Who can become an Au Pair?

Being an au pair means you’ll be taking care of your host family’s children during your working hours. That includes keeping them safe, supporting their daily routines, and of course playing and having fun together. Parents are trusting you with what’s most important to them, so being responsible, reliable, and genuinely good with kids is essential.

In addition to these personal qualities, there are also official requirements you’ll need to meet. These depend on your destination and are usually tied to visa regulations. They can include things like age limits, marital status, childcare experience, or language skills, and vary from country to country.

Au Pair Requirements by Country

USA
  • Age: 18 - 26
  • unmarried & without children
  • high school diploma or equivalent
  • good level of English
  • valid driver's license & driving experience
  • clean criminal background check
  • good health
  • application through an official sponsor agency like AuPairCare
  • proven childcare experience
Australia
  • Age 18-30
  • unmarried & without children
  • no previous Australian Working Holiday visa
  • proof of at least AUD 5,000 upon entering the country
  • good level of English
  • valid driver's license & driving experience
  • clean criminal background check
  • good health
  • proven childcare experience
New Zealand
  • Age 18-30
  • unmarried & without children
  • no previous Working Holiday visa for NZ
  • good level of English
  • valid driver's license & driving experience
  • clean criminal background check
  • good health
  • proven childcare experience
  • certified First Aid Training
Germany
  • Age: 18-26
  • basic knowledge of German (at least A1 level)
  • unmarried & without children
  • driver's license & driving experience strongly preferred
  • childcare experience
  • high school diploma or equivalent 

Send us your questions through WhatsApp

Do you have any questions about the requirements that an au pair must meet? You can also contact us directly via WhatsApp/Messenger. We look forward to your message! Due to the current situation, it may take us a bit longer to respond. We apologize and thank you for your understanding.

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What you should bring

Love for children is the number one requirement, because your everyday life will hardly revolve around anything else. You will manage different tasks and be a chauffeur, chef, teacher, playmate, reader and entertainer. Experience in childcare is important and strongly desired by the host parents.

Your experience in childcare

au pair kinderbetreuung

As an au pair, you will not only travel and discover a new country, but also take care of young children. Your host family trusts you with a lot of responsibility and wants to make sure that you are up to the challenge. Proof of childcare experience is therefore a prerequisite for au pairs. In general, the more experienced you are, the faster you will find a host family. 

There are many ways to gain childcare experience. These do not only include classic babysitting jobs, but also internships in kindergartens or daycare centers, coaching young sports teams or working as a camp counselor or tutor.

You need at least two up-to-date references for your application from people who are not related to you who can confirm your childcare experience. These references should be able to prove at least 200 hours of experience, ideally with children under the age of 10. 

Explore our programme offers

Au pair USA
au pair with flag usa
Experience American life up close: Spend 12 months or more living with a host family in the USA. As an au pair, you’ll care for the children and become part of the family, gaining a deep, authentic insight into everyday American culture.
Read more
Duration
1
Year
Age
from 18
Years
Price
1.090
Euro
Au pair Australia
Au pair Australia Sydney
Live like a local in Australia: Spend 6 to 12 months with a carefully selected host family and experience everyday life in vibrant cities like Sydney or Melbourne.
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Duration
6
Months
Age
from 18
Years
Price
990
Euro
Au Pair New Zealand
New zealand program offer
Discover life in New Zealand: Spend 6 to 12 months with a welcoming host family and experience everyday life in cities like Auckland, Wellington, or Christchurch.
Read more
Duration
6
Months
Age
from 18
Years
Price
990
Euro
Au Pair England
Au pair England
England is the perfect place for any au pair who wants to experience British culture up close. You will most likely live near London and spend 6-12 months in an English host family.
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Duration
6
Months
Age
from 18
Years

Do you meet all the requirements?

Perfect! Start directly with your non-binding and free application! Becoming an au pair is so easy!

Apply now!

You have questions, we have answers:

  • For your application you need two current references from people who are not related to you and who confirm your experience in childcare. These references should be at least 200 hours in total, ideally with children under 10 years of age. That sounds like a lot at first, but after a four-week full-time internship in kindergarten, for example, you have almost all hours together. Regular babysitting also means that 200 hours can be collected quickly. 

    Your experience in childcare is not only an important criterion in choosing the right au pair for host families. It is also very important for you, since it is the only way to assess whether the au pair programme is right for you. You will quickly take your host children into your heart, but it is not always easy to look after them. With good preparation and a lot of experience, you can better assess whether you are up for the challenge.

  • A great way to gain (additional) hours for your au pair childcare experience is babysitting in your spare time. This way you not only collect the necessary hours in childcare, but you can also earn some extra money. 

    In addition to that you can do internships in kindergartens, daycare centers or primary schools. Working as a counselor or coach for summer camps or children's sports teams, as well as private tutoring lessons for children up to 12 years of age, are also recognised as relevant experience.

  • Don't worry, your English doesn't have to be perfect, because you'll perfect your knowledge during your stay abroad. You should however be able to find your way around in everyday life, and must be able to understand your host family. Your au pair interview in English will already be good practice. You can also watch movies in English or read English books and magazines. If you have not spoken English for several years, you can also take a language course to refresh your knowledge.

  • You do not have to hand in proof of vaccinations to become an au pair. Nevertheless, it is important to check if all your vaccinations are up to date and worth asking your doctor for recommendations. It is best to wait until you have been placed in a specific region.

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