Become an au pair in Belgium

Legal status

• Au pair — EU/EEA national EU/EEA Hosting agreement (placement convention) — free movement, no work permit
• Au pair — third-country national (non-EU/EEA) Non-EU/EEA Type-B work permit (Region) + type-D visa (Office des étrangers) + A card

Visa

Required — Type D long-stay visa for third-country nationals — no long-stay visa for EU/EEA nationals (free movement)

Third-country national: the host family asks its Region for the authorisation to host the young au pair; the Region issues a type-B work permit through the municipality, then the young person applies for a type-D (long-stay) visa at the Belgian consulate, registers with the municipality within 8 days and receives an A card for a stay of up to 1 year. EU/EEA national: exempt from the work permit and from any occupation-authorisation formality (free movement), hosted under a private hosting agreement/convention.

The age depends on the host Region (verified 2026-09-06): in Flanders, 18 to under 26 years; in Wallonia, 18 to 30 years; Brussels-Capital: verification ongoing (no published figure). These ranges apply to the regionalised “young au pair” scheme (third-country nationals on a type-B permit).

Working time

4 h/day · 20 h/week

Educational-occupation ceilings common to the Regions (unless a regional rule says otherwise): light duties (childcare, small housework) limited to 4 h/day and 20 h/week in total, with one full weekly rest day. The total placement must not exceed 1 year (single renewal; depending on the Region, only one change of family). Above these ceilings the situation may be reclassified as domestic employment (employment contract).

Agreement

Hosting agreement / placement convention (unpaid cultural exchange) — Belgian hosting convention (not a salaried employment contract; an employment contract is presumed if the scheme conditions are not met)

Competent Region (Flanders / Brussels-Capital / Wallonia — occupation authorisation) + Office des étrangers / SPF Intérieur (residence, type-D visa) · The occupation-authorisation application is filed by the family before the young person arrives

Since 03/01/2019, third-country young au pairs stay under the old type-B work-permit procedure (outside the “single permit”). The placement is an unpaid cultural exchange: no additional job, no posted-worker status. The Regions qualify the stay as a hosting convention; the Office des étrangers may use the term “employment contract” in the occupation application: keep the “hosting agreement/convention” terminology.

Pocket money

Monthly pocket money with board & lodging, depending on the host Region (verified 2026-09-06): ≥ €450/month in Flanders (monthly bank transfer, including inactive periods); ≥ €750/month in Wallonia; Brussels-Capital: verification ongoing, no published amount. The old single national range “€250–450” is obsolete (not regionalised) and is not retained. Unpaid cultural-exchange scheme.

Contributions

Host family (provides lodging, meals and pocket money) — no salaried-attachment body; the permit counterpart lies with the Regions (type-B permit)

Unpaid cultural exchange: no ONSS affiliation as a salaried worker

The au pair is not a classic salaried worker. If the hosting conditions are not met (amounts, tasks, additional job), the situation is presumed to be a domestic-worker employment contract, with the resulting charges for the family.

Tax

No tax advantage specific to hosting a young au pair in Belgium

Pocket money with board & lodging outside salaried taxation under the unpaid scheme

The au pair stay is a cultural exchange compliant with the regional rules, distinct from a salaried employment contract; any claimed advantage must be checked against the official sources.

Official sources

• Service public fédéral Intérieur (IBZ/Dofi) — IBZ / Dofi — Office des étrangers : Jeune au pair · verified on 2026-09-06
• Service public fédéral Intérieur (IBZ/Dofi) — IBZ / Dofi — Office des étrangers : Permis unique · verified on 2026-09-06
• Gouvernement flamand (vlaanderen.be) — Employer un ressortissant étranger en Flandre — Jeune au pair · verified on 2026-09-06
• Service public de Wallonie — Emploi & Formation (SPW) — Devenir jeune au pair (Wallonie) — Emploi & Formation · verified on 2026-09-06
• ejustice.just.fgov.be (Législation belge) — Arrêté du Gouvernement wallon du 6 juin 2024 (admission au travail des travailleurs étrangers) — art. 61, 87 · verified on 2026-09-06
• Host family / young au pair

Report an error