Here you will find everything about how we guide your family step-by-step in finding an au pair
Finding the right au pair is an important step that goes beyond just arranging extra help at home; it is a choice for a valuable cultural experience. An au pair brings structure to daily routines and provides support in caring for the children, but also contributes to an open and dynamic family environment.
During her stay, she not only gets to know Dutch customs and lifestyle, but your family also gets the chance to discover her culture, traditions, and language. A careful selection ensures a good match, enriching the collaboration and making the experience meaningful for everyone.
1. Schedule an introductory meeting
15 minutes
We always start with a non-binding introductory call of 15 minutes. During this call, we answer your questions and check if you meet the legal requirements for the au pair program. After this call, you can create an account on our online customer portal and start the registration process.
Schedule an introductory call with us directly.
2. Registration & screening
four weeks
During registration, you will have an extensive video call with us where we discuss all the ins and outs of the au pair program. You upload the required documents, such as an au pair schedule, proof of identity, address, and income.
Whether you have found an au pair yourself via an online platform or use our full service, in both cases we conduct a selection interview with the au pair candidate and check her documents, references, and social media. You can follow all this information via our customer portal.
3. IND Application and preparation
arrival of the au pair
Zero to six weeks (depending on the country of origin)
After completing the registration, we (if necessary) arrange the application for a visa and residence permit through a special fast-track procedure. We guide the au pair in scheduling an appointment at the Dutch consulate and guide with booking the flight.
You will receive updates on the progress via our customer portal. This is also the time to take out the mandatory au pair insurance and enroll the au pair in optional training, such as ‘Dutch for au pairs’ or a First Aid workshop.
4. Arrival and guidance of the au pair
After completing the screening and immigration formalities, it is time: your au pair arrives in the Netherlands. From the first day, she can participate in our event program with outings and training sessions.
Your account manager regularly keeps in touch to discuss the progress of the placement. If there are any questions or challenges, we will find a solution together.
Finding an au pair
How do you find the perfect match?
At Au Pair International, you can choose:
find an au pair yourself or let us do it
» Self-match method
You find a match yourself via an online au pair platform
» Full service
You ask our agency to find a suitable au pair
At Au Pair International, we are fans of the self-match method! This means that you choose a candidate from an online database that fits your family based on preferences such as start date, experience, and country of origin. There are, of course, several search platforms, but we highly recommend our partner AuPairWorld. This is the largest global platform, so you will find many great au pair profiles from various countries. Your perfect match is certainly among them!
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Self-match
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Full service
The many advantages of self-match
- It is a cost-effective choice because no recruitment and selection agency abroad needs to be hired. Where a foreign agency often charges at least €800 for mediation, the registration fee on an online database is only a few euros.
- Nowadays, young people from all over the world all have a mobile phone, so many more candidates are registered on online databases than in the files of foreign partner agencies. You have more choices, both in terms of the number of candidates and the country of origin.
- You can determine for yourself whether you have a personal click with a candidate. This is of great importance in the au pair program! The au pair will live with you for a year, and it can only be successful if you get along well. For a partner agency abroad, this can be difficult to determine, while you can easily establish whether you have a good flow with the au pair in a conversation and if the match feels right.
Once you have found a suitable candidate, we take over the process, and she goes through an extensive screening with our agency. It is common to exchange some messages first and then schedule a video call with the candidates you like the most. Once you have decided which candidate you would like to invite to the Netherlands as an au pair, we take over again. We contact the au pair of your choice, conduct a selection interview, and request the necessary documents. If the au pair successfully passes our screening, we ensure that she can travel to the Netherlands as soon as possible.
For families who do not have time to search themselves, we offer our full service. Through our international network, we select candidates that meet your requirements. Our partner agencies provide extensive dossiers with information about the candidates’ experience, background, motivation, references, and social skills.
Within two weeks of the inventory, you will receive a first proposal with suitable candidates. After video calls, you make a final choice, and we take care of the rest. Keep in mind that with mediation, the au pair candidates always come from outside of Europe.
For our full service, there is a surcharge of €800 because we have to engage a foreign partner agency.
Would you prefer a European au pair? Then go for the self-match method.
Costs and rates
That all sounds very nice, you might think, but isn’t the au pair program something very expensive and elitist? And what about my privacy at home when an au pair comes to live with us?
Fortunately, we can reassure you on both points. Contrary to what many people think, an au pair is often a more affordable option than regular childcare. From around €500 per month plus room and board, you can already invite an au pair. If you want to bring someone from a distant country or offer extras like a train subscription, there may be additional costs. However, it will rarely exceed €800 per month.
Here you will find everything about the costs and rates so you know exactly what to expect.
What about privacy?
At Au Pair International, we have a diverse customer base of host families. What they have in common is the need for extra help at home and an interest in other countries and cultures.
Regarding privacy: an au pair who lives with you quickly feels like a family member and not a stranger in the house. Au pairs also build their own lives here; in the evenings and weekends, they go out to exercise or hang out with friends. Families already participating in the program experience it this way too.
Read more about this on the experiences page.
Responsibilities of an au pair
An au pair supports you with:
- Bringing and picking up the children
- Light household chores such as cooking, tidying up, and doing laundry for the children
- Babysitting the children
- Activities for the children such as crafts or playing games
An au pair works a maximum of thirty hours per week and is entitled to free time and vacation, according to the legal rules in the Netherlands.
Au pair program and rules
The au pair program in the Netherlands has several legal requirements:
- The au pair may work a maximum of thirty hours per week and a maximum of eight hours per day.
- There must be cultural exchange; you introduce the au pair to Dutch customs and traditions.
- An au pair may stay in the Netherlands for a maximum of twelve months.
- The family must provide room and board, pocket money, insurance, and a private room.
For a complete overview of the rules and obligations, you can access our customer portal after registration, or you can contact one of our staff members.
Recruitment and selection: what to consider?
When choosing an au pair, it is important to pay attention to:
- Experience and affinity with children in the relevant age group
- Communication skills and language level
- Cultural background and customs
- Social skills and international experience
We support you at every step of the selection process, whether you search yourself or through our full service. We have a handy checklist for the search process, which you can download here.
Relationship and guidance: building trust
A good relationship with the au pair starts with clear expectations and communication. We recommend:
- Planning an introductory meeting on the first day
- Creating a detailed weekly schedule
- Scheduling regular feedback moments
- Providing space for the au pair’s own activities
- Being flexible in living together with a young adult
Our account managers are always ready to help with any challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
General Questions
What does an au pair do exactly?
An au pair is a young adult between 18 and 25 years old who lives with a host family and helps with light household chores and childcare in exchange for pocket money and room and board. An au pair always comes from abroad. The main tasks of an au pair are:
- Bringing and picking up the children from school or activities
- Babysitting the children, both during the day and in the evening
- Light household chores, such as cooking, tidying up, vacuuming, walking the dog, and cleaning shared spaces
- Supporting play activities with the children
- Participating in the daily routine of your family, while simultaneously learning more about the Dutch language and culture
Unsure if an au pair is better suited for you than regular childcare or a childminder? Here you will find all the information for a good comparison.
How much does an au pair cost?
The costs of an au pair vary depending on factors such as the country of origin and any additional services like training or a museum card. Below is an overview of the main costs:
- Pocket money: in the Netherlands, au pairs legally receive €340 per month.
- Room and board: this includes food, drinks, and a furnished and decorated private room in your house.
- Insurance: an au pair must be insured for health costs and repatriation. This costs an average of €40-€50 per month.
- Agency fees: in the Netherlands, you are required to work through a mediation agency, where you pay for guidance and administration. These costs average between €1,500 and €4,000 per placement.
- Activities and training: optional expenses for language or first aid courses and extras like a museum annual card.
On average, an au pair program costs a host family €500-€800 per month.
How long does an au pair usually stay with a family?
An au pair usually stays with a host family for twelve months, depending on the agreements between the family and the au pair. For EU candidates, the stay can sometimes be shorter, for example, three to six months, but most programs are aimed at a full year stay. This gives both the family and the au pair time to get used to each other and build a meaningful bond. After twelve months, the program ends anyway; unfortunately, there is no possibility to extend the term. However, you can of course invite a new au pair. Most families participate in the program for about five years, but we also have families who have been customers for over ten years.
What are the benefits of an au pair?
Having an au pair offers many benefits, both practical and cultural:
- Practical support: an au pair takes over time-consuming tasks such as childcare and household chores, giving you more time for work, relaxation, or quality time.
- Stability for children: a regular person in the house provides a familiar environment, which is especially important for young children.
- Cultural enrichment: an au pair brings a different culture into the home. Children learn a new language and discover customs from other countries in a playful way.
- Flexibility: an au pair is often more flexible than regular childcare and can adapt to the specific needs of the family.
- Affordability: compared to other forms of childcare, an au pair is often an affordable solution, especially for families with multiple children.
With an au pair, you not only get a helping hand in the house but also a unique cultural experience that enriches the whole family.
Does an au pair need a visa?
Depending on the country of origin, an au pair may need a visa and a residence permit. Here are the specific situations:
- EU/EEA citizens: au pairs from countries within the European Union (EU) or the European Economic Area (EEA) do not need a visa or residence permit to participate in the au pair program in the Netherlands. Registration with a recognized au pair agency is sufficient.
- Non-EU/EEA citizens: au pairs from countries outside the EU/EEA usually need a visa and always need a residence permit. These are applied for through the Immigration and Naturalization Service (IND). As a recognized sponsor, the au pair agency ensures a quick and correct handling of the application.
The host family must also meet certain conditions, such as taking out insurance and providing a suitable living environment.
How many hours can an au pair work?
An au pair in the Netherlands is legally allowed to work a maximum of thirty hours per week, spread over a maximum of five days per week. This means that an au pair can help for an average of six hours a day. You can vary per day, but the maximum number of hours per day is limited to eight. In addition, an au pair must have at least two days off per week, which do not necessarily have to be consecutive. Most au pairs prefer to be free on weekends so they can go out with friends.
The emphasis is on a balanced schedule, as the au pair program is about cultural exchange, not full-time work.
What happens if the au pair gets sick?
If an au pair becomes ill, she is entitled to care and support from the host family. The main points of attention are:
- Insurance: the au pair must be insured for medical expenses. The costs of medical treatments are covered by the mandatory au pair insurance and the basic health insurance.
- Rest and recovery: the host family must give the au pair the opportunity to rest and recover. During illness, the host family remains responsible for room, board, and pocket money.
- Adjusting tasks: the au pair may temporarily perform fewer or no household chores and childcare, depending on her condition. The host family must be flexible with this.
- Communication with the agency: if the illness lasts longer than two weeks or if there are doubts about recovery, the agency can provide support to manage the situation properly. If necessary, the program can be terminated earlier by mutual agreement.
Careful communication and empathy are essential to keep the relationship between the family and the au pair healthy during a period of illness.
Does an au pair also have to clean?
An au pair is only allowed to perform light household tasks, and this should preferably not be the main focus of her duties. Tasks that an au pair typically performs include:
- Tidying up the children’s play area.
- Cleaning the kitchen after preparing a meal.
- Washing, folding, and putting away children’s clothes.
- Vacuuming and keeping shared spaces clean.
Large or heavy cleaning tasks, such as washing windows, cleaning the toilet, or keeping areas that the au pair does not use clean, are outside the scope of her responsibilities. Most host families have a cleaning help for these tasks or do the major cleaning work themselves.
Can an au pair help with homework?
Yes, an au pair can help with the children’s homework, depending on her skills and knowledge. This should be aligned with the au pair’s capabilities. Tasks she can help with include:
- Assisting with languages or subjects she is proficient in.
- Encouraging learning through games or educational activities.
It is important to remember that an au pair is not a substitute for a professional tutor. Her role is supportive and supplementary.
What are the rules for childcare?
An au pair in the Netherlands can provide informal childcare under the following conditions:
- Maximum working hours: as mentioned earlier, an au pair can work a maximum of thirty hours per week, spread over a maximum of five days. The maximum per day is eight hours.
- Age of the children: the au pair can care for children of all ages, but specific care for babies or very young children must be clearly aligned with her experience and skills. Most families have an au pair until the youngest child in the family goes to secondary school.
- No medical responsibilities: an au pair is not trained for medical care or specialized childcare. For children with specific (medical) needs, a professional must be engaged. Legally, an au pair is also not allowed to perform medical care tasks.
- Supervision: the host family remains ultimately responsible for the children. House rules and points of attention for the children must be well discussed with the au pair.
- Night care: au pairs are allowed to babysit in the evenings and provide night care. The latter is only possible if a good night’s sleep for the au pair herself is guaranteed. Being on duty while a child is asleep is considered as work hours.
It is important to make clear agreements about the tasks and responsibilities of the au pair so that expectations are clear for all parties involved.
Are you aiming for a successful experience?
Au Pair International has been guiding host families for over 15 years. In a non-binding introduction call, we will inform you on how to make your period as a host family a success!