Young woman playing with two children on the floor
Parent & Child
28.08.2025 Ifenna Ekezie 466

Hosting an Au-pair : Requirements & process

Hosting an Au-pair at home means not only relief in everyday family life, but also cultural exchange at eye level.  

Michelle Mihm, Au-Pair Product Manager & Specialist Consultant for Care in Private Households at pme Familienservice, explains what requirements must be met, what the process looks like and what prospective host families should look out for when choosing an au pair. at pme Familienservice.

What you can expect in this article

What does it mean to host an Au-pair in Germany? 

Hosting an Au-pair means welcoming a new family member - usually a young person who comes from a different culture and first has to get used to life in Germany.  

During the stay, the Au-pair takes onlight care and household tasks, while in return receiving accommodation, food and pocket money. For the host family, this means above all investing time, patience and openness in order to make the Au-pair 's start in a new country easier. At the same time, an Au-pair enriches everyday family life through cultural exchange and new perspectives 

"An Au-pair should be seen as a younger sister or brother who is integrated into everyday family life and with whom you grow together," says Michelle Mihm, Product Manager Au-Pair & Specialist Consultant for Care in Private Households.

Can anyone host an Au-pair ? 

In principle, anyone who meets the necessary requirements can take on an Au-pair . These include a suitable living situation, the care of a child and certain legal conditions. Anyone who meets these criteria can benefit from the many advantages that an Au-pair brings to the family.

What are the requirements for hosting an Au-pair in Germany? 

For a family to be able to host an Au-pair in Germany, a number of requirements must be met: 

  • There must be at least one child under the age of 18 in the family. 
  • The Au-pair must have their own furnished, lockable and heated room of at least 8 square meters. 
  • The colloquial language in the family should be German. 
  • At least one parent must have German citizenship. 
  • The family covers the costs of accommodation, food, pocket money and insurance as well as a subsidy for the language course. 
  • The host parents enable participation in the language course and other courses and leisure activities offered by the pme Familienservice. 
  • The Au-pair is entitled to 4 weeks paid vacation (or 2 days per month pro rata) for a 12-month stay.

How much does it cost to host an Au-pair in Germany?

If a family takes in an Au-pair in Germany, the cost of living increases accordingly. This is because there is another adult living in the household.   

The costs that families should consider when taking in an Au-pair are made up of various items: 

  • Pocket money: at least 280 euros per month 
  • Accident, health and liability insurance: around 50 euros per month 
  • German course: approx. 70 euros per month 
  • Costs for board and lodging, including during the au pair's free time or illness: around 250 to 300 euros per month 

How long can an Au-pair stay in Germany? 

An Au-pair can stay in Germany for a minimum of 4 months and a maximum of 12 months . The length of stay is agreed individually and can be adjusted according to the needs and possibilities of the family and the au pair. 

How do I find an Au-pair? 

At pme Familienservice , we place au pairs with selected families throughout Germany and support both au pairs and host families throughout their stay. We attach great importance to careful selection and continuous support from our experienced local staff. 

In addition to pme Familienservice as an Au-pair in Germany, there are also other platforms that place au pairs. 

"Many families find their Au-pair independently and then come to us for further support. We offer consultations in advance and explain what to look out for when Au-pair on your own. It is important to know that au pairs must be between 18 and 26 years old. While some platforms don't always check the age exactly, we make sure that all requirements are met." - Michelle Mihm

pme Familienservice is the leading Au-pair

pme Familienservice is one of the leading Au-pair in Germany and is an official member of the international Au-pair IAPA and the German Au-Pair. The pme Familienservice Familienservice are also certified by the Gütegemeinschaft Au-pair e.V. with the RAL quality mark. 

Challenges that families and au pairs may face

Hosting an au pair in Germany enriches everyday family life with new perspectives and cultural experiences. But it also brings challenges. 

Many au pairs who come to Germany often experience a culture shock, and language barriers can make the start a little bumpy. This phase requires a lot of patience, understanding and loving support. For the families, this means investing time in intensive training and good organization.  

This intensive initial period pays off, as the Au-pair gradually becomes a great relief and enriches everyday family life with new perspectives and experiences. 

The pme Familienservice is there to support families and au pairs throughout their stay, e.g. with tips against homesickness, assistance with language problems and help with health issues.

We look after au pairs during their entire stay! 

Our au pairs are well looked after during their stay. We offer WhatsApp groups, a Facebook group, regular meetings and a 24-hour emergency hotline just for au pairs. This means they are well connected and supported at all times. 

All information for au pairs in Germany. 

How long does it take to get an Au-pair in Germany? 

The time it takes for an au pair to arrive in Germany can vary greatly. The appointment for the visa at the embassy depends on the country of origin and can range from 8 weeks to 8 to 10 months. There are often au pairs who already have an appointment so that the decision can be made within 2 to 4 weeks. Overall, the process can take between 2 and 10 months, depending on the country of origin and the political situation.

Is the process also supported with your own au pairs? 

Yes, we also support families exclusively with the visa process. Here, too, we conduct preliminary consultations with the families who would like to look for an Au-pair on their own and then support them in the further process.

Which countries do the au pairs come from? 

Our au pairs currently come mainly from India, Madagascar, Indonesia, South America and Armenia. Countries such as Australia, America or New Zealand are hardly represented, as no visa is required for au pairs there.

Au-pair with pme Familienservice

pme Familienservice is your strong partner for safe and qualified Au-pair in Germany. With over 30 years of experience in Au-pair, pme Familienservice offers families and au pairs comprehensive information, qualified advice and reliable support throughout their stay. 

Placement is free of charge for au pairs.

zero employee assisstance successfully | GIM-Forsight Study

Graphic with the text: Work-life balance is not a sure-fire success
Leadership & HR
07.11.2023 Daniel Erler 10004

employee assisstance successfully: EAP study

The futurologists at GIM-Foresight conducted the empirical study "EAP-Success-Factors" on behalf of pme Familienservice . The study explores how employee assistance programs (EAP) are perceived and which components have an influence on employee acceptance and satisfaction.

The new empirical study "EAP-Success-Factors" by GIM-Foresight shows what is important for the acceptance and use of employee assistance programs/employee assisstance (EAP). The study explores how such programs are perceived and which components have an influence on employee acceptance and satisfaction.

 

Many companies see a growing need for measures to increase employer attractiveness, both in the context of attracting new employees and retaining their employees.

Young employees in particular have far more differentiated expectations when choosing a company. Organizations should show more consideration for employees' private lives, offer more flexibility in the context of mobile working and also pay more attention to a sustainable corporate culture that also takes employees' physical and mental well-being into account.

The characteristics of EAP programs/employee assisstance

Against this backdrop, companies are increasingly offering support services that are particularly dedicated to employees' professional and private issues. In Germany, the focus is often on work-life balance, but comprehensive health management is also increasingly being offered, with sports and relaxation programs, health advice and psychosocial counseling and coaching in difficult life situations.

The benefits of employee assisstance

Numerous studies prove the benefits of EAP offerings for companies and employees:

  • Retention of staff: Savings are achieved through lower staff turnover and the retention of employees with children or dependents in need of care.
  • Recruitment: Qualified staff and managers can be recruited, as surveys show that work-life balance is an increasingly important criterion for choosing an employer.
  • Reduced absenteeism: The number of sick days taken by employees decreases as family bottlenecks and health difficulties are minimized.
  • Increased performance: By reducing stress factors, employees can concentrate better on their work and at the same time prevent health problems.

A meta-study by management consultants Deloitte shows that the average return on investment (ROI ) for employers who invest in health-promoting measures is 1:5.3, i.e. for every euro that employers invest in such measures, they achieve an economic added value of 5.30 euros (Deloitte, 2022).

EAP programs are not a sure-fire success

The added value of EAP programs for companies is widely accepted today. However, it is often underestimated that the impact of support offers depends heavily on the specific design and communication of such measures. It is therefore not enough to offer just any program. The "EAP-Success Factors" study therefore explores how such programs are perceived and which components have a less strong influence on employee acceptance and satisfaction.

The results of the study will be presented in detail on November 14(register for the livestream). We are anticipating some of the findings here.

Study findings: a preview

employee assisstance is important for employees

In general, employee assistance programs are highly relevant for employees, especially when it comes to work-life balance measures. More than two thirds (70%) of respondents state that EAP offers from the company are important to them. This figure is even higher for managers (77%) than for employees (68%).

Graphic shows how many respondents answered that EAP is important to them.

Managers are the main users

Managers make use of EAP services far more frequently (87%) than other employees (50%). This indicates that managers are better informed about the offers and at the same time take advantage of such services much more naturally. It can also be assumed that high potentials now have a certain expectation of EAP services and that such services are increasingly important for the recruitment and retention of managers.

Graphic showing how many employees state that they use or have already used EAP.

What focus do employees want from EAP/employee assisstance ?

When asked which focus the survey participants would place on the expansion of EAP services, the focus is relatively evenly distributed between mental (35%), physical (35%) and work-life (30%) services. However, these preferences vary substantially depending on age, gender and the presence or absence of children. It is therefore hardly surprising that women (36%) and men (38%) with children place much more value on work-life balance options than women (22%) and men (24%) without children.

It also shows that the importance of physical health services increases with age. In the 18-29 age group, only 25% focus on expanding such offers, while the proportion of respondents over 60 is 54%. Conversely, mental health and work-life balance services are more important for younger employees under the age of 40.

Graphic showing which priorities respondents would like to see in EAP.

Conclusion

EAPs and programs for employee assisstance can have a positive impact on both employees and the company's image: from reducing stress and absenteeism, to promoting enjoyment of work and satisfaction with the employer, to supporting the image as progressive, innovative and employee-oriented.

The use of EAP is very pronounced among managers, while only 50 percent of the employees surveyed had used EAP. The following factors are particularly important for employee use: cost coverage by the employer, a wide range of offers, individual and flexible access and usage options, and fast access.

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The study design

From the end of May to the beginning of June 2023, the market research institute GIM-Foresight conducted a quantitative online survey in Germany, which took an average of 15 minutes to complete. The sample comprised a total of 1,000 employees, including 382 managers. All participants had to be employed in companies with at least 200 employees at the time of the survey. The sample size was deliberately chosen to ensure a comprehensive and multi-layered data basis for assessing the impact of EAPs on employee satisfaction and well-being in German companies. Participants were recruited via online access panels.

References

Deloitte (2022), Mental health and employers. The case for investment - pandemic and beyond, London, UK.

Portrait Michelle Mihm

Michelle Mihm

Product manager Au-Pair & specialist consultant for care in private households

Michelle Mihm is responsible for Au-pair and care in private households. She advises families competently in the event of childcare shortages and emergencies and enables a suitable caregiver to be found quickly. As a former daycare center manager and mother of two small children, she knows the challenges of families with children aged 0 to 6 years.
 

Contact:

michelle.mihm@familienservice.de