GermanyStudy and training

Germany au pair visa

National visa for au pairs (§ 19c AufenthG with § 12 BeschV)

In short

Young people aged 18 to 26 with basic German can live with a host family in Germany for six to twelve months, helping with childcare in exchange for board, lodging and at least EUR 280 pocket money a month. The Federal Employment Agency must approve the placement, and an au pair stay is possible only once.

Apply on Consular Services Portal (Auslandsportal) checked 23 October 2026

Key facts

Maximum stay
Six to twelve months
Fee
€75National (D) visa fee under § 46 AufenthV. In Germany the residence permit then costs EUR 100 (reduced for Turkish nationals with association rights).
Funds required
€280 per monthMinimum pocket money paid by the host family, in addition to free board and lodging and a contribution to the German course.
Work
Light household help and childcare, up to 30 hours a week (6 hours a day), only for the host family.
Where to apply
German mission responsible for your place of residence, or online via the Consular Services Portal for categories handled there.

Conditions for the au pair

You must be at least 18 when the stay starts and generally not older than 26 when you apply; some German missions phrase this as applying before your 27th birthday. Basic German at level A1 is required and is usually checked by a certificate or at the interview. You may not be related to the host family.

Approval procedure

The mission requests approval from the Federal Employment Agency, which checks the au pair contract and family conditions. Approval is given only once per person: a second au pair stay in Germany is not possible.

  1. Check the right category in the Federal Foreign Office Visa Navigator and follow the instructions of the German mission responsible for your place of residence (category: au pair): it either gives you an appointment or directs you to the Consular Services Portal.
  2. If redirected, create an account on the Consular Services Portal, fill in the application and upload the documents as PDFs; registering on the portal alone is not yet a valid application.
  3. Attend the appointment at the mission or its service provider for fingerprints and identity checks, bringing originals of all uploaded documents; pay the EUR 75 visa fee.
  4. The mission forwards the file to the foreigners authority in your future German town and, where required, to the Federal Employment Agency; wait for the decision.
  5. After entry, register your address at the local registration office (Anmeldung) within two weeks.
  6. Before the visa expires, apply for the residence permit at the foreigners authority (Ausländerbehörde).

After arrival

Register at the host family's address within two weeks, start the German course and apply for the residence permit at the foreigners authority.

Conditions for the host family

The family must live in Germany with at least one minor child, speak German at home, offer a private room, pay at least EUR 280 a month in pocket money, take out health, accident and liability insurance for the au pair and support a German course. If the family's native language is not German, special rules on the au pair's nationality apply, so check with the mission.

Documents

Required documents

Identity

  • Passport valid for the planned stay, with copies of the data page
  • National visa application form (online via the Consular Services Portal or VIDEX national form) and the Section 54 declaration
  • Biometric photo, 35 × 45 mm

Work

  • Au pair contract signed by you and the host family (pocket money, hours, room, insurance)

Study

  • Proof of basic German (A1)

Family

  • Invitation letter and copies of the host parents' passports or residence permits

Insurance

  • Proof of health, accident and liability insurance arranged by the family

Other

  • CV and letter of motivation

Frequently asked questions

Is a German certificate mandatory?

Basic German (A1) is required; missions differ on whether a certificate or an interview check is used, so bring a certificate if you have one.

How much pocket money will I get?

At least EUR 280 a month, plus free board and lodging and a contribution to the German course.

Can I be an au pair in Germany twice?

No. Au pair approval is granted only once.

Official sources

Summarised from the official sources above. Rules, fees and processing times change: confirm with the embassy or the official portal before you apply.

Other visa types for Germany

Visits and short stays

Business and self-employment

Study and training

  • Student visa Validity: The visa is usually issued for several months; the residence permit in Germany is normally granted for two years at a time, at least one year, and renewed while studies progress.
  • Language course visa Validity: For the length of the course.
  • Researcher visa Validity: At least one year, or the length of the research project if shorter.
  • Internship and trainee visa Maximum stay: Up to six months for the EU internship permit

Work

  • Work visa Processing time: Appointment waiting times depend on the mission; after submission the Federal Employment Agency approval adds a few weeks. The accelerated skilled-worker procedure shortens this.
  • Skilled worker visa Validity: Up to four years, or the length of the employment contract plus three months if shorter.
  • EU Blue Card Validity: Up to four years, or the length of the contract plus three months.
  • Job seeker visa Maximum stay: Up to one year; a follow-up Opportunity Card of up to two years is possible for a qualified job that does not yet meet another permit.
  • Intra-company transfer visa Validity: Length of the transfer, at most three years (one year for trainees).
  • Working holiday visa Maximum stay: Up to 12 months, once

Family

  • Family reunification visa Validity: Visa for entry; the residence permit is then issued in line with the sponsor's permit.
  • Spouse and partner visa Processing time: Same appointment system and waiting times as other family reunification visas at the mission responsible for you.

Residence

Faster processing

  • Fast-track and priority visa services Processing time: Recognition authority: decision within two months; Federal Employment Agency: one week; mission: appointment within three weeks and decision usually within three weeks of a complete application.

Protection

  • Asylum and international protection Processing time: Regular procedure: six months from the application; accelerated procedure: at most three months; border procedure: at most twelve weeks.

Germany visa guide