How old do I have to be to become an au pair?

Most programs accept applicants between 18 and 30. Some countries are stricter: the USA accepts 18–26, France 18–30, Australia typically 18–30 via the Working Holiday visa. A few programs accept 17-year-olds with parental consent.

Do I need childcare experience?

Yes, in most programs. Babysitting, tutoring, sports coaching or internships in kindergartens usually count. The USA requires at least 200 hours of documented experience for infants under two years.

Can men become au pairs?

Yes. All major programs are open to male applicants (“bro pairs”). Demand from host families is smaller but real, especially in families with boys or sports-oriented families.

Can I choose my host family?

Yes — and you should. Whether you use an agency or a matching platform, never accept a family you have not spoken to in a video call. Ask about daily routines, the children, free time and house rules before committing.

Au Pair Guide

The Au Pair Program Explained: How Cultural Exchange as an Au Pair Works

An au pair stay is one of the most affordable ways for young people to live abroad: you become part of a host family, help with the children, and in return receive free room, board and monthly pocket money. This guide explains the program from start to finish — neutrally and without sales talk.

What does “au pair” mean?

The term comes from French and means “on equal terms”. It describes the core principle of the program: an au pair is not a nanny or domestic worker, but a temporary family member. The relationship is meant to be a mutual exchange — the family gains help with childcare and a window into another culture, the au pair gains language immersion, daily life abroad and a safe home base.

How the au pair program works, step by step

Check the requirements. Typical criteria: age 18–30 (varies by country), unmarried, no children of your own, basic language skills, childcare experience and a clean criminal record.
Choose a destination country. Rules, pocket money and visa requirements differ significantly — see our country guides.
Find a host family. Either through a full-service agency or a self-service matching website. Video-interview several families before deciding.
Sign a written au pair contract. It should define duties, working hours, pocket money, free time, insurance and termination rules.
Arrange visa and insurance. Non-EU au pairs usually need a dedicated visa; health and liability insurance are mandatory in most programs.
Travel and settle in. Plan an onboarding phase of 1–2 weeks in which the family introduces routines, house rules and the children's needs.

What au pairs do — and don't do

Au pair duties center on the children: bringing them to kindergarten or school, playing, helping with homework, preparing simple meals for them and doing light housework related to the children (their laundry, tidying their rooms). Au pairs are not cleaners, cooks for the whole household, gardeners or caregivers for elderly relatives. Weekly hours are capped by each program — commonly 25–30 hours in Europe and up to 45 hours in the USA.

What a typical au pair year looks like

Most stays run 6–12 months. Expect an intense first month (new language, new routines, homesickness is normal), a stable middle phase in which many au pairs attend a language course and build a local social circle, and a final phase for travel and goodbyes. Many countries encourage or require language course attendance — in Germany, for example, host families contribute €70 per month toward it.

Is the au pair program right for you?

The program fits people who genuinely like working with children, are flexible about living in someone else's household and want deep cultural immersion rather than a tourist experience. If your main goal is earning money, a work-and-travel or seasonal job program is usually the better fit — au pair pocket money is an allowance, not a wage.