Au pair stay in Germany

Contract

It is very important that you talk to your au pair about your mutual expectations in advance. Note down the most important aspects and include them in your contract. Thus, you can both avoid future disappointments. You can find more information and details about the framework conditions of the au pair placement on our page: Costs, working hours, time off & Co.

Please note: The Agentur für Arbeit (Employment Office) only acknowledges contracts which have been signed for a minimum of 6 months.

Young persons from non-EU countries can work as au pairs in Germany for a maximum period of 12 months. The following applies to non-EU au pairs: if you have worked as an au pair in Germany, you may not become an au pair there again, regardless of your previous length of stay.

Termination

The au pair placement ends with the date agreed upon. If one of the two parties cancels the contract prior to this date, this should be done in writing. In the standard contract, a notice period of 2 weeks is suggested. This provides you with sufficient time to find a new au pair. Furthermore, it gives you some time to organise your au pair's trip back home, or to help him/her find another host family. In case of serious circumstances, the contract can be terminated with immediate effect.

Please read the following page to find more information on this topic:
Do not forget: contract, insurance & Co.

Insurances

Au pairs always need to observe the regulations of their host countries. According to the Federal Employment Agency (Bundesagentur für Arbeit), you as a host family must ensure that your au pair is covered by insurances in case of illness, pregnancy, childbirth and accident throughout his/her entire stay. As a host family, you also need to bear the costs. 

Your au pair comes from an EU country?

Au pairs from the EU should clarify with their health insurance company at home whether they are fully covered by their insurance during their stay in Germany. Should this be the case, you should nevertheless clarify whether the basic medical services provided in the au pair's home country correspond to those in Germany.

Please note: if the au pair's insurance from his/her home country is valid in the host country, generally only the costs for basic medical services are taken over. However, the standards of these services may differ depending on the host country and thus, the host family must bear the costs for the difference in medical services. Therefore, our partner Care Concept advises to take out an au pair insurance.

Your au pair needs to apply for a visa?

Please take out an individual insurance for your au pair, if the boy or girl enters Germany on a visa. By signing the au pair contract and the invitation letter, you commit yourself to do so.

Tip by Care Concept

If you plan to host an au pair who needs to apply for a visa, you should consider taking out a personal liability insurance that should also include an insurance which covers the cost of deportation (Abschiebekostenversicherung). This insurance is especially important should you sign a letter of commitment (Verpflichtungserklärung) in order to employ your au pair.

Do you have any further questions? You receive more information on insurances for au pairs from our partner Care Concept. Here you can find all benefits on au pair insurances offered by Care Concept at a glance. Your contact: Ms Welzel, phone: +49 228 977 35 - 84. 

Driving licence/Insurance

Do you prefer an au pair who holds a driving licence? If so, you need to take the following into consideration. Having a driving licence does not equally mean having good driving skills. Ask your au pair how much driving experience he/she already has. After all, he/she will be driving your children.

Should you put your car at the au pair's disposal, you need to be well-informed about liability and insurance. Clarify who pays for the damages that may result from an accident caused by the au pair.

Enquire whether or not the au pair's driving licence is valid in your country. Probably, he/she will need to apply for an international driving licence. Further information about this issue can be found on the website of the ADAC (German Safety Driving Centre) or the Bundesministerium für Verkehr, Bau und Stadtentwicklung (Federal Ministry of transport, building, and urban development).

How to be on the safe side

• Have you already personally contacted your au pair? During a telephone conversation, you can quickly find out how well you get along with each other. Read more on our page Tips for host families.
• Does your au pair have sufficient knowledge of the German language? Naturally, he/she does not have to speak the language perfectly yet. Nevertheless, he/she should at least be capable of warning your children in their mother tongue from any kind of danger, such as a hotplate, etc.