An au pair visa may be required under certain conditions. Do you need a visa? What documents do I need to apply for a visa?
The need for a visa depends on the 🌏 destination of the au pair and the ⌛ duration of his/her stay. To stay as an au pair outside the European Union or to recruit a non-European au pair for more than 3 months, a visa is compulsory.
Which visa is required? We distinguish the type of visa 📄 depending on whether you’re going as an au pair or hosting an au pair.
👉 Also read our article “What is a visa for?”.
VISA to become an Au Pair in France
You are a host family 👨👩👧👦 and you are hosting an au pair.
A student who wishes to be an au pair in France and who is not a national of the European Union must have a visa to be an au pair in France, if his/her stay is longer than 3 months.
The visa required is an AU PAIR visa. The supporting documents to be provided are :
- The au pair contract between you and the au pair.
- Passport valid for the duration of the au pair’s stay.
- Passport photo.
Any document proving basic knowledge of the - French language, secondary education or professional qualifications.
👉 If you’re hosting a peer, find out more about our support packages for a worry-free welcome!
VISA for French students wishing to work as au pairs abroad
You want to go au pair 🍼 abroad, if you’re going to a country outside the European Union you’ll need a visa.
Depending on the country and destination, you’ll need a different visa. Here are the main countries outside Europe for which you will need a visa.
United States
For the United States, you need to apply for a J-1 visa. Obtaining this visa is very strict, as it can only be obtained through one of the agencies designated by the U.S. State Department. With the help of our partner agencies, it is possible to apply.
⚠️ There are different eligibility requirements for becoming an au pair in the USA.
Australia
Australia does not require an au pair visa. To become an au pair with an Australian family, you need to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. 👉 To find out more about the Australian visa and its conditions, read our article “Staying in Australia”.
Canada
For Canada, it’s a bit like Australia, there’s no such thing as an au pair visa, so you have to apply for a Working Holiday Visa. The problem is that Canada 🍁 imposes quotas on the number of places available for the PVT (Working Holiday Visa). This visa is obtained by drawing lots.
England
For England, since January 1, 2021 and the installation of the Brexit, au pair visas are no longer issued. Discussions are underway to allow the reopening soon.
