Au pair in Porto, Portugal
Porto, Portugal's second economic hub, appeals to northern families with its UNESCO heritage, its university and a lower cost of living than the capital.
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Prepared by AuPair Connect — Compliance Team
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Procedures & visa to be an au pair in Porto
Hosting an au pair in Porto works through a private written agreement (housing, meals and pocket money EUR 250–400/month, board & lodging). No dedicated Portuguese au pair status: non-EU/EEA nationals clarify their stay with AIMA, EU/EEA nationals move freely.
Competent authority: AIMA and Porto City Council.
The official data for Portugal
Legal status(es)
Age 18–30 years
Private written agreement between the au pair and the host family
Visa
Required
Long-stay visa for stays over 90 days by non-EU/EEA nationals (via AIMA)
EU/EEA nationals may stay freely. Non-EU/EEA nationals must obtain a visa/residence permit via AIMA for a stay longer than 90 days. Brazilian nationals benefit from specific entry routes under the Portugal–Brazil visa facilitation agreement.
Age
18–30 years
No legal au-pair age limit in Portugal (no programme exists); accepted practice follows the international 18–30 years range.
Working time
Portugal has no dedicated au-pair programme or specific legal working-hour cap: hours and tasks are set exclusively by the private agreement, best put in writing.
Contract / Agreement
Written private agreement — Written contract / agreement signed between the au pair and the host family
AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo
Lodging and meals provided by the host family are a common practice not enshrined in any dedicated au-pair status.
Steps
- 1 Draft and sign a written agreement detailing hours, tasks, pocket money and lodging — Host family / young au pair
- 2 For non-EU/EEA nationals: clarify the entry and residence procedure with AIMA — AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo
- 3 Consult the official Portuguese administrative steps — ePortugal portal (República Portuguesa)
Salary / Pocket money
250.00–400.00 EUR/month
No au-pair pocket-money amount is set by Portuguese law (the programme does not exist formally). Accepted practice generally ranges between €250 and €400 per month, board & lodging included — an amount to negotiate and put in writing.
Contributions
Host family
Private cultural-exchange agreement (outside an employment contract)
As Portugal has no official au-pair status, no specific contribution scheme applies; the family provides lodging, meals and pocket money within the private agreement.
Tax advantages
No specific tax advantage for hosting an au pair
Modest pocket money with board & lodging, generally outside the scope of income taxation
The Portuguese private agreement stays below an employment relationship; the exact tax classification of pocket money is not documented by the Autoridade Tributária. Individual tax advice recommended in case of doubt.
Official sources
- Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (AIMA) — AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo (portail officiel) · verified on 2026-08-31
- República Portuguesa — eportugal.gov.pt — Portal de serviços e informação do Estado português · verified on 2026-08-31
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The au pair market in Porto
How local demand is structured and what families look for in Porto.
Verified facts · Porto
- Tal como no resto do país, o Porto não dispõe de estatuto de au pair dedicado. O acolhimento rege-se por um acordo privado escrito, com prática admitida de 250–400 €/mês, logado-nutrido, sem montante legal obrigatório. Source : AIMA — Agência para a Integração, Migrações e Asilo · Verified
- A Faculdade de Letras da Universidade do Porto (FLUP) ministra português língua estrangeira por níveis e prepara o CAPLE; o Centro de Línguas da U.Porto trabalha com turmas reduzidas e opções semestrais. Source : Universidade do Porto — FLUP / Centro de Línguas · Verified
- O Metro do Porto, os autocarros da STCP e o funicular cobrem a cidade e a margem de Gaia; o passe Andante mensal cobre todas as zonas urbanas, o que facilita as deslocações entre casa e escola. Source : Metro do Porto / STCP · Verified
- O Porto é a segunda cidade universitária do país: a Universidade do Porto e o Instituto Politécnico do Porto reúnem dezenas de milhares de estudantes, sustentando a procura de famílias de classe média e média-alta nas zonas da Boavista, Foz e Paranhos. Source : Universidade do Porto / Instituto Politécnico do Porto · Verified
Au pair in Porto: all nationalities
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Au pair in Porto: questions & answers
The key questions about an au pair stay in Porto.
What steps are needed to host an au pair in Porto?
Sign a detailed written agreement, house and feed the au pair; for a non-EU/EEA national, clarify the stay with AIMA before arrival.
Is Porto suited to a first au pair hosting?
Yes: a safe city, efficient public transport, Portuguese schools for foreigners and a lower cost of living than Lisbon.
Keep reading
Practical guides
Everyday life guides, French FLE classes and honest comparisons to prepare your stay.
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