Au pair United States ⇄ France
Discover how families in France welcome au pairs from United States. American candidates bring native English and a strong childcare culture to French families, while France offers the structured VLS-TS "jeune au pair" framework — a genuine cultural exchange rather than the US inbound J-1 programme.
Prepared by AuPair Connect — Compliance Team
Every legal, tax or safety detail in this content is verified by the AuPair Connect Compliance Team against official sources and dated.
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In brief — key takeaways
A US citizen going to France as an au pair does NOT use the J-1 visa: the J-1 governs entry to the United States, not a US national leaving for Europe. Instead, a candidate aged roughly 18–30 signs the hosting agreement (Cerfa "jeune au pair") before departure, then applies for the VLS-TS "jeune au pair" long-stay visa via France-Visas and validates it within three months of arrival. France caps family/household tasks at 5 h/day and 25 h/week and sets non-EU pocket money at a minimum of €320/month, with a private room and meals provided on top.
Reviewed by the Compliance team · Verified on · Source: official host-country data
⚠️ No J-1 visa for Europe: what replaces it in France
The J-1 exchange visitor visa only governs entry TO the United States — it has nothing to do with a US citizen going to France. For France, a US national uses the VLS-TS "jeune au pair" long-stay visa via France-Visas, granted after signing the Cerfa hosting agreement before departure.
Source: US Department of State — BridgeUSA / Exchange Visitor Program (22 CFR §62.31).
Official data for Au pair United States ⇄ France
Legal status(es)
Age 17–30 years
Hosting agreement (+ Cerfa form)
Age 18–30 years
Hosting agreement (Cerfa) + long-stay VLS-TS visa
Visa
Required
Long-stay visa valid as a residence permit (VLS-TS) for the "young au pair" scheme
Long-stay visa valid as a residence permit for non-EU/EEA au pairs.
Age
17–30 years
17–30 years (EU/EEA) · 18–30 years (non-EU/EEA).
Working time
5 h/day
25 h/week
Family or domestic tasks (childcare, housework) capped at 5 h/day and 25 h/week. Above these limits the stay may be reclassified as domestic employment.
Contract / Agreement
Hosting agreement — Cerfa form
Urssaf · Declaration of the hiring of a household employee within 8 days
A private room and meals (board) are provided by the host family, board and lodging included.
Steps
- 1 Sign the hosting agreement (Cerfa form) — Host family
- 2 For non-EU/EEA nationals: obtain the long-stay VLS-TS "young au pair" visa — France Visas
- 3 Declare the household employment to Urssaf within 8 days — Urssaf
Salary / Pocket money
326.25–391.50 EUR/month
€326.25–391.50/month board & lodging included (EU/EEA, foreign family-aid trainee) · €320/month minimum (non-EU/EEA, young au pair).
Contributions
Urssaf · General scheme + Ircem
Flat-rate base (13× hourly SMIC/week or 56×/month)
The host family is liable for social-security contributions to Urssaf.
Tax advantages
No specific au-pair tax advantage
Non-taxable income (pocket money within the legal minimums)
Hosting an au pair (foreign family-aid trainee or young au pair) confers NO entitlement to the "personal services" tax credit (art. 199 sexdecies of the General Tax Code).
Official sources
- Urssaf — Taux et barèmes : employé au pair et stagiaire aide familial étranger (mise à jour 01/06/2026) · verified on 2026-09-14
- Urssaf — Employé au pair, stagiaire aidant-familial et travailleur occasionnel · verified on 2026-09-14
- Service-Public.fr — Stagiaire aide familial étranger et jeune au pair (F13348) · verified on 2026-06-01
- Légifrance — Code de la sécurité sociale (articles L133-5-6 à L133-5-12) · verified on 2026-08-12
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Who you need to know before travelling
Verified notes for au pairs travelling from United States to France.
The J-1 exchange visitor programme (22 CFR §62.31) governs entry TO the United States for au pairs; it has no role for a US citizen going to France. A US national is a non-EU/EEA third-country national in French law and follows the VLS-TS "jeune au pair" route.
Source: US Department of State — BridgeUSA / Service-Public.fr (DILA) — F13348 · Verified on 2026-06-01
France caps au pair family/household tasks at 5 h/day and 25 h/week; beyond this, the role risks being reclassified as domestic work.
Source: Service-Public.fr (DILA) — F13348 · Verified on 2026-06-01
Non-EU/EEA young au pairs in France receive a minimum of €320/month pocket money, with a private room and meals provided on top (logé-nourri), never instead.
Source: Service-Public.fr (DILA) — F13348 · Verified on 2026-06-01
The hosting agreement (Cerfa "jeune au pair") must be signed BEFORE departure and is attached to the VLS-TS long-stay visa application filed via France-Visas; the visa must be validated within 3 months of arrival.
Source: Service-Public.fr (DILA) — F13348 / France-Visas · Verified on 2026-06-01
The French mission competent for the United States is the Embassy in Washington, with consulates general in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Boston, San Francisco and Atlanta; the consulate covering your state handles the appointment.
Source: France-Visas / Consulate General of France in the United States · Verified on 2026-06-01
Before you leave: the overview
A US candidate heading to France follows the non-EU/EEA route: a signed hosting agreement (Cerfa "jeune au pair") before departure, then a VLS-TS "jeune au pair" long-stay visa filed via France-Visas and validated within three months of arrival. The J-1 programme does not apply — it only governs entry to the United States, not a US citizen leaving for Europe. US official documents used in the file should be apostilled under the Hague Convention; the French mission competent for the United States is the Embassy in Washington with consulates general in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Boston, San Francisco and Atlanta, so appointments vary by the consulate covering your state.
Your travel pocket-guide
The concrete steps for au pairs on the United States → France route.
Consulate of the origin country
The VLS-TS « jeune au pair » long-stay visa for France is filed via France-Visas and, in the United States, handled by the French consulate covering your state — the Embassy in Washington and the consulates general in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Miami, Houston, Boston, San Francisco and Atlanta. File no more than three months before departure, after the Cerfa hosting agreement is signed, and always confirm the exact document list and processing times in the official France-Visas portal before booking.
Apostille & legalisation
US official documents used in the French file should be apostilled under the Hague Convention (the United States has been a party since 1981): for federal documents the US Department of State Office of Authentications issues the apostille, while state-issued documents (birth certificate, state police records) are apostilled by the Secretary of State of the issuing state. The FBI identity-history summary (criminal record) is a federal document and can be apostilled federally; a sworn English-to-French translation is generally required for the consulate. Gather every piece early — one unapostilled or untranslated document can delay the appointment by weeks.
Passport delay
A US passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the planned departure from the Schengen area (six months is the safer rule of thumb) and must exactly match the name on the ticket and the visa file. Standard US passport renewal takes several weeks by mail; expedited service is available for an extra fee and in-person appointments. Check the expiry date before starting anything with the host family or the consulate, and keep a digital copy of every page.
Departure obligations
Before leaving the United States, gather: a valid US passport, the signed Cerfa hosting agreement with the family, the France-Visas VLS-TS application and receipt, travel and health insurance valid from day one, and any apostilled and translated documents. There is no US exit visa for going to study or au pair abroad, but registering with the nearest US consulate or embassy after arrival (STEP programme) is recommended. Keep a digital copy of every document.
Other routes to Europe
The au pair procedure differs by destination country. Compare the United States → France route with these alternatives.
How it works
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Agreement following host-country rules.
Frequently asked questions
Do US citizens need a J-1 visa to be an au pair in France?
No. The J-1 exchange visitor programme governs entry TO the United States — it has no role for an American going to France. A US national (a non-EU/EEA citizen in French law) applies instead for the VLS-TS "jeune au pair" long-stay visa via France-Visas, after signing the Cerfa hosting agreement before departure.
How much pocket money does an au pair get in France in 2026?
Non-EU/EEA young au pairs in France receive a legal minimum of €320 per month, with a private room and meals provided on top (logé-nourri). France also caps family and household tasks at 5 hours a day and 25 hours a week; beyond that the role risks being reclassified as domestic work.
How long does a USA–France au pair stay last, and how is it validated?
The stay is typically 6 to 12 months. Within three months of arriving, the au pair must validate the VLS-TS online and pay the tax; that validation acts as the residence permit and removes the need to apply for a carte de séjour at the prefecture.
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