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Host an au pair in Germany
Country guide · host family

Host an au pair in Germany

The verified guide to host an au pair in Germany.

Sources

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Age
18–26 years
Pocket money
€280.00
per month
Working time
≈ 30 h
per week, customary
Visa
Required
« Au-Pair »

Your hosting journey, step by step

  1. Conclude a model au pair contract (Au-Pair-Vertrag) with the host family Host family / young au pair
  2. For third-country nationals: apply for the national Au-Pair visa with the prior approval of the Bundesagentur für Arbeit Auswärtiges Amt / German representation Au pair visa in Germany: conditions, documents and consular steps
  3. Provide proof of health insurance from the first day of work Host family / insurance company Au pair pocket money in Germany: the Merkblatt reference and real 2026 cost
  4. After entry: apply for the residence permit at the Ausländerbehörde before the visa expires Ausländerbehörde

Your host-family obligations · Germany

Legal status

  • Au pair All Standard au pair contract (Au-Pair-Vertrag)

Visa

Required — National (type D) “Au-Pair” visa for third-country nationals

Where no explicit legal rule exists (hour cap, police clearance), AuPair Connect recommends relying on consolidated practice (~30 h/week, ~€280/month), references and a thorough interview before hosting.

Under 27 years old required (26 completed at departure); host family with no specific legal age limit.

Working time

30 h/week

Germany has no fixed legal weekly hour ceiling: the European Au Pair Agreement grants at least one full free day per week. The accepted practice and standard Au-Pair-Vertrag settle on ~30 h/week.

Agreement

Au pair contract — Au-Pair-Vertrag (model contract published by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit)

Bundesagentur für Arbeit · Prior employment approval for third-country nationals; residence permit from the Ausländerbehörde after entry

A private room and full board are provided by the host family, in line with the Au-Pair-Vertrag.

Pocket money

≈ €280/month (reference value published by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit, set by contract — the official reference published by the Bundesagentur für Arbeit). Added on top of a private room, full board and health insurance.

Contributions

No employer-type social contributions; compulsory health insurance from the first day

Pocket money (Taschengeld) is not a salary

The host family takes out the insurance; the au pair must provide proof of it for the visa.

Tax

No specific tax advantage related to hosting an au pair

Pocket money generally tax-exempt as it stays below the tax-free allowance (Grundfreibetrag ~€11,604/year in 2026)

The specific tax treatment of au pair pocket money is not explicitly documented by the German tax authorities.

Official sources

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How it works

  1. Create your family profile
  2. Browse the most compatible profiles
  3. Chat and video call in the mobile app
Your first contact with an au pairMessages and video calls in the mobile app; your phone number is never shown on your profile.
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Country guides

Hosting an au pair in Germany: city pages

Host an au pair in another destination

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Practical guides

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