FAQ Au pair program

Try to work through any problems for at least two months after your arrival, and discuss issues openly with your host family or local counselor. If things don’t improve, you can start the matching process again and explore other families over a 14-day period. Most participants find a new host family during this time, but we can’t guarantee it.

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.

Host families also have to meet certain requirements and go through an application process. They apply in writing and are visited by an AuPairCare representative or a partner agency representative. Families must be citizens or have permanent residence, provide you with your own room, and agree to follow the rules of the au pair contract.

As an au pair, you agree to care for your host children for 6–12 months, depending on your program. Many host families rely on your help while both parents work.

If you end the program early, you will need to cover your return flight yourself and you won’t receive a completion certificate. For the US program, leaving early also means you cannot get the visa a second time. Remember that frequent changes in caregivers can be hard on the children.

You don’t need to bring anything expensive. It helps to find out what your host parents and host kids enjoy and choose something with a personal touch. A small item from your region is always a nice idea. If you are going to the US and you are under 21, make sure your gifts don’t include alcohol. Security at the airport may open your gifts, so don’t wrap them too tightly.

Yes. A valid driver’s license is required for all au pair programs. Before we send your application to your host country, you must have one. In most cases, driving the children to school or activities will be part of your daily routine as an au pair.

Starting in a new country is a big challenge. Things like food, family life, and cultural differences can feel unfamiliar. Accept this as a normal part of the experience and be patient.

Your host family and other au pairs in the area will understand and support you. Talk openly with your host family about missing home - they will understand. From experience, homesickness usually fades after some time as you settle into your new life.

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.

Once you’re matched with your host family, we’ll send you a list of other au pairs in your area. For US participants, you can also find this information in the MyAuPairCare portal. The au pairs will be from your home country and other countries too.

You can join local au pair meetings - monthly in the US and New Zealand and quarterly in Australia. If your host family has hosted an au pair before, you can also ask them for advice and contacts.

You get a minimum number of paid vacation days, which is in your au pair contract and depends on your destination and length of stay. In the US, vacation days follow the official program rules. In other countries, you can discuss the number of vacation days with your host family.

It’s best to plan vacation time together with your family since they’ll need other childcare options while you’re away. If you go on holiday with your host family, agree in advance whether this counts as your vacation or if you’ll still have work responsibilities during that time.

The program fee covers your placement with a host family, visa support, training, and 24/7 assistance during your stay. Your host family provides your room and board.

For the USA program, your host family also covers flights and insurance. For Australia and New Zealand, you are responsible for flights and insurance.

You will also need to cover your visa fee (around $185 USD for the US, 650 AUD for Australia, and 770 NZD for New Zealand), official documents such as police or health certificates, an international driver’s license if required, and any extra luggage or personal travel.

It’s more important to find a host family that fits you well than to pick a specific city or region. For this reason, we don’t let participants choose the exact location.

Everything will feel new and exciting, even in places you haven’t seen in movies or on TV. Most host families live in suburbs of larger cities, so there’s always something to do. Be open to any region, and you can explore other parts of the country on weekends, during your vacation, or after your program ends.

AuPairCare has a network of qualified and fully trained representatives across the EU. If you want to go to the US, an interview in person is a mandatory prerequisite. You will meet one of our team members once you have completed the first two parts of your application. For all other destinations, the interview can take place by phone or video call.

During the interview you will talk about your childcare experience and why you want to become an au pair. It is the final step before your documents are sent to our Head Office in the US or to our partner agency for review.

Our au pair program includes full insurance covering health, accidents, baggage, and liability for the duration of the program, usually at least six months. Travel after the program isn’t included, but you can extend the insurance at your own cost. Make sure to read the policy carefully and understand any exclusions.

For our New Zealand and Australia programs, insurance isn’t included in the program fees and needs to be purchased separately. You can find more details about the au pair insurance in our guide.

You don’t pay anything until your application is complete and you’ve been accepted into the program. The program fee is only due once you’ve been officially matched with a host family.

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 10. 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 twelve is also recognised as relevant experience.

Sometimes host parents provide a mobile phone so they can reach you and the children. This is usually your work phone. Ask your host family if you can use it for personal calls or messages, but try to keep it for work during your working hours.

If you bring your own phone, check with your provider about international costs or consider getting a local SIM card. Our New Zealand program includes a SIM Card.

Yes! We offer several ways to save on your program fee:

🎓 Pro-pair Discount: Save 200 € if you’ve completed a professional qualification in a childcare-related field (e.g. kindergarten teacher, pediatric nurse, teaching assistant).
👶 Baby Plus Discount: Save 200 € if you have 200+ hours of experience caring for infants (0–2 years) and match with a host family with young children.
🧡 Welcome Back Discount: Save 200 € if you’ve already been abroad with AuPairCare or another Intrax program.
🤝 Bring a Friend Special: Save 150 € when someone you’ve recommended becomes an au pair with us. You’ll receive this discount for each friend who travels to the USA through your referral.

The timeline mainly depends on you. You could go abroad 2–3 months after submitting your online application if all your documents are ready. If you act quickly, the application can be completed in about 2 weeks. Make sure to apply for your passport and police clearance certificate right away.

Once your documents are ready, we schedule your interview and send your profile to host families. The placement process goes faster if you have a strong application, childcare experience, and driving skills. Families choose au pairs who seem enthusiastic, responsible, and caring.

After you’re matched with a host family, you can apply for your visa and book flights (we handle this for the US and New Zealand). This usually takes another 4–5 weeks before you’re ready to depart.

Yes. It’s a good idea to open a bank account in your host country. The documents you need depend on the country and the bank, but usually include your passport, proof of address, and sometimes a social security card (for the US).

Tip: Try to save a little money each week so you have a cushion for bigger or unexpected expenses.

This depends on your host family. Some au pairs share the family car while others get a car for their own use. If you don’t have your own car, you can usually arrange rides with other au pairs or friends. Having a car is a bonus, not something every family can offer. 

If you do get your own car, talk through the rules with your host family at the start of your stay. It helps to know if you can use it for personal trips, who pays for gas, and what happens if there is an accident. Clearing this up early makes everything easier for both sides.

To become an Au pair with AuPairCare, you start by filling out our online application. After that, we’ll have a chat with you about your expectations and make sure you meet all the requirements for the program. Once your application is complete with all the necessary documents and info about you, you’re ready to get matched with a host family. When you’ve found the right family, you can apply for your visa and start your au pair adventure abroad!