Hosting an au pair in Belgium
Do you live in Belgium and would like to host an au pair? Then you’ve come to the right place.
Find out about the requirements for becoming an au pair host family in Belgium.
Criteria for welcoming an Au Pair in Belgium
Hosting conditions vary from country to country. If you live in Belgium and would like to become a host family for an au pair, you’re on the right page. Find out below about the various conditions to be met to host an au pair in Belgium.
How can I be eligible?
Find out about the conditions for welcoming an Au Pair into your Family
More details below 👇.
Family checklist ✅
- Live one child or more (3 to 18)
- Be able to afford to host an au pair.
- Be of a different nationality to the au pair.
- Share the value of the program.
Household checklist ✅
- Have a single room for the au pair (9 m² minimum).
- Provide her/him with a bathroom to share or not with your children.
- Ensure free access to the home.
Checklist for the organization ✅
- Draw up and comply with the Belgian hosting agreement (the contract).
- Give assignments related to children or home life.
- Respect the legal number of working hours for the au pair (no more than 20 hours spread over 6 days, including babysitting).
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👇 For more information on the eligibility requirements for France:
General Conditions
The children
In your household, one of your children must be under the age of 13 before the arrival of the young au pair. For children under the age of 6 🍼 you will need to prove that they have another form of childcare for the duration of the au pair’s stay (or until the child reaches the age of 6). The au pair will be a complementary form of childcare.
The cost of an au pair
It is essential for host families to be able to cover the costs of hosting an au pair. Expenses related to the au pair include full board, i.e. three meals 🍽️ per day, accommodation (water and electricity), pocket money, health insurance* 🩺, etc.
💸 Parents must pay the au pair a minimum of €450 per month, by bank transfer.
💊 The family is responsible for paying for private insurance covering risks relating to medical expenses, pharmaceutical expenses, etc. for the young au pair valid for the entire duration of his/her stay. You must also undertake to cover the cost of repatriation or any other costs incurred by the State.
⚠️ In the event of illness, the au pair is entitled to free board and lodging.
The values of the programme
The Au Pair Programme is a cultural and linguistic exchange between you and the au pair. It enables young people to learn a language through courses and to visit the country through activities. With this exchange in mind, you and the au pair cannot be of the same nationality 🇧🇪. You must also undertake to welcome the au pair and integrate him/her as a member of the family 👨👩👧👦.
Conditions for the accommodation
The room provided for the au pair must be suitable. That is, it must be at least 9 m², have a window overlooking the outside, have a lock to allow the au pair to have some privacy, be heated if necessary (particularly in winter) and be furnished. The minimum requirements are a bed, a wardrobe, a table and a chair 🪑 or more if possible. The bathroom 🚿 that you will provide is not necessarily private, the au pair may share it with family members.
The room may be in your home, or close to your residence if it is not possible to do otherwise. In this case, the au pair must maintain and clean his or her own living space.
You must allow the au pair access to your home, and provide them with a pair of keys to your home to allow them free access to your home.
⚠️ No family member is allowed to share the au pair’s room. The au pair must be informed that his/her place of residence will be different from that of the family (specify this in your profile and remind him/her of it during your exchanges).
🦋 Advice: We recommend providing a room in your house or flat and not external accommodation, as this allows for better integration and creates good relations between you from the outset 👍.
Conditions for the organization of the stay
Contract
Draw up the Belgian hosting agreement ✒️ with the au pair defining the duration of his/her stay and the hosting conditions (pocket money, working hours, etc.) to be signed before the au pair arrives.
We can help you with all the administrative formalities, depending on the package you choose. ➡️ see our subscriptions and packages.
The work permit
Future host families must apply for an occupation permit and a B work permit from the Immigration Service of the Region in which they live (Flemish, Brussels, Walloon Region or the German-speaking Community). The family must attach a number of other documents to its application: a medical certificate, an employment contract, a certificate of good conduct for all adult family members, a copy of the au pair’s passport, etc. This permit is valid for 1 year and must be returned to the au pair on receipt.
🚨 Find out more on the website of your region, which publishes full details of the conditions to be met.
Working time and free time
📅 In Belgium, au pairs must not work more than 20 hours a week, and 4 hours a day. You must give them at least 1 day off a week. As far as holidays, paid leave and public holidays are concerned, it’s up to you to agree the number of days off beforehand. There are no legal provisions on this, but we strongly recommend that you give your employee at least two weeks’ paid holiday. This information will be included in the contract.
Au pairs have free time to visit the country, take part in activities, attend language courses, etc., at their own expense. The au pair is responsible for all expenses.
⚠️ Overtime must be agreed in advance and must be compensated by free time or pocket money.
Duties of the au pair
On your 🖥️ dashboard, you can select the tasks you would like the au pair to carry out. ☑️ Tick only those tasks you want the au pair to carry out.
⚠️ An au pair takes part in light housework (emptying the dustbin, filling the dishwasher), but cannot be considered as a cleaner. The au pair’s main role is to look after your children and do all the chores that concern them.
If the au pair needs to use a car as part of his or her job 🚗 you will provide him or her with a vehicle on which he or she will be insured (at your expense).
🦋 Advice: We recommend that you discuss the future timetable with your au pair beforehand, to include it in the contract. We know that our families take driving lessons for their au pairs to get them used to driving abroad, which also helps to reassure the families.
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Testimonials 👇
Read what our host families and Au Pairs have to say.
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Hear from guests on La Grande Famille podcast, hosted by Manuela Dizier-Chanfreau.
You’ll find feedback and valuable advice on hosting an au pair by entrepreneurial moms.
