Finding an au pair in Luxembourg: The guide for host families (2026)
In Luxembourg, the au pair search starts with an application: the host family must first obtain written approval from the Service national de la jeunesse (SNJ), while an agency does not need this. The pocket money is a fixed statutory amount—one fifth of the social minimum wage, €554.27 per month since June 2026, tax‑free. The au pair can work up to 25 hours per week on average, and the family pays the language course in full.
This guide is for families in Luxembourg who are taking in an au pair for the first time. All information comes from Guichet.lu, the SNJ (au pair.lu), the IGSS and the law of 18 February 2013 on the admission of au pairs, checked on 18 September 2026.
The rules at a glance
| Topic | Rule in Luxembourg | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Family approval | in writing in advance by the SNJ, processing a complete dossier within four to six weeks | Guichet.lu, au pair.lu |
| Age of the au pair | 18 to 29 years old on the first day of the stay | Guichet.lu |
| Language skills | A1 in a family language and A2 in English or a local language | Guichet.lu |
| Pocket money | fixed amount: one fifth of the social minimum wage, €554.27 per month (since June 2026), tax‑ and contribution‑free | Law of 18 February 2013, IGSS |
| Hours | At most 25 per week on average per month and at most 5 per day on average per week; less is allowed. | Guichet.lu, Law of 1 August 2018 |
| Leisure | one full day off per week, three free evenings per week, two additional days off per month | Guichet.lu |
| Language course | Compulsory; the family pays them in full | Guichet.lu, au pair.lu |
| Insurance | Registration for statutory health and accident insurance, as well as liability, handled by the family. | Guichet.lu |
| Contract | official admission agreement, signed before departure and approved by the SNJ | Guichet.lu |
| Duration | up to 12 months | Law of 18 February 2013 |
| Stay | Au pairs from the EU or EEA: registration; from outside the EU: residence permit, not extendable | Guichet.lu |
Sources: Guichet.lu, Accueillir un jeune au pair; SNJ, au pair.lu; IGSS, Social parameters June 2026 (social minimum wage €2,771.33); Law of 18 February 2013 on hosting young au pairs and Law of 1 August 2018 (legilux.public.lu). Checked on 18 September 2026. The amount is recalculated with each index adjustment. This overview does not replace legal advice.
The approval: first the SNJ, then the search
Luxembourg is the only country in our comparison where the family must obtain a written approval before an au pair can arrive. You apply to the SNJ and must show: at least one child under 13 at the start of the stay, daily care for children under six throughout the whole period, and a separate room. Only one au pair is allowed at a time. Processing a complete file can take four to six weeks.
With the approval you and the au pair sign the official admission convention — before the au pair leaves their home country — and have it approved by the SNJ. After arrival the au pair must attend an SNJ information session; this is mandatory. An au pair in Luxembourg is not staff: any other paid work is strictly prohibited, and cleaning, laundry and cooking for everyone are not part of the duties.
Who can become an au pair in Luxembourg
The au pair is 18 to 29 years old on the first day, has a university‑entrance qualification or has attended school at least until age 17, is not related to you up to the fourth degree, and provides a medical certificate no older than three months. Linguistically, the SNJ expects basic knowledge (A1) in a language spoken in your family and A2 in English or one of the local languages Luxembourgish, French or German.
What you offer as a host family?
- Allowance: €554.27 per month — the law sets this amount, so it is neither a minimum nor a maximum. Tax‑ and contribution‑free for the au pair.
- Room and meals: a private room and full board. The au pair eats with you and is part of daily family life.
- Language course: fully paid by you. You choose the school and language together.
- Insurance: You register the au pair for statutory health and accident insurance and take out liability insurance.
- Free time: one full day off per week, three free evenings per week, two additional days off per month.
- Search: On AuPairMatch during the startup phase €0; on other platforms or agencies fees vary by provider.
The SNJ suggests a total budget of roughly €800 to €1,000 per month as a guideline. How Luxembourg compares is shown in our 2026 allowance country comparison. The rules from the au pair’s perspective are on our country page au pair in Luxembourg.
Au pair from the EU or from outside the EU?
Au pairs from the EU or EEA do not need a residence permit; they simply register after arrival. Admission, the convention and the information session still apply – the au pair law does not make a distinction here.
Au pairs from outside the EU apply for a residence permit as an au pair using the approved convention. It is valid for up to twelve months and cannot be extended. The au pair may only enter and start once the permit is granted. There is no legal minimum duration; the SNJ recommends at least three months.
How to find your au pair: step by step
In six steps to an au pair in Luxembourg
Apply for admission at SNJ
Child under 13, proof of care for children under six, own room. Estimates four to six weeks processing and starts the search in parallel.
Create family profile
Describe your daily life honestly: children, location, room, school and care hours, days off, languages spoken in your family. List the 25 hours directly in your profile.
Contact candidates and get to know them
Contact suitable au pairs and hold at least one detailed video call, preferably two. Check age, education level and language proficiency against the SNJ requirements.
Sign the admission agreement
Before the au pair leaves their home country. Hours, days off, pocket money, language course, insurance. Then submit for approval to the SNJ.
Arrange stay
When the au pair comes from outside the EU, they apply for the residence permit with the approved agreement. Au pairs from the EU register after arrival.
Prepare for arrival
Register for health and accident insurance, obtain liability coverage, choose a language school, note the date of the SNJ information event.
Typical mistakes — and how to avoid them
- Search first, then get approval. No au pair may arrive without a permit. Submit the application to the SNJ before confirming a start date.
- Read the amount as a minimum. €554.27 is legally fixed – not less, and not a “negotiable upward” figure.
- Split the language course cost. In Luxembourg the host family pays the full course, unlike in Germany or Austria.
- Sign the convention after arrival. It must be signed before departure from the home country and approved by the SNJ.
- Do not treat the au pair as household help. If you are looking for domestic staff, you are not looking for an au pair.
Legal pitfalls in Luxembourg
Without SNJ approval and a signed hosting agreement, there is no au pair stay. An au pair from outside the EU may enter only after receiving a residence permit. Your family can host only one au pair at a time, and the au pair may not take any other paid work. This overview does not constitute legal advice.
Why AuPairMatch for families in Luxembourg
Because in Luxembourg the SNJ allows the family and no agency is required, you don’t need an intermediary for the search. On AuPairMatch you create a family profile, check the match score to see which au pairs fit your wishes, and contact them directly. Messages and profile texts are automatically translated into your language—especially handy in a country with three official languages. The video‑call introduction happens right on the platform. During the startup phase this is free for host families, including contact.
AuPairMatch launched in 2026 and is growing; established providers have more profiles. Many families therefore search on several platforms at once—an extra free profile expands your search. You handle the paperwork (approval, convention, insurance) yourself with the SNJ.
Find your au pair for Luxembourg
Create a family profile, view au pairs with match scores and contact them directly — free during the startup phase.