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 

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!

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.
Read more
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.
Read more
Duration
6
Months
Age
from 18
Years

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.

Send WhatsApp

You have questions, we have answers:

  • You need two references from people who aren’t related to you to confirm your childcare experience. Together, these should cover at least 200 hours, ideally with children under 14. That might sound like a lot, but a four-week full-time internship in a kindergarten or regular babysitting can cover most of it quickly.

    Childcare experience helps host families choose the right au pair and helps you know if the program is right for you. Caring for kids can be challenging, so having good preparation and experience makes it easier to handle the job and enjoy your time with your host children.

  • Babysitting in your free time is one of the easiest ways to get more childcare hours. You build important experience and can even earn a bit of money. 

    You can also do internships in kindergartens, daycare centers or primary schools. Working as a counselor at summer camps or helping with kids’ sports teams counts as well. Private tutoring for children up to age fourteen is also recognised as relevant experience.

  • Don’t worry, your English doesn’t need to be perfect. You will improve a lot while living with your host family. You should be able to manage everyday situations and understand your family. The au pair interview is a great chance to practice. Watching movies, reading books, or taking a short language course can also help refresh your English skills.

  • You don’t have to show proof of vaccinations to become an au pair. It is still a good idea to check if your vaccinations are up to date and ask your doctor for advice. It is best to wait until you know which region you will live in, since recommendations can vary.

Read more