Au pair in Geneva, Switzerland
Geneva, the UN city, appeals to au pairs with its lakeside setting, quality of life and the high standards of Swiss families.
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Prepared by AuPair Connect — Compliance Team
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Procedures & visa to be an au pair in Geneva
Becoming an au pair in Geneva requires an employment contract and a short-stay Swiss residence permit processed by the cantonal population office. The foreign au pair is employed for the stay, housed and fed by the family, and receives CHF 600–900/month in pocket money, board & lodging included. The canton of Geneva handles the annual application.
Competent authority: Geneva cantonal population office.
The official data for Switzerland
Legal status(es)
Age 18–25 years
Cantonal residence authorisation (permit) + visa from the Swiss representation + placement by a recognised organisation
Age 18–25 years
EU/EFTA free movement — cantonal residence authorisation / SEM
Visa
Required
Cantonal residence authorisation (permit) + SEM — visa from the Swiss representation for non-EU/EFTA nationals (third-country); EU/EFTA: free movement
Admission as a “young au pair” is a derogatory admission (LEI art. 30 / OASA): a third-country national aged 18 to 25 may be admitted to Switzerland for up to 12 months, exempt from the priority order, provided they are placed by a recognised organisation. The authorisation is issued by the cantonal migration office (SEM coordination); non-EU/EFTA nationals also obtain a visa from the Swiss representation of their country before entry. EU/EFTA: free movement, simplified formalities.
Age
18–25 years
Official federal rule (SEM, verified 2026-09-06) for third-country au pairs (non-EU/EFTA): 18 to 25 years, stay of up to 12 months, placement by a recognised organisation. EU/EFTA: free movement — age, duration and amounts according to cantonal practice.
Working time
4 h/day
20 h/week
No federal “au pair” hour ceiling is set in the admission ordinance (OASA): the exchange consists of limited services (simple housework and childcare) with the host family, within the usual limit of Swiss practice of about 4 h/day and 20 h/week, with protected free time for the language course. To be confirmed with the competent cantonal migration office: beyond this, the arrangement drifts towards ordinary gainful activity.
Contract / Agreement
Hosting convention (non-profit cultural exchange, cantonal model) — Written hosting convention signed between the family and the au pair (cantonal / SEM model)
Cantonal population / migration office + SEM; third-country nationals: recognised placement organisation + Swiss representation · Residence-authorisation application filed before arrival (cantonal procedure)
The family provides lodging (individual room), meals and pocket money; the au pair performs limited services (simple housework, childcare) and has enough time to attend a language course. The arrangement is a non-profit cultural exchange, distinct from ordinary salaried employment.
Steps
- 1 Conclude a hosting convention between the family and the au pair (tasks, hours, free time, lodging, meals, pocket money) — Host family / au pair
- 2 File the residence-authorisation application with the competent cantonal migration office (SEM coordination) — third-country nationals: go through a recognised placement organisation — Cantonal migration office / SEM
- 3 Third-country nationals: obtain a visa at the Swiss representation of the country of origin before entering Switzerland — Swiss representation abroad
- 4 EU/EFTA: free-movement formalities (notification to the canton depending on the length of stay) — Cantonal migration office
Salary / Pocket money
600.00–900.00 CHF/month
Monthly pocket money with board & lodging: usual Swiss-practice range of about CHF 600–900/month depending on the canton — no official federal amount is published by the SEM for au pairs (the OASA sets no minimum au-pair remuneration). Amount to be confirmed with the competent cantonal migration office and the recognised placement organisation.
Contributions
Host family (provides lodging, meals and pocket money) — no URSSAF-equivalent attachment body for the au pair stay
Non-profit cultural exchange (outside an ordinary salaried employment contract)
The third-country au pair is admitted under the “young au pairs” derogation (LEI art. 30 / OASA), outside the ordinary labour procedure. For any gainful activity in the strict sense, the general admission and notification rules (SECO / social insurance) would apply — check with the canton.
Tax advantages
No tax advantage specific to hosting a young au pair in Switzerland
The pocket money of the unpaid exchange is generally modest; tax treatment depends on the canton and the situation (source tax possible for foreigners without a settlement permit)
The au pair scheme is a non-profit cultural exchange distinct from salaried employment; any tax advantage or obligation must be confirmed with the cantonal tax administration.
Official sources
- Secrétariat d'État aux migrations (SEM) — SEM — Bases régissant l'admission sur le marché suisse du travail (Jeunes gens au pair) · verified on 2026-09-06
- Secrétariat d'État aux migrations (SEM) — SEM — Séjour · verified on 2026-08-13
- Fedlex — Loi fédérale sur les étrangers et l'intégration (LEI, RS 142.20) · verified on 2026-08-13
- Fedlex — Ordonnance sur l'admission, le séjour et l'exercice d'une activité lucrative (OASA, RS 142.201) · verified on 2026-08-13
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Living & settling in Geneva
Concrete local information for your au pair stay in Geneva.
Prefecture & appointments
In Geneva, the cantonal population office (OCP) processes the short-stay residence authorisation by appointment; the au pair file includes a signed employment contract. Processing often takes 4 to 8 weeks.
FLE schools & Alliance Française
Alliance Française de Genève (near the Jet d'eau) offers French courses by the lake; the University of Geneva and city-centre schools complete the FLE offer.
Local family demand
Expatriate families from international organisations, the Nations district and les Eaux-Vives look for reliable English-speaking candidates; expectations and salaries are among Switzerland's highest.
Transport & cost of living
Geneva public transport (TPG) costs about CHF 70 a month; urban zones are well covered. A room in Geneva (CHF 800–1,200) is among Switzerland's highest, offset by a premium cost of living.
Au pair in Geneva: all nationalities
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Au pair in Geneva: questions & answers
The key questions about an au pair stay in Geneva.
How to become an au pair in Geneva?
You need an employment contract and a Swiss residence permit processed by the canton of Geneva for foreign au pairs.
Does Geneva offer a good au pair market?
Yes, high quality of life, international families and attractive salaries in Swiss cantons.
Keep reading
Practical guides
Everyday life guides, French FLE classes and honest comparisons to prepare your stay.
Not sure what an au pair exactly is? What an au pair is: definition, role & rules .