Young woman playing with two children on the floor
Parent & Child
28.08.2025 Ifenna Ekezie 470

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 Spouses' emergency representation law: What you need to know!

Spouses' right of emergency representation
Age & care
28.12.2022 Gabriele Strasser 28279

Spouses' emergency representation law: What you need to know!

If a person was no longer able to make decisions about their own health due to an accident or serious illness, this often came as a nasty surprise for their spouse or partner.

Contrary to what they often thought, life partners were not automatically entitled to make decisions for their partner. The emergency spouse representation law gives spouses and civil partners the opportunity to make decisions in emergency medical situations, for example regarding medical examinations or treatments. 

In this article you will learn

  • When does the spouse's right of emergency representation apply and what options does it offer?
  • In which areas spouses will be able to make decisions in emergencies in future.
  • What limits the spouse's right of emergency representation has.
  • Why individual provision is still important.

When does the emergency spouse representation law apply and what does it include?

The "Right of emergency representation between spouses in health matters" comes into force in January 2023 .

According to this regulation, spouses can represent each other in emergency medical situations even without a living will or power of attorney and take over the healthcare of their partner who is unable to make decisions. However, this right only applies for a maximum of six months. 

If the condition has not improved after this, a legal guardian can be appointed by the guardianship court. Relatives, volunteers or full-time caregivers are usually considered for this.

In which areas will spouses be able to make decisions in future?

They can make decisions about treatments and examinations as well as decisions relating to property law that are directly connected to this (e.g. concluding treatment and care contracts). 

What are the limits of the spouse's right of emergency representation?

The new regulation expressly refers only to emergencies.

For example, spouses are only authorized to act once a doctor has confirmed their partner's incapacity in writing. In addition, the right of emergency representation only applies in direct connection with health care - but not for residential matters or the care of property.

Is the right of emergency representation mandatory?

No, it does not apply if it is contrary to the wishes of the patient. It does not apply if the patient has previously authorized another person in a health care proxy or has expressed a different will.

It also does not apply to spouses who are separated. 

What is recommended for comprehensive prevention? 

The spouse's right of emergency representation can be a great relief in acute situations. However, it does not replace the tried and tested precautionary options such as a health care proxy and living will.

On the one hand, these are not limited in time, and on the other hand, they offer considerably more freedom of design because they allow very individual arrangements for a wide variety of areas. 

An overview of spousal emergency representation law: 5 key points 

  • The emergency representation law comes into force in January 2023.
  • Spouses and registered partners can represent each other in healthcare matters.
  • The right of representation is only valid for a maximum of 6 months. 
  • A doctor must have confirmed the partner's legal incapacity.
  • Living wills and health care proxies are still recommended for comprehensive provision.
  •  

Learn more about pme Familienservice

 


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