Au-Pair Working Hours & Days Off: What's Allowed
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In Germany an au-pair may help with childcare and light housework for a maximum of 30 hours per week and no more than 6 hours per day. On top of that come at least 1.5 days off per week, at least one free Sunday per month, and at least 4 weeks of paid holiday per twelve months.
These limits aren't something to negotiate downward — they protect the au-pair and keep the cultural exchange at the centre of the arrangement. In this guide we explain the weekly and daily caps, the days off, the holiday entitlement, and a few points that often cause confusion — such as evening babysitting and the language course.
The caps: 30 hours a week, 6 hours a day
An au-pair is not a full-time worker. The usual cap in Germany is 30 hours per week, spread over a maximum of 6 hours per day. Within that time the au-pair supports the family with childcare and light tasks directly connected to the children — tidying the children's room, doing their laundry, or preparing simple meals.
What is not included: heavy housework for the whole family, gardening, or caring for elderly relatives. An au-pair is there to help with the children and experience the culture — not to be a cheap household help.
Days off: 1.5 per week and one free Sunday a month
The au-pair is entitled to at least 1.5 days off per week — for example one full day plus one free half-day. At least one Sunday per month must be completely free, so the au-pair can plan trips, meet friends, or simply rest.
Free time means real free time: during those hours the au-pair is not „on call“ and doesn't have to step in or stay reachable. It's best to plan the days off together and in advance, so both sides can rely on the arrangement.
Holiday: at least 4 weeks a year
Over the year, an au-pair is entitled to at least four weeks of paid holiday per twelve months (pro rata for a shorter stay). „Paid“ means the pocket money keeps running as normal during the holiday. If the family goes on holiday and brings the au-pair along to keep looking after the children, that does not count as the au-pair's holiday — they're still working.
Babysitting counts, the language course doesn't
Two points are often misunderstood:
- Evening babysitting counts as working time. When the au-pair looks after the children in the evening while you go out, those are childcare hours — they count toward the 30 weekly hours just like any others. A few babysitting evenings are normal, but they aren't a „little favour on the side“.
- The language course does not count as working time. The time the au-pair spends in the language course is free time and is not part of the childcare hours. The family must even make it possible for the au-pair to attend.
| Regel | Standard in Deutschland | Anmerkung |
|---|---|---|
| Working hours per week | max. 30 hours | Including babysitting evenings |
| Working hours per day | max. 6 hours | Not full-time, no overtime as a rule |
| Days off | at least 1.5 per week | Plus 1 free Sunday per month |
| Paid holiday | at least 4 weeks per 12 months | Pocket money continues; pro rata for shorter stays |
| Babysitting | Counts as working time | Goes into the 30 weekly hours |
| Language course | Does NOT count as working time | Takes place in free time |
Agree a concrete weekly schedule — in writing. Note down in advance on which days and at what times the au-pair usually helps, when the days off fall, and how you'll handle babysitting evenings. A clear plan on paper prevents most misunderstandings before they arise — and both sides know where they stand.
An au-pair is a family member, not an employee
Behind all these rules lies one simple idea: an au-pair is a temporary family member, not an employee. The arrangement isn't an employment contract in the classic sense but a cultural exchange — the au-pair lives with you, eats with you, and belongs for the duration of the stay.
That's why the hour limits aren't just about regulations but about fairness. Families who treat the au-pair as part of the family from day one, make clear agreements, and respect the free time almost always get a happier, more engaged au-pair in return — and a more relaxed year for everyone.