa needed |
|
England / UK |
17 - 30 years |
Good command of English |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Finland |
17 - 30 years |
Basic knowledge of Finnish or Swedish |
At least school diploma |
No visa needed |
|
France |
17 - 30 years (or more: check Stagiaire program) |
No regulations |
At least high school diploma or equivalent |
No visa needed |
|
Germany |
18 - 26 years |
Basic german (sometimes you will need at least an A1 certificate) |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Iceland |
18 - 27 years |
Good knowledge of English |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Ireland |
18 - 28 years |
Good knowledge of English |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Italy |
18 - 30 years |
No regulations |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Luxembourg |
18 - 30 years |
Good command of English or one of the three official languages of Luxembourg (Luxembourgish, German or French) |
At least high school diploma |
No visa needed |
|
Netherlands |
18 - 25 years |
No regulations |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
New Zealand |
18 - 30 years |
Good knowledge of English |
No regulations |
Check the visa regulations in New Zealand |
|
Norway |
18 - 30 years |
Good English or Norwegian skills |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Spain |
18 - 30 years |
Basic knowledge of Spanish. Knowledge of English, French or German will also work |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Sweden |
18 - 30 years |
No regulations - but Au Pair needs to prove interest in Swedish culture |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Switzerland |
17 - 30 years |
Good knowledge of language of the canton for which you apply |
No regulations |
No visa needed |
|
Turkey |
18 - 30 years |
Good English or basic Turkish |
No regulations |
Check the visa regulations in Turkey |
|
USA |
18 - 26 years |
Good knowledge of English |
At least high school diploma |
J1 visa necessary - learn more about visa regulations in USA |
Free Registration as Candidate
Login
