Become an au pair in Portugal
Legal status, visa, age, duration, contract, salary and contributions: the verified guide to prepare your au pair stay in Portugal.
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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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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