Become an au pair in Switzerland

Legal status

• Au pair — third-country national (non-EU/EFTA) Non-EU/EEA Cantonal residence authorisation (permit) + visa from the Swiss representation + placement by a recognised organisation
• Au pair — EU/EFTA national EU/EEA EU/EFTA free movement — cantonal residence authorisation / SEM

Visa

Required — Cantonal residence authorisation (permit) + SEM — visa from the Swiss representation for non-EU/EFTA nationals (third-country); EU/EFTA: free movement

Admission as a “young au pair” is a derogatory admission (LEI art. 30 / OASA): a third-country national aged 18 to 25 may be admitted to Switzerland for up to 12 months, exempt from the priority order, provided they are placed by a recognised organisation. The authorisation is issued by the cantonal migration office (SEM coordination); non-EU/EFTA nationals also obtain a visa from the Swiss representation of their country before entry. EU/EFTA: free movement, simplified formalities.

Official federal rule (SEM, verified 2026-09-06) for third-country au pairs (non-EU/EFTA): 18 to 25 years, stay of up to 12 months, placement by a recognised organisation. EU/EFTA: free movement — age, duration and amounts according to cantonal practice.

Working time

4 h/day · 20 h/week

No federal “au pair” hour ceiling is set in the admission ordinance (OASA): the exchange consists of limited services (simple housework and childcare) with the host family, within the usual limit of Swiss practice of about 4 h/day and 20 h/week, with protected free time for the language course. To be confirmed with the competent cantonal migration office: beyond this, the arrangement drifts towards ordinary gainful activity.

Agreement

Hosting convention (non-profit cultural exchange, cantonal model) — Written hosting convention signed between the family and the au pair (cantonal / SEM model)

Cantonal population / migration office + SEM; third-country nationals: recognised placement organisation + Swiss representation · Residence-authorisation application filed before arrival (cantonal procedure)

The family provides lodging (individual room), meals and pocket money; the au pair performs limited services (simple housework, childcare) and has enough time to attend a language course. The arrangement is a non-profit cultural exchange, distinct from ordinary salaried employment.

Pocket money

Monthly pocket money with board & lodging: usual Swiss-practice range of about CHF 600–900/month depending on the canton — no official federal amount is published by the SEM for au pairs (the OASA sets no minimum au-pair remuneration). Amount to be confirmed with the competent cantonal migration office and the recognised placement organisation.

Contributions

Host family (provides lodging, meals and pocket money) — no URSSAF-equivalent attachment body for the au pair stay

Non-profit cultural exchange (outside an ordinary salaried employment contract)

The third-country au pair is admitted under the “young au pairs” derogation (LEI art. 30 / OASA), outside the ordinary labour procedure. For any gainful activity in the strict sense, the general admission and notification rules (SECO / social insurance) would apply — check with the canton.

Tax

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

The pocket money of the unpaid exchange is generally modest; tax treatment depends on the canton and the situation (source tax possible for foreigners without a settlement permit)

The au pair scheme is a non-profit cultural exchange distinct from salaried employment; any tax advantage or obligation must be confirmed with the cantonal tax administration.

Official sources

• Secrétariat d'État aux migrations (SEM) — SEM — Bases régissant l'admission sur le marché suisse du travail (Jeunes gens au pair) · verified on 2026-09-06
• Secrétariat d'État aux migrations (SEM) — SEM — Séjour · verified on 2026-08-13
• Fedlex — Loi fédérale sur les étrangers et l'intégration (LEI, RS 142.20) · verified on 2026-08-13
• Fedlex — Ordonnance sur l'admission, le séjour et l'exercice d'une activité lucrative (OASA, RS 142.201) · verified on 2026-08-13

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