How much pocket money does an au pair receive in Switzerland in 2026?

Your canton, not the federal government, sets this. Nine cantons list official net amounts between 500 and 960 CHF per month—Basel‑Stadt, for example, at least 700 CHF; in Geneva the cantonal minimum wage applies to adult au pairs; the other cantons do not specify an amount. In addition, you receive a private room, full board, a language course of at least 120 hours, and at least half of the health‑insurance premium. All cantonal figures are listed in our cantonal article.

How many hours is an au pair allowed to work in Switzerland?

The canton also sets the limits: each canton allows a maximum of 25 or 30 hours per week—30 hours per week and five hours per day in Basel‑Stadt, 25 hours in Aargau. Usually there are one and a half to two days off per week and five weeks of vacation until the child turns 20. One parent must be at home for at least half of the working hours.

Do we need an agency to host an au pair in Switzerland?

For au pairs from the EU or EFTA, this does not apply. You find a host yourself, for example on a platform like AuPairMatch, and apply for the L permit with the canton. For au pairs from outside the EU, a Swiss agency recognized by the cantonal labor office and SECO is mandatory.

Does an au pair from the EU need a permit for Switzerland?

Yes. Unlike in most EU countries, an au pair from the EU or EFTA also needs a short‑stay permit L, which they are entitled to. It is valid for up to 24 months in total. Au pairs from outside the EU receive a short‑stay permit for a maximum of twelve months, with the approval of the SEM.

Who pays for the language course in Switzerland?

The host family, fully. The course must include at least 120 hours in the local language of your residence and must be organized in advance; you indicate the scope in the request. This is stated in the SEM guidelines and applies in all cantons.

Finding an au pair in Switzerland: The guide for host families (2026)

AuPairMatch

October 22, 2026

5 min read

Family Guides

In Switzerland two levels regulate the au pair relationship. The federal government sets the age limit, maximum duration, language course, insurance and the permit. Your canton determines pocket money, working hours and holidays: working hours, days off and vacation are usually listed in the cantonal standard employment contract for household work, and only nine cantons specify a pocket‑money amount. You may find and hire au pairs from the EU or EFTA yourself. Au pairs from outside these areas can only come through a Swiss agency recognised by the canton and SECO.

This guide is for families in Switzerland who are taking in an au pair for the first time or want to explore the agency‑free route. It explains what applies nationwide, what you need to check for your canton, the costs involved and how to get your au pair step by step. We have collected the cantonal amounts and hours in a separate article: Au pair in Switzerland: Pocket money and working hours by canton.

The federal rules at a glance

Topic	Rule in Switzerland	Source
Age of the au pair	From outside the EU: 18 to 25 years; from the EU or EFTA: 17 to 30 years (on AuPairMatch at least 18)	SEM instructions AIG 4.4.10, VFP 4.7.3
Duration	from outside the EU: up to 12 months, not extendable, usually only once (exceptions in justified individual cases); from the EU or the EFTA: up to 24 months	SEM instructions AIG 4.4.10, VFP 4.7.3
Approval	from the EU or EFTA: EU/EFTA ID card with entitlement; from outside: short‑stay permit under Art. 48 VZAE with SEM approval	SEM instructions AIG 4.4.10, VFP 4.7.3
Agency	from outside the EU: only through a Swiss agency recognized by the cantonal employment office and SECO; from the EU or EFTA: no requirement	SEM instructions AIG 4.4.10
Language course	at least 120 hours in the host country's language, organized in advance, documented, paid by the family	SEM instructions AIG 4.4.10
Insurance	Registration with a recognized Swiss health insurer; the host family pays at least half of the premium	SEM instructions AIG 4.4.10
Presence	One parent is at home for at least half of the working hours.	SEM instructions AIG 4.4.10
Contract	written au pair agreement	SEM instructions AIG 4.4.10
Pocket money	Cantonally regulated, no federal amount; nine cantons list official net amounts ranging from 500 to 960 CHF, for example Basel‑Stadt at least 700 CHF net per month.	SEM instructions AIG 4.4.10; cantonal leaflets and NAV, see cantonal article
Hours and holidays	From outside the EU: up to 30 hours per week and one full day off according to federal law (Art. 48 VZAE); from the EU or EFTA: canton‑specific limits, usually up to 25 or 30 hours per week per canton, e.g. Basel‑Stadt 30 hours per week and 5 hours per day, Aargau 25; typically one and a half to two days off; holidays 5 weeks until the 20th birthday, then 4.	cantonal NAV and leaflets, see cantonal article

Sources: State Secretariat for Migration (SEM), AIG guidelines Chapter 4.4.10 and VFP guidelines Chapter 4.7.3; Canton Basel‑Stadt, au pair work permit. Federal rules checked on 18 September 2026, canton information on 22 October 2026 (SEM AIG guidelines as of 30 June 2026, VFP version January 2026). This overview does not constitute legal advice.

Federal government and canton: Who regulates what

The federal government decides who may come as an au pair and how long: age, maximum duration, permit, language course and insurance are set out in the guidelines of the State Secretariat for Migration. The canton decides how the au pair lives and works with you: pocket money, days off, holidays and, for au pairs from the EU or EFTA, weekly hours. For au pairs from outside the EU, the federal law Art. 48 VZAE limits them to at most 30 hours per week and one full day off. Most cantons regulate working hours, days off and holidays in the standard employment contract for domestic workers; only nine cantons specify a pocket‑money amount, either in the standard contract or in information sheets from the permitting authority. The federal standard employment contract with its minimum wages expressly excludes au pairs.

What this means for you: first read the federal rules, then the standard employment contract and your canton’s information sheet. What is written there forms the basis of your contract; any deviations must be agreed in writing, and where the canton states an amount, a lower amount is not allowed. The amounts and hours for all 26 cantons with sources are listed in the canton article.

One point is crucial for planning: for au pairs from outside the EU, cantons issue permits from quotas. Nidwalden, according to its information sheet from September 2026, currently does not allocate any au pair quotas for third‑country nationals; Zurich, per its migration office directive from December 2021, also does not; Obwalden only does so for nationwide interest; Geneva is restrictive. Where you live therefore influences whether this route is even open.

What you as a host family offer

Allowance: the amount set by your canton, at least; official figures range from 500 to 960 CHF net, Basel‑Stadt lists 700 CHF. If your canton does not specify an amount, ask the approving authority. This includes board and lodging as a non‑cash salary of 990 CHF per month. More is allowed.
Room and meals: a private room and full board, both free of charge. The au pair eats with you and is part of daily family life.
Language course: at least 120 hours in the local language of your residence, organized in advance and fully paid by you; indicate the amount in your request. Include the time needed to attend.
Health insurance: registration with a recognized Swiss health insurer and coverage of at least half the premium. A foreign‑only health insurance is not sufficient.
Presence: one parent must be at home for at least half of the working hours. An au pair does not replace full‑time childcare.
Time and patience: for au pairs from outside the EU, everything goes through the recognized agency and the cantonal authority with SEM approval. Plan for several months.
Search: on AuPairMatch during the startup phase 0 €. The agency, if you need one, costs extra.

How Switzerland compares to other countries is shown in our 2026 allowance country comparison. The rules from the au pair’s perspective are on our country page au pair in Switzerland.

Au pair from the EU or from outside the EU?

Au pairs from the EU or the EFTA are eligible for a short‑stay permit L. You can search for them yourself, sign a contract directly, and apply for the permit at the cantonal migration office. The framework is broader than for everyone else: ages 17 to 30 and up to 24 months in total. On AuPairMatch, au pairs must be at least 18.

Au pairs from outside the EU may only come through an agency approved by the cantonal labor office and SECO. Foreign agencies are excluded. The au pair must be 18 to 25 years old, stay a maximum of twelve months, non‑extendable and usually only once; exceptions are possible in justified individual cases. The cantonal authority issues the L permit with SEM approval and only within the cantonal quota. Demanding tasks such as educational work or tutoring are excluded, and family reunification is not offered.

What a platform does when an agency is mandatory: you find the person who fits your family and refer them to the agency. Ask the agency beforehand if they support au pairs you found yourself and what the cost is. For au pairs from the EU or the EFTA, you don’t need this detour.

How to find your au pair: step by step

In six steps to an au pair in Switzerland

Clarify canton and preferences

Read your canton’s standard employment contract: pocket money, hours, holidays. Clarify the period, children’s ages, care times, languages, driver’s license—and whether an au pair from the EU or outside fits. That determines if you need a recognized agency.

Create family profile

Describe your daily life honestly: children, place of residence and canton, room, school and kindergarten hours, days off, pocket money. Include your canton’s hourly limit in the profile so expectations match.

Search yourself or hire an agency

Write directly to au pairs from the EU or EFTA. For au pairs from outside, choose an agency recognized by SECO and ask whether they accompany self‑found au pairs.

Meet via video

At least one in‑depth conversation, preferably with the children present.

Sign the contract and book a language course

Written au pair agreement with hours, one day off, pocket money, holidays and insurance according to your canton’s regulations. The 120‑hour language course is arranged by you in advance and attached to the application.

Prepare approval and travel

Apply for approval from the cantonal migration office: L permit for au pairs from the EU or EFTA; for au pairs from outside the EU through the agency and with SEM approval. Then register for health insurance, book the flight together, and prepare the room.

Getting to know candidates well via video call

In a conversation, more matters than a résumé. Ask specifically: What have you already done with children of this age? How well do you speak German, French or Italian, and what do you want to learn in Switzerland? How do you picture a day that combines language lessons and childcare? Be honest about your daily life, including the tough parts: early mornings, lunch breaks, holiday care. You’ll find a detailed list in our questions families should ask au pair candidates.

On AuPairMatch you can start a video call directly from the chat, without exchanging phone numbers or external apps. Messages are automatically translated into your language, with the original just one click away.

Typical mistakes — and how to avoid them

Looking for a nationwide amount in Switzerland. That doesn’t exist. Pocket money, hourly rates and holidays are set in your canton’s standard employment contract; a figure from another canton or from an agency site without canton information does not apply to you.
Overlooking the canton. Your canton’s standard employment contract applies even if you are not familiar with it. Read it before signing.
Postponing the language course. At least 120 hours, organized in advance and paid by you. You must state the scope in your application.
Hiring a foreign agency. For au pairs from outside the EU only a Swiss agency recognized by SECO counts.
Expecting full‑time care. One parent must be at home for at least half of the working hours. An au pair does not replace a daycare or a nanny.
Seeing the au pair as household help. If you need household help, hire one. An au pair looks after children and lives the cultural exchange; light assistance with daily life is part of family life, not the job.

Legal pitfalls in Switzerland

Even an au pair from the EU or EFTA needs a permit; they apply for it in the canton before starting. An au pair from outside the EU may only begin once the permit, approved by the SEM, is granted, and only through a recognized agency and if the canton has a quota. The family must provide a language course of at least 120 hours and at least half of the health‑insurance premium. If your canton specifies an allowance amount, offering less is not allowed. This overview does not constitute legal advice.

Why AuPairMatch for families in Switzerland

If you’re an au pair from the EU or EFTA, you don’t need an agency, and they make up the largest group of au pairs coming to Switzerland. 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, with the original just one click away. The video‑call introduction happens right on the platform. During the launch phase this is free for host families, including contact.

AuPairMatch launched in 2026 and is growing; established providers now have more profiles. We charge no agency fee and have no middlemen: you talk directly with the people who want to join your family.