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Au pair contract template — mandatory clauses and preview
Review the au pair contract template: interactive preview, mandatory clauses country by country (working time, rest, room, pocket money, insurance, termination) and links to official documentation.
Direct answer
A compliant au pair contract must state eight mandatory clauses: the parties, the dates, the working time (France: 5 h/day for the EU/EEA route, 25 h/week for the non-EU/EEA route), the weekly rest, the private room and meals, the pocket money (France: €326.25–€391.50/month live-in, EU/EEA), the insurance and termination. Use the interactive preview below, then check each amount against its official source — Service-Public F13348, Urssaf, Bundesagentur für Arbeit or 22 CFR §62.31.
Illustrative template — not legal advice.
Not sure what an au pair exactly is? What an au pair is: definition, role & rules.
1. Why a written contract changes everything
The au pair contract is not an administrative formality: it is the document proving the arrangement is real, framed and coherent. It is read by the consulate during the visa application, then stands as the reference throughout the stay. An incomplete contract is the leading cause of a returned file and the leading source of disputes between the family and the au pair.
8
minimum mandatory clauses in any au pair contract
5 h or 25 h
France caps: 5 h/day (EU/EEA) or 25 h/week (non-EU/EEA) — Service-Public F13348
8 days
hiring registration deadline with Urssaf in France
Golden rule
An au pair contract is drafted before departure and signed by both parties. Anything not written is not enforceable: the pocket money amount, the hours, the rest, the insurance and the notice period must be in black and white. When in doubt, the host country’s official model contract prevails — Au-Pair-Vertrag in Germany, placement agreement in France.
This page is the multi-country reference for the au pair contract; the France-specific placement-agreement template and guide are published in French.
Also preparing the visa side? The au pair visa and contract guide covers documents, consulates and the eligibility checklist country by country.
2. Interactive template preview
Fill in the fields below: the preview updates live, in your browser. Nothing is sent or stored on our servers (data minimisation, GDPR art. 5) — you can copy the resulting draft and check it against the mandatory clauses.
Contract preview — draft
1. Parties
Between [host family], hereinafter "the family", and [au pair], hereinafter "the au pair".
2. Dates and duration
Au pair stay in [host country], starting on [date] for a duration of [duration].
3. Working time and rest
[weekly hours], family or household duties, with one full free day per week and weekly rest with no duties.
4. Room, meals and pocket money
The family provides a private room and meals. Pocket money: [amount], on top of accommodation and meals.
5. Insurance
Health and liability insurance covering the whole stay — insurer, coverage and duration to be specified by host country.
6. Notice and termination
Early termination possible with a notice period of [notice], with grounds and the treatment of costs incurred stated in the contract.
Illustrative draft generated locally — not legal advice. The host country’s official model contract (Au-Pair-Vertrag, placement agreement) prevails.
3. The mandatory clauses of an au pair contract
Eight clauses form the core that any regulatory review checks. The last two are recommended rather than mandatory depending on the destination, but they clearly reduce disputes.
- 1
Identity and status of the parties Mandatory
Names, contact details and role of the host family and the au pair; nationality and intended visa regime. This block identifies the signatories and ties the stay to a status.
Source: Service-Public F13348 · Au-Pair-Vertrag model contract (BA)
- 2
Dates and duration of the stay Mandatory
Start date, end date, fixed duration (usually 12 months). Determines the validity period requested for the visa and the term of the commitment.
Source: 22 CFR §62.31 · Au-Pair-Vertrag
- 3
Working time and schedule Mandatory
Number of daily and weekly hours within the host country caps, the nature of family or household duties, and the weekly schedule. France — two distinct routes: "foreign family-help trainee" (EU/EEA) 5 h/day max; "young au pair" (non-EU/EEA) 25 h/week max. United States: 10 h/day · 45 h/week (standard).
Source: Service-Public F13348 · Strasbourg Agreement art. 9 · 22 CFR §62.31
- 4
Weekly rest and days off Mandatory
At least one full free day per week (France: one full rest day; Germany: at least 1.5 full days and four free evenings per week, and one free Sunday per month — Merkblatt BA). Rest must be written down, not merely practised.
Source: Service-Public F13348 · Merkblatt BA · Au-Pair-Vertrag
- 5
Private room and meals Mandatory
A private room and meals provided by the family, on top of pocket money. Accommodation and meals are part of the arrangement, never a substitute for the allowance.
Source: Service-Public F13348
- 6
Pocket money and benefits Mandatory
Monthly pocket money amount, reference and currency, plus any contributions (language courses, transport). France: €326.25–€391.50/month (EU/EEA, verified 2026) · €320/month minimum (non-EU/EEA); Germany: ≈ €280/month (BA reference).
Source: Service-Public F13348 · Bundesagentur für Arbeit
- 7
Insurance and responsibilities Mandatory
Who takes out health and liability insurance, what coverage and for how long. In Germany, the family covers insurance; in the United States, medical coverage is required (at least $100,000 per accident or illness — 22 CFR §62.14(b)(1)).
Source: Au-Pair-Vertrag · 22 CFR §62.31 · 22 CFR §62.14
- 8
Notice and termination conditions Mandatory
Notice period (often two weeks), grounds for early termination, and what happens to costs incurred (travel, visa, courses). A contract without a termination clause is a risk for both parties.
Source: Au-Pair-Vertrag · Service-Public F13348
- 9
Language courses and integration Recommended
In Germany, the model contract provides for language courses and transport. In France, the arrangement aims at learning French. Recommended clause, varying by destination.
Source: Bundesagentur für Arbeit · Service-Public F13348
- 10
Personal data protection Recommended
Who holds which data, for what purpose, for how long, and how to erase it. Recommended to stay compliant with the GDPR (art. 5, 6 and 13).
Source: GDPR art. 5, 6, 13
4. Reference amounts and caps (2026)
Each value carries its source and reference year. A contract citing an amount without its date invites a dispute: copy the reference, not just the figure.
| Point | Value (2026 reference) | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Hours France (EU/EEA) | Foreign family-help trainee: 5 h/day maximum | Service-Public F13348 ; Strasbourg Agreement (art. 9) |
| Hours France (non-EU/EEA) | Young au pair: 25 h/week maximum | Service-Public F13348 |
| Pocket money France (EU/EEA) | €326.25–€391.50/month live-in (verified 2026) | Service-Public F13348 |
| Pocket money France (non-EU/EEA) | €320/month minimum | Service-Public F13348 |
| Registration deadline France | 8 days after hiring (then quarterly DNS) | Urssaf — individual employer |
| Hours United States | 10 h/day · 45 h/week · EduCare 30 h | 22 CFR §62.31 |
| Duration United States | 1 year, extension up to 12 months under conditions | 22 CFR §62.31 ; US State Dept |
| Pocket money Germany | ≈ €280/month (BA reference) | Bundesagentur für Arbeit |
| Hours Germany | 6 h/day · 30 h/week maximum | Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Merkblatt §1.3 |
Amounts verified in October 2026 (Trust & Safety regulatory review, 2026-10-13). Scales change: confirm the value in force at the signing date with the official source (Service-Public, Urssaf, Bundesagentur für Arbeit).
5. Country specifics
The common core of the contract is stable; amounts, caps and the reference authority change from one country to another.
France
The written placement agreement frames the stay (accommodation, meals, pocket money, caps). Two distinct routes: "foreign family-help trainee" (EU/EEA) capped at 5 h/day and paid €326.25–€391.50/month live-in; "young au pair" (non-EU/EEA) capped at 25 h/week and paid €320/month minimum (Service-Public F13348; the 5 h/day cap of the EU/EEA route comes from the European Agreement on Au Pair Placement of 24/11/1969, art. 9). The family registers the hire with Urssaf within 8 days.
Sources: Service-Public F13348 ; Urssaf.
Germany
The Au-Pair-Vertrag model contract of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is the reference and notably covers insurance, language courses and transport. Cap of 6 h/day and 30 h/week maximum (Merkblatt BA §1.3), with at least 1.5 full rest days and four free evenings per week, and one free Sunday per month. Reference pocket money: ≈ €280/month. Placement approval by the federal agency is required for third-country nationals.
Sources: Bundesagentur für Arbeit.
United States
The contract ties into the J-1 exchange programme framed by 22 CFR §62.31: a written agreement detailing the stipend, registered by the designated sponsor. Caps: 10 h/day and 45 h/week (standard) or 30 h/week (EduCare); initial duration of 1 year. Medical coverage required.
Sources: 22 CFR §62.31 ; US Department of State.
To follow the obligations that come after signing — registration, deadlines, contributions — see au pair administrative management. To size the full budget of a placement, see the au pair cost.
6. Official documentation to consult
An au pair contract is drafted on the basis of official texts, not generic templates. Here are the reference sources, with their purpose.
- Service-Public.fr — Foreign family-help trainee and young au pair (F13348)
Hour caps, pocket money, placement agreement (France).
- Urssaf — individual employer
Hire registration, flat-rate base and simplified nominative declaration.
- Bundesagentur für Arbeit — Au-pair
Au-Pair-Vertrag model contract and placement approval (Germany).
- 22 CFR §62.31 — Au pair programs (eCFR)
Federal framework of the J-1 au pair programme (United States).
- 22 CFR §62.14 — Insurance (eCFR)
J-1 programme insurance thresholds (medical coverage $100,000, repatriation).
- US Department of State — Au Pair Program
Role of the designated sponsor and the DS-2019 form.
- France-visas — the official visa portal
Procedure and documents required for the long-stay visa.
Links to official publishers only. No third-party tool, no content vendor is cited on this page.
The au pair contract in the app
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7. Personal data and GDPR
An au pair contract holds identity, stay and sometimes health data. Drafting and storing this document involves a minimum set of rules — which also protect the au pair.
| Principle (GDPR) | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Lawful basis (art. 6) | Transmission to the consulate rests on a legal obligation; other processing (e.g. matching) needs a real reason you can name. |
| Minimisation (art. 5) | Collect only the information needed for the contract and the procedure — no "just in case" documents. |
| Transparency (art. 13) | State who holds the data, why, for how long, and how to access or erase it. |
| Special categories (art. 9) | Health (medical certificates), religion and similar data require a specific legal basis — limit collection to what is strictly necessary. |
| Security & retention (art. 5) | Keep the signed contract on a secure channel and delete it once the stay ends or the project is abandoned. |
Orientation summary, not legal advice. See how we handle data and reports in our safety approach.
8. Frequently asked questions about the au pair contract
Is an au pair contract mandatory?
Yes. A written contract — or, in France, a placement agreement — signed by both parties before the stay begins is the cornerstone of the arrangement. It sets out duties, hours, accommodation, pocket money, insurance and termination. In Germany, the Au-Pair-Vertrag model contract published by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit is the reference; in the United States, the contract ties into the designated sponsor registration of the J-1 programme (22 CFR §62.31). A verbal or incomplete agreement exposes you to a visa refusal and to disputes during the stay.
What clauses must an au pair contract contain?
The core is stable across countries: identity and status of the parties; dates and duration of the stay; the nature of family or household duties; the number of hours and their weekly distribution within the host country’s caps; weekly rest (including one full free day); a private room and meals provided; the amount of pocket money; health and liability insurance; and notice and termination conditions. In France, the placement agreement (Service-Public F13348) and the cap of the applicable route apply: 5 hours/day for the EU/EEA foreign family-help trainee (a cap set by the European Agreement on Au Pair Placement of 24/11/1969, art. 9); 25 hours/week for the non-EU/EEA young au pair (Service-Public F13348).
How much pocket money is required in France in 2026?
In France, pocket money is generally between €326.25 and €391.50/month on a live-in basis for the "foreign family-help trainee" status (EU/EEA). For the "young au pair" status (non-EU/EEA), only a minimum is set: €320/month. Accommodation and meals come on top, never as a substitute. These amounts carry their reference year and must be confirmed at the signing date (Service-Public F13348).
How many hours can an au pair work?
Caps depend on the country. In France, two distinct routes apply: the "foreign family-help trainee" (EU/EEA national) is capped at 5 hours/day (a cap set by the European Agreement on Au Pair Placement of 24/11/1969, art. 9, restated by Service-Public F13348), while the "young au pair" (non-EU/EEA national) is capped at 25 hours/week (Service-Public F13348). In Germany, the model contract allows a maximum of 6 hours/day and 30 hours/week (Merkblatt BA §1.3), with at least 1.5 full rest days and four free evenings per week, and one free Sunday per month. In the United States, the standard J-1 programme sets 10 hours/day and 45 hours/week (30 hours/week for EduCare), under 22 CFR §62.31. Above the applicable caps, a requalification as domestic employment is possible.
Can the au pair contract be signed electronically?
In most cases, yes: an electronic signature is valid provided the signatories’ identity can be verified and the document’s integrity is guaranteed (eIDAS regulation at European level). The format and evidentiary requirements vary by destination and consulate, however. In Germany, the Au-Pair-Vertrag model contract can be established electronically; in France, the placement agreement and the visa file may require a signed copy. Always check the form expected by the competent authority before signing.
How do you terminate an au pair contract, and with what notice?
Termination is governed by the contract itself. The right move is to write in an explicit notice period (often two weeks, symmetrical between the parties), the grounds for early termination (mutual agreement, fault, incompatibility) and what happens to costs incurred (travel, visa, language courses). A framed termination protects both parties: it avoids the irregular situation of an au pair left without a family, without accommodation and sometimes without a suitable residence permit. Notice must be set before signing, never improvised afterwards.
Does the au pair contract cover insurance on its own?
No. The contract states who takes out health and liability insurance, but it does not replace the policies themselves. In Germany, the host family is required to cover insurance; in the United States, the J-1 programme requires medical coverage (at least $100,000 per accident or illness — 22 CFR §62.14) and repatriation insurance. In France, insurance covering the stay is required when filing the visa application. Check the certificates, not just the clause.
What is the difference between an au pair contract and a placement agreement?
In France, the placement agreement (convention d’accueil) is the document framing the au pair’s arrival: it sets out accommodation, meals, pocket money and hour caps, and supports the visa application. The term "au pair contract" more broadly refers to the written agreement used in other countries (the Au-Pair-Vertrag model contract in Germany, a programme contract in the United States). Both play the same role: formalising rights and duties before departure, in writing and signed.
Where do you register an au pair’s employment in France?
In France, the host family is the employer: it must register the hire with Urssaf within 8 days of the start date (employer registration), then file a simplified nominative declaration (DNS) each quarter. The contribution base is a flat-rate one ("foreign family-help trainee": 13× hourly minimum wage/week or 56× hourly minimum wage/month), and only employer contributions are due — the au pair owes no employee contributions. Au pair employment cannot be declared through Cesu or Pajemploi. Details are in our administrative management guide.
Are contract templates found online reliable?
Be cautious: a generic template knows neither your host country, nor your status, nor the reference date of the amounts. A contract must be dated, sourced and tailored to the destination — hour caps, pocket money and insurance differ from France to Germany to the United States. Use the official model contract where one exists (Au-Pair-Vertrag in Germany) and verify each amount at its source: Service-Public and Urssaf for France, Bundesagentur für Arbeit for Germany, 22 CFR §62.31 for the United States.
Official sources (verified in October 2026, Trust & Safety review 2026-10-13): Service-Public.fr F13348 ; Urssaf — individual employer ; Bundesagentur für Arbeit — au pair ; 22 CFR §62.31 ; 22 CFR §62.14 ; US Department of State — Au Pair Program ; France-visas. AuPair Connect cannot be held liable for legislative changes after the verification date or for the interpretation of the texts cited. The template offered is a drafting aid, not legal advice; official requirements always prevail.
An au pair contract template, clause by clause
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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.
Notice anything inaccurate or out of date? Help us keep this content up to date by writing to [email protected].