(Last Updated On: )

Your stay abroad is a great opportunity to spend an unforgettable time in Germany and perfect for improving your German language skills and meeting new people from all around the world.

Become an Au Pair in Germany! Here, you can find useful information on being an Au Pair in Germany, the visa, your duties and so on.

Au Pair in Germany - At A Glance

  • Age: Between 17 and 30 years old (EU citizens); or between 18 and 26 years old (non-EU citizens)
  • Duration of Stay: Between 6 and 12 months (maximum)
  • Working Hours: 30 hours per week
  • Holidays: 4 weeks of paid vacation and at least 1 1/2 days off per week
  • Travel Expenses: Your Host Family might bear some of your travel expenses
  • Insurance: Your Host Family will cover the costs for your health, accident and liability insurance
  • Pocket Money: 260€ per month + 50€/month for attending a language course
  • Visa Requirements: Citizens of an EU country do not need a visa; Citizens from a non-EU country need a visa. 

Can I become an Au Pair in Germany?

In order to become an Au Pair in Germany, you need to fulfill the following conditions:

  • You are between 17/30 and 30 years old
  • You have some knowledge of German
  • You are willing to stay for at least 6 months
  • You are healthy and don't smoke
  • Diving license and experience in childcare will be a plus

For citizens outside the EU requires may slightly vary:

  • You are between 18 and 26 years old
  • You are willing to stay for at least 10 to 12 months
  • You haven't worked as an Au Pair in Germany in the past

What are my duties as an Au Pair?

The duties and responsibilities of an Au Pair in Germany vary, depending on the Host Family's daily routine and the host children's age.
However, your main responsibility will be to take care of the children of your Host Family. Therefore, it is important that you have previous experience in child care and love spending time with children.

Besides child care, an Au Pair in Germany is also responsible for minor household chores, such as cleaning up the host children's room(s), washing and ironing the children's laundry, vacuuming, un-/loading the dishwasher or doing some minor shopping for the children.

The weekly working hours of an Au Pair in Germany are around 30 hours. However, you should not work more than 6 hours a day.
During these hours, your Host Family might also ask you to babysit on up to two evenings per week.
Should you work more than 30 hours per week (as an exception!), your Host Family needs to compensate you for the extra working time by giving you an additional day/additional hours off in the subsequent weeks.

Visa Requirements

The visa requirements for becoming an Au Pair in Germany depend on what country you come from or what citizenship you have.
Below, we have a detailed description of the visa requirements for EU citizens and citizens outside the EU.

Pocket money in Germany

Weekly Working Hours Paid weekly Pocket Money
30 hours per week No 260€ per month

An Au Pair in Germany is entitled to a monthly pocket money of 260€.
In addition to your pocket money, your Host Family will also share the costs of a language class and pay 50€ per month.

Apart from that, your Host Family will also provide you with free board and lodge, meaning that they provide a room in their house and meals for you free of charge.
Therefore, you are free to spend your pocket money on leisure time activities or for traveling across Germany and its neighboring countries.

What about my insurance?

Au Pairs in Germany do not have to be registered with the national insurance scheme in Germany.
They do need, however, a health, accident and liability insurance for the duration of your stay abroad. Your insurance needs to cover you in case of illness, pregnancy, childbirth or accident.

If you are a resident of an EU country, we recommend that you contact your local health insurance company prior to your departure and ask if your local health insurance covers you for your time in Germany as well.
If your health insurance does not cover you during your entire stay as an Au Pair in Germany (or only for some part of your stay) you need to take out an additional health, accident and liability insurance.

If you need to take out an individual private health insurance, either because your local health insurance does not cover you for your stay abroad, covers you only partially or because you are a citizen of a non-EU country, your Host Family will bear the insurance fees. They will also take out the insurance for you.

This post is also available in: German