Young woman playing with two children on the floor
Parent & Child
28.08.2025 Ifenna Ekezie 3927

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 Media and children: tips against excessive consumption

Media and children: tips against excessive consumption
Parent & Child
12.05.2023 Josephin Hartmann 56979

Media and children: tips against excessive consumption

"Just one more episode. Please!" Parents should show their children how to use digital media competently. This does not mean imposing strict bans every day, but setting clear rules and having open conversations with the children. But what is the best approach for me as a parent?

In this article you can read:

1. how much media time is healthy for my child?

According to the Mediaplus study (2020), TV is still the most popular medium among children aged between 3 and 13. Almost 61% of the children surveyed watch TV every day.

However, TV is not only the most frequently used medium, but also the longest. On average, children spend up to 2.5 hours in front of the screen. On average, they spend 40 minutes on their smartphone. Tablets and PCs account for less than 20 minutes. The older the children are, the more important the smartphone is to them. For example, 57% of 10 to 13-year-olds use their cell phone every day.

On the other hand, there are recommendations on how long and how often children and young people should use screen media per day, depending on their age group:

  • Toddlers between the ages of 0 and 3 should not have fixed times for TV, smartphone, tablet or computer.
  • In the age group from 3 to 6 years, a joint usage time of 30 minutes is planned.
  • In the age group from 6 to 10 years, a maximum of 45 to 60 minutes.
  • For 10- to 13-year-olds, screen time should also be kept to around 60 minutes, although there is room for negotiation in this age group.
  • Between the ages of 13 and 17, it is still advisable to agree on usage times in order to protect young people from excessive use.

Nevertheless, it is difficult to set guidelines as family and personal situations vary greatly. Young people should be regularly monitored for their well-being and whether they have enough time for school, training, hobbies and friends. 

Table: How long are children allowed to use media?

2. tips for relaxed cell phone use by your child

Carline Krügl, systemic consultant and coach, gives tips on how you can implement sensible cell phone use for your child in a relaxed manner.

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3. corona pandemic has doubled media addiction among children and young people

As a distraction against stress, cabin fever and loneliness, digital media offered young people a variety of uses during the coronavirus pandemic.

However, the associated restrictions have led to increased media consumption. This is confirmed by the results of a study conducted by the statutory health insurance provider DAK in 2022.

According to the study, media addiction among children and young people has increased since 2019:

  • Around 2.2 million children and young people exhibit problematic usage behavior in relation to gaming, social media or streaming. This means that they are at risk of media addiction or are already addicted.
  • Around six percent of minors are addicted to computer games and social media. That's around 600,000 boys and girls across Germany, with boys being affected more frequently.
  • The number of children and young people addicted to computer games rose from 2.7 percent in 2019 to 6.3 percent in June 2022. In the case of social media, media addiction doubled from 3.2 to 6.7 percent.

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What is media addiction?

People are considered media addicts if they use consumer media excessively and over a longer period of time. They lose control over healthy usage behavior, withdraw from other areas of life and neglect real social contacts and everyday life.

Despite the negative consequences of their excessive consumption, those affected continue their behavior.

Source: Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection 

 

4 How much media does a child need?

Determining the right level of media use can vary from child to child of the same age.

Every child is influenced to different degrees by media content. Parents should keep a close eye on their child before setting fixed guidelines. How does my child feel after media time? Does it seem apathetic, over-excited or aggressive after watching TV or playing computer games?

The DAK prevention campaign "Media Addiction 2020" shows five signs of how to recognize unhealthy use of digital media in children.

5. five signs of unhealthy use of digital media

1. too much, too long, too intense

First playing on the PC, then watching your favorite series and in between checking social media channels or answering messages on the smartphone: the use of digital media in everyday life is diverse. Parents should therefore keep an eye on their children's frequency and duration of use.

2. reduced performance

Children who use media very intensively can sometimes appear tired, listless or absent-minded. In the long term, this condition can have negative consequences for school.

3. impairment of family life and friendships

Another sign of unhealthy media use is when family time together suffers or appointments in the real world are neglected. If a child loses interest in joint activities, quickly wants to return to the virtual world or hardly ever meets up with friends, this can lead to social isolation.

4. neglect of other hobbies

It is completely normal for children to change their hobbies and shift their interests. However, if the hobby is neglected due to increased media use, parents should take a closer look.

5. psychological abnormalities

Media consumption becomes unhealthy when children quickly become nervous as soon as they cannot or are not allowed to use their smartphone, tablet or PC. Some children then quickly become irritable or aggressive.

6. media usage time: six tips for parents for healthy use

​​​​

1. agree on the time of the week instead of the time of day

For older children from the age of ten, it is advisable to give them more responsibility for organizing their media time. Parents can agree a weekly time quota for this. If the agreed time is already used up after two days, the screens stay off for the rest of the week. This allows children to gain their own experience of time management by having to allocate resources with foresight.

2. set screen times and ensure compliance

Introducing fixed times and sticking to them creates orientation and reliability for children and young people. For younger children in particular, it is a good idea to set an alarm clock that rings as soon as the agreed time has elapsed. This gives them a sense of the time that has already passed.

It can also be discussed with the child at what times it is better to consume media. For older children, time limits can be set in the operating system so that the device or program switches off automatically. However, it is better if children learn to stick to the agreements.

3. do not include screen time for school

Schoolchildren sometimes need digital media for learning or for homework. Parents should not include this time in the agreed screen time. This is because the media serves a different purpose here. Free screen time is for discovery, sharing, fun and entertainment.

4. define media-free times and places

Digital media is part of our everyday lives. This is precisely why it can be beneficial for families to specifically create media-free times and places. A particularly popular rule is for all family members to put their smartphones away at the dinner table. Other options include, for example, not playing computer games for two hours before bedtime or only watching your favorite series after doing your homework.

5. promote analog activities

It is important to show children what leisure activities are available outside the virtual world. When boredom sets in, there's no need to switch on the TV straight away. Playing freely in nature, swimming, hiking or discovering animals is also fun, enjoyable and entertaining.

6. be a role model

Finally, parents should also pay attention to their own media usage behavior. How often do I use my smartphone? Is the TV on continuously in the background? Do I surf the internet non-stop or scroll up and down through social media channels?

7. further information on media usage times

Kindergesundheit-info.de

Klicksafe.de

 

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