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Become an au pair in Portugal
Country guide · au pair

Become an au pair in Portugal

The verified guide to prepare your au pair stay in Portugal.

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Age
18–30 years
Pocket money
€250.00 to €400.00
per month
Visa
Required

Your journey, step by step

  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)

The official data for Portugal

Legal status

  • Au pair (unregulated cultural exchange) All 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.

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.

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.

Pocket money

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

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

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