Young woman playing with two children on the floor
Parent & Child
28.08.2025 Ifenna Ekezie 596

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 Vacation for family caregivers: how it works

Old woman in a wheelchair
Age & care
28.06.2024 Gabriele Strasser 20170

Vacation for family caregivers? This is how it works!

Family caregivers can also take leave. Eldercare expert Jürgen Griesbeck explains how.

Always there for others, always ready for action: almost 1.4 million people in Germany care for relatives such as their parents at home. This often leaves little time for relaxation. What many people don't know: The care insurance funds cover the costs of alternative care to a certain extent so that carers can take time out.

Read more in this article:

During vacation: substitute or short-term care

There are various options for alternative care during your vacation:

  • You can organize a private replacement. If the person is not related to the person in need of care, they will receive money from the care insurance for the care they provide.
  • You can hire an outpatient service. In this case, the care insurance fund pays for three visits a day - in the morning, at midday and in the evening.
  • The person in need of care can be cared for in a short-term care home.

Care insurance pays the costs of alternative care in addition to the regular care allowance. Caring relatives therefore do not suffer any financial losses.

Good to know!

Replacement care due to leave can only be applied for if the person in need of care has previously been cared for at home for at least six months. Whether by one person or by different people is irrelevant. This so-called pre-care period does not apply to those in need of care who have care level 4 or 5 at the start of the substitute care and are younger than 25.

In the event of illness: temporary care

The care insurance fund also pays for alternative care if the caregiver is ill. In this case, this is referred to as respite care. Unlike substitute care due to vacation, for which care must be provided for six months beforehand, respite care can be applied for as soon as the carer falls ill. There are two options here: On the one hand, hourly care at home or short-term care in a home.

Who is entitled to the benefits?

People in need of care who have at least care level 2 are entitled to substitute or respite care as well as short-term care. Substitute or respite care can only be applied for by private carers, neighbors or friends, but not by professional carers.

How much is paid?

People in need of care are legally entitled to have their health insurance fund reimburse them for the costs of substitute care and short-term care up to an amount of 1612 euros per calendar year. Replacement care can be claimed for a period of six weeks, which corresponds to 42 calendar days, while short-term care can be claimed for eight weeks, i.e. 56 calendar days. The funds from both pots can be combined: Those who only claim short-term care can also draw on the entire budget for respite care and increase their benefit entitlement to €3,224. Conversely, insured persons who opt for respite care can also use the budget for short-term care - in this case, however, only up to a maximum of 50 percent, which limits the benefit amount to EUR 2,418 per calendar year.

What lead time can be expected?

When planning vacations, it is advisable to think anti-cyclically: the majority of Germans go on vacation during the summer and Christmas vacations. This means that care services and short-term care homes are also limited in their capacities at these times. It is easier to find alternative care outside the vacation periods.

 My tip

"I can only recommend that all family caregivers take this time out, which is funded by the care insurance fund. You can recharge your batteries and take a break from everyday care. Replacement or short-term care is also often an interesting and enriching experience for those in need of care. Short-term care is a particularly good way to get to know what it is like to live in a home for a short time with no obligation."

Jürgen Griesbeck, Product Manager Homecare-Eldercare, pme Familienservice Group

 

pme Familienservice Group - Your EAP provider since 1991

On behalf of more than 900 employers, the pme Familienservice Group supports employees in achieving a successful work-life balance and being able to work with a clear head.
The pme Familienservice Group supports employees in crises, e.g. conflicts at work, addiction or partnership problems. With a homecare eldercare service, it relieves the burden on professionals in organizing and financing care services and offers psychosocial support. The pme Academy offers seminars, workshops and coaching on the topics of personnel management and development.
You can find out more about the pme Familienservice Group here: www.familienservice.de/wer-wir-sind

This YouTube content can only be loaded if you accept the privacy policy of Google LLC.

To the data protection settings "

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