Netherlands au pair visa

You must be at least 18 and no more than 25 when the application is made, must not have held a regular residence permit in the Netherlands before, and must not have paid fees to an agency or intermediary; preparation costs may not exceed EUR 34.

You must be unmarried and have no children, have health insurance covering care in the Netherlands, and not be a family member of the host family or have worked for it before, in the Netherlands or abroad. You may not care for people who need specialised care, such as nursing, and you may not sign contracts with penalty clauses.

The IND has 90 days to decide and aims to do so within two weeks. After approval you book the MVV appointment at the Dutch mission within three months; the MVV is valid for 90 days and your passport must be valid for six more months. If you will live in the Netherlands for more than four months, register with the municipality in the Personal Records Database (BRP) within five days of arrival; you then receive your citizen service number (BSN), and late registration can be fined. If the IND asked for a tuberculosis test, book it with the GGD within three months of receiving the permit and bring form 7604.

After a positive IND decision you book an appointment within three months at the Dutch embassy or consulate responsible for your place of residence to have the MVV sticker placed; the MVV is valid for 90 days. After arrival you register with the municipality (BRP) to receive a citizen service number (BSN) and collect your residence document at an IND desk.

The host family must meet the income requirement: from 1 July to 31 December 2026, EUR 3,505.50 a month for couples and EUR 2,804.40 for single parents (without holiday allowance).

The host family must have at least two members, all Dutch nationals or holders of a valid Dutch residence permit, and be registered in the BRP; you register at the same address. Together you sign a weekly schedule covering all seven days that shows your housekeeping hours, your two days off and who else does housework.

Tasks are light housekeeping of up to 8 hours a day and 30 hours a week, with at least two days off. The permit is valid for one year and cannot be extended.

Contact your au pair agency first. You can change host family or agency during the year, provided the agency notifies the IND, and you can report problems to the IND reporting point for au pairs and exchange (06 10 82 35 94).