Germany
Work Abroad as an Au Pair
by Mary A. Schumacher
Becoming an au pair is a wonderful opportunity for young people to go abroad to get responsible work practice while having an incredible immersion experience.
What is an Au Pair?
A typical au pair is a single person between the ages of about 17-27 who has no dependents and works for a host family in a different country. The au pair takes care of the family's young children and generally performs some other light housekeeping duties and cooking. The family employs the au pair for a specified amount of time, after which the work relationship ends. Although both males and females can and do apply for this wonderful opportunity, female au pairs dominate the field.
While nannies also take care of children, they generally are professionals who are educated in a field of study related to children, and usually only take care of children, not household chores. As a result, their pay is higher.
Expectations and Staying Safe
Job seekers looking for an au pair position should look for vacancies through a reputable agency. The placement agency should explain clearly the au pair's responsibilities, hours of duty, pocket money, and any legal requirements. The au pair should have defined time off and be covered by medical insurance, whether paid by the au pair or the host family. Usually the au pair positions comes with paid round-trip air fare. Furthermore, if any problems or disputes arise between the family and the au pair, the agency should be willing to step in immediately to help resolve the issue.
Au pairs generally work for 12 months or less, and often have time off to travel their host country before having to return. Agencies will acquire the necessary visas allowing the au pair to work. In the United States, the J-1 visa permits up to 12 months of work plus an additional month for travel.
Expect to work about 45 hours per week. Although you can work in a different country so that you can practice a foreign language, you should be able to speak the language enough to communicate with your host family. In exchange, the host family will provide you with room and board, pocket money, and generally one day off per week.
Agencies may have other requirements, such as a nonsmoker, or having a valid drivers license. You may have to provide a physician's report of good health, references, and proof of no criminal background.
Where Do Au Pairs Work?
Although au pairs can and do work throughout the world, au pairs work most extensively in the U.S., Canada, and Europe. Most of these countries do have an official program that governs au pairs during their stay, ensuring a uniform code of conduct for agencies and some standardization.
Anyone wishing to work as an au pair should contact the embassy of the country they are interested in to get full details for requirements of becoming an au pair.
Australia
Australia does not have an official au pair program. Only citizens of certain countries can work as an au pair in Australia by applying for a working holiday visa. Valid for 12 months, you must be a citizen of the U.K., Canada, Japan, Ireland, Netherlands, South Korea, Malta or Germany. You must be between 18 and 30 years old.
Belgium
The official program requires au pairs to be between 17 and 23 years old, to be conversant in French, German, or Dutch, and to have finished secondary school. Other qualifications require that au pairs participate in language schools during their stay, which lasts 12 months. An au pair can change once if not happy with the original family.
Canada
Canada has no au pair program and in fact it is usually difficult to go to Canada as an au pair. The closest program is a Live-in Caregiver Program, which requires more extensive education and training than an au pair usually has. However, the Caregiver may work in Canada longer than the usual 12-month au pair stay. After two years of employment, the Caregiver may apply for permanent residency.
France
Au pairs are between 17 and 30 years old. Candidates must apply for a "long stay" visa, have a student I.D. or proof of studies, have a letter of admission from a French school, and have an employment contract. Agencies will be able to help streamline this process.
Germany
Au pairs must be at least 17 years old, and au pairs not from the European Union must not be older than 25. The au pair must register with the Bundesanstalt fur Arbeit, and have a work and residency permit in hand before coming to Germany, if he or she is not a citizen of the European Union.
Ireland
Au pairs may only come from European Union countries or from Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway. No work permit is required for these citizens.
United Kingdom
Au pairs from European Union countries may work with no formalities. Citizens from the Commonwealth States (52 countries which formerly were colonies of the British Empire - the U.S. is not one of them) may work as au pairs after acquiring a work holiday visa. Citizens of certain other countries may also apply for au pair visas. Citizens of the U.S. may not work in the U.K. as au pairs.
