Finding an Au-Pair in Germany: The Guide for Host Families (2026)
Host families in Germany find their Au-Pair themselves via a platform or an agency. The Au-Pair is 18 to 26 years old, works up to 30 hours per week and receives at least €280 pocket money per month.
In addition, they receive a private room, board and lodging, €70 per month for a German course, as well as health, accident and liability insurance paid by the family. This guide is intended for families in Germany who are looking for an Au-Pair for the first time or want to organize it without an agency this time. All figures are taken from the information sheet and the model contract of the Federal Employment Agency as well as § 12 of the Employment Regulation (as of September 2026). The Au-Pair’s perspective is described on our country page Au-Pair in Deutschland.
The rules at a glance
| Topic | Rule in Germany | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Age of the au pair | 18 to 26 years | Section 12 BeschV, BA fact sheet |
| German language skills | Basic knowledge at level A1 | Section 12 BeschV, BA fact sheet |
| Pocket money | at least €280 per month | BA fact sheet, BA template contract |
| Hours | up to 30 per week and 6 per day | BA fact sheet |
| Leisure | 1.5 days off per week | BA fact sheet |
| Vacation | 20 vacation days | BA fact sheet, BA template contract |
| Language course | The family contributes €70 per month towards the course fees. | BA fact sheet |
| Insurance | Health, accident and liability insurance, paid by the host family | BA fact sheet |
| Contract | Official template contract of the Federal Employment Agency | BA sample contract |
| Duration | 6 to 12 months | BA fact sheet |
| Visa | Au-pairs from the EU or EEA: none; from outside the EU: visa required | Section 19c Residence Act in conjunction with Section 12 Employment Regulation |
Sources: Federal Employment Agency, Au-pair information sheet and Au-pair model contract (arbeitsagentur.de); § 12 Employment Regulation (gesetze-im-internet.de); § 19c paragraph 1 Residence Act. Checked on 11 September 2026. This overview does not replace legal advice.
Who can become an au pair in Germany
An au-pair comes to stay with you for 6 to 12 months to get to know Germany, your language and your daily life. In return, they help with child care. The basic requirements are clear: the au-pair is 18 to 26 years old and already speaks a little German, at least at level A1.
Important for your expectations: an au-pair is not a domestic helper and not a full‑time nanny. The Federal Employment Agency refers to child care and “light household tasks related to the children” — such as tidying the children’s room or preparing a snack for the kids, not cleaning, washing or cooking for the whole family. The focus is on the children and cultural exchange.
What you offer as a host family
- Allowance: at least €280 per month, paid on time every month.
- Room and board: a private room in your home and full meals. The au‑pair eats with you and is part of daily family life.
- Language course: time for a German course and €70 per month towards course fees.
- Insurance: health, accident and liability insurance for the entire stay, paid by you. Which policies are advisable is explained in our article Au‑Pair Insurance for Host Families.
- Leisure time: maximum 30 hours per week and 6 hours per day, 1.5 days off per week and 20 vacation days.
The complete list of all obligations can be found in our Checklist for Host Families in Germany. How much a full au‑pair year costs, from transportation tickets to higher household consumption, is calculated in our article What an Au‑Pair Year Really Costs.
Au-pair from the EU or from outside the EU?
Au-Pairs from the EU or EEA do not need a visa or a permit. Still, follow the rules from the Federal Employment Agency’s information sheet and use the sample contract—so both parties know from the start what to expect.
Au-Pairs from outside the EU need a visa for the purpose of an au‑pair stay. The legal basis is § 19c Abs. 1 Residence Act in conjunction with § 12 Employment Ordinance. The au‑pair applies for the visa at the German diplomatic mission, i.e., the embassy or consulate in their country; the Federal Employment Agency must approve the stay. For nationals of certain countries, such as Canada, there is an exception: they may enter without a visa and apply for the residence permit at the immigration office in Germany (§ 41 Residence Ordinance). Whether this applies to your au‑pair should be clarified beforehand with your immigration office. The process from the au‑pair’s perspective is described in our article Au-Pair Visa Germany: Step by Step.
How to Find Your Au-Pair: Step by Step
In six steps to becoming an au-pair in Germany
Clarify wishes
Timeframe, children's ages, care hours, languages, driver's license — and whether an Au-Pair from the EU or outside the EU is suitable. This determines whether a visa is required.
Create family profile
Honestly describe your daily life: children, place of residence, room, school and daycare schedules, days off, pocket money. The more specific you are, the more suitable inquiries you’ll receive.
Search on your own or hire an agency
On self-search platforms you contact au-pairs directly. An agency handles pre‑selection and paperwork for a fee. Many families use multiple methods in parallel.
Meet via video
At least one thorough conversation, preferably with the children present.
Sign sample contract
Fill out the standard contract from the Federal Employment Agency: hours, days off, pocket money, language course, insurance. Both parties sign, each keeps a copy.
Prepare your arrival
Take out insurance, choose a language course together. For au-pairs from outside the EU, the au-pair applies for the visa in a timely manner.
Getting to know candidates well through a video call
In a conversation, more matters than a résumé. Ask specifically: What have you already done with children of this age? What do you do when a child doesn’t settle down after kindergarten? How much German do you speak, and what do you want to learn in Germany? Speak honestly about your daily life, including the challenging aspects: early mornings, holiday care, evenings with babysitting. A detailed list can be found in our questions that host families should ask au‑pair candidates.
On AuPairMatch you start the video meeting after the match directly on the platform, without exchanging phone numbers.
Typical mistakes — and how you avoid them
- Planning too many hours. 30 hours per week and 6 per day are the maximum, not the norm. Evening babysitting counts.
- Seeing the au-pair as household help. Cleaning, laundry and cooking for everyone are not part of the role. If you need domestic help, you’re not looking for an au-pair.
- Starting without a written contract. Take the au-pair contract based on the template seriously; it protects both parties if something goes wrong.
- Forgetting the insurance. Health, accident and liability insurance must be in place from day one.
- Starting too late. For au-pairs from outside the EU, the visa process adds time. Build in a buffer before committing to a fixed start date.
Legal Pitfalls in Germany
The limits set out in the Federal Employment Agency’s information sheet are binding: a maximum of 30 hours per week and 6 hours per day, at least €280 pocket money, and 1.5 days off per week. If the au-pair is effectively used as a full‑time employee in the household, it is no longer an au-pair stay. Au-pairs from outside the EU may only start with you after obtaining a visa and approval from the Federal Employment Agency. This overview does not replace legal advice.
And in Austria?
If you live in Austria, other figures apply. According to the Public Employment Service (AMS), an au pair there is 18 to 27 years old, works a maximum of 16.5 hours per week, has at least one free day per week and receives at least €551.10 per month. The au pair is legally covered by social insurance, there is an official model contract, and the stay lasts no longer than 12 months. Au pairs from the EU can register, au pairs from outside the EU need a permit. Sources: AMS information sheet Au-pair, AMS model contract 2026 and USP.gv.at, accessed on 18 September 2026.
Why AuPairMatch for families in Germany
AuPairMatch is a self‑search platform, not an agency: you create a family profile, see au‑pairs with a match score — how well wishes and offers align — and contact them directly. In the launch phase this is free for host families, including contact; later on no subscription is planned either. Messages and profile texts are automatically translated into your language, the original is just one click away. Your profile shows “at a glance” children, working hours, pocket money and room; for Germany a checkmark indicates that hours and pocket money are within the regulations — a numerical comparison, not a legal review. Through the au‑pair community your on‑site au‑pair can find other au‑pairs nearby.
AuPairMatch launched in 2026 and is growing; established providers have more profiles. Many families therefore search on multiple platforms in parallel — an additional free profile expands your search.
Find your au-pair for Germany
Create a family profile, view Au-Pairs with match scores, and contact them directly — free during the startup phase.