how to: obtain an au pair visa in germany.
First, I must thank y’all for the overwhelming sympathy I received after my wisdom teeth surgery. I think is potentially my most commented on post ever. I am a baby chipmunk and I need all the attention I can get – coming through in the clutch, like always. You guys are the best. I am healing well but still not eating solid foods and still constantly aware of the post-wisdom-teeth-senstation (not sure how else to refer to this). I will get my stitches removed Friday and hoping to be 100% then.
Ok, onto today’s business. I get a whole lot of emails about how to get an au pair visa in Germany. It is an important question because it is extremely important to be living in the country legally (Do not let your au pair family tell you it is ok – it’s not and you will need a visa). After responding to a ton of emails individually individually, I’d like to address this on my blog so I have a source with all my links together to direct y’all to. I know this does not apply to many of my daily readers, but since it’s Google-d and inquired about frequently, I figured it’s time.
Editors Note: This process only applies to citizens of The United States of America. Since I am one, it is the only experience I can speak of. Additionally, laws change all the time, so please check other resources and make sure your host family understands the process.
Want to hang out with a cute little German boy (and maybe some cute German men too) for a year? Well, you’ll need a visa first.
How long can I stay without a visa?
Citizens of the USA can stay in the Schengen Area (which Germany is a part of) on a tourist visa for 90 days. Therefore, if you are doing a short au pair stay, you will not need a visa. Upon arrival, just tell them you are here to travel.
Who can get an au pair visa in Germany?
- You must have a valid passport.
- You must be between ages 18-24 when applying for your visa.
- Visas are granted for a minimum of 6 months up to a year.
- Au Pairs must have a German understanding of the A2 level (so able to pass the A1 test).*
How do I obtain my au pair visa?
When you move to Germany, you will have to register at your new address at the registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt). Whatever day you register is the day your one year au pair visa will begin on. Thus, I suggest registering later and saying you traveled in the beginning if you want to stay as long as possible. You can always leave early but you sure can’t overstay your welcome (at least I don’t suggest it).
Once registered, have your host family call and schedule an appointment at the Ausländerbehörde (this date should be before your 90 days is up) to avoid a long wait to get your visa. Show up at this appointment with the required items. If you bring everything, you should be set!
Wait for a letter to come in the mail with your electronic pin number. Bring this letter with you the the Ausländerbehörde to pick up your new Aufenthaltstitel and leaf with with working/living restrictions. No appointment is required.
This is what your residence permit, or “Aufenthaltstitel”, will look like (except my photo is in color).
How long does my au pair visa last?
The au pair visa can be set for 6 months to 1 year and is nonrenewable (you cannot au pair again in Germany).
What do I bring to the visa office/foreigner’s department (Ausländerbehörde)?
- au pair contract signed by you and your host family
- valid passport
- biometric photo (no smiling allowed)
- proof of insurance
- application form (also should be available at the Ausländerbehörde)
- Money (around 100€)
- Not required, but: I would bring your host mother or father with you. That way, they can do all the talking and forms to avoid frustrations and misunderstandings.
*Do I have to be able to speak German?
The by-the-books answer here is yes. You are supposed to have a basic knowledge of the German language (as stated above). However, through my au pair friends I met during my au pair time and all of the wonderful people I’ve met via my blog, not a single one has had to take the test. So, that’s that. Of course, I strongly recommend learning German during your stay, but I would not stress about it for the visa process specifically.
What was your experience getting an au pair visa?
(Don’t get me started on my work visa – WAY more difficult)
Wow, this is way more strict than the French visa. I had no idea they were such different processes! In France you can be up to 30 years old, and I’m pretty sure you can renew the au pair contract as well.
Oh my gosh, that is 100x better – Germany seriously needs to lighten up! You can repeat if you’re from the EU I think, but yeah they don’t make it easy for us Americans!
I go on Thursday for the A1 test and next week for the visa application! Thanks for the extra info and reassurance about the language test – hopefully they go easy
Oh wow, you’ll have to let me know if you actually have to take it, and if so, best of luck! I’m sure they will go easy on you!
Through the office in Erding, I did not have to take the test, BUT I did have to have proof that I was enrolled in the language class and it was already paid for.. which I just started. I may steal this idea, if you don’t mind for my blog at a later date. Because, I also get tons of questions about the visa. The visa and the entire aupair process/ paperwork/ contract. Good idea to put it in link form!!
Interesting! We actually brought a thing where I signed up but we hadn’t paid and I had no real intention of taking the class, but my host mom just thought that’d be good back up in case they tried to make me take a test. It’s certainly a huge question on everyone’s mind before coming, that’s for sure!
Dude. You’re a pro. I’m pretty sure that I now want to be an au pair. And mike can be an au pair…er? lol!
You’re about to BE a lifetime au pair! You could even speak German to your little girl!
But in fact, you and Mike could BOTH be au pairs as I’m pretty sure you’re allowed to be married in Germany AND males can certainly be au pairs, too 
I am sure this is great information for others willing to immigrate!
I’m SO glad I didn’t need a visa to come to Germany! Being in the EU has its advantages
I ENVY you.
This is so cool! How great that you’ve already had this experience, I definitely wish I had done something like this before grad school.
After? Ya never know…
Being an Au Pair sounds so fabulous! Especially in a foreign country
Changed my life
Technically, you’re supposed to have an au pair visa on arrival, a three month one that you then extend into the full one. Otherwise, you’re working illegally your first 90 days. Not that it matters and no one will come after you, but my host family was a stickler for being law-abiding citizens. They tested my German at the consulate in New York, sort of. All they did was say “Können Sie mich verstehen?” and I was like “…Ja…” And she was like “Fabulous, have this visa now.” Never got the full visa though, because in between I got EU citizenship. Yay, shamelessly milking your heritage for all it’s worth!
This is of course, technically true, and good of you to point out as I kind of leave that out. It’s just really a lot of extra effort that luckily Americans don’t have to go through. That’s really funny that that’s all they asked of you for your German, though. Hilarious.
I had no idea that Germany doesn’t allow you to au pair a second time, or for more than a year. I’ve always said that the expat life is a very transient one, and this is yet another example of that. I also didn’t know that you can’t au pair if you’re older than 24- that’s strange.
My work and residence visas were sponsored by my employer, which made it a great deal easier to get them squared away. In fact, the work visa was approved before I even bought my airfare to move over here- that was necessary though, since I moved over for a three year gig.
Yes, they certainly don’t make it easy! And even one lady at the visa office got angry with me when my German wasn’t so great because I lived with a family and I should’ve learned more by then. I told her I spoke English with the family (duh, that’s why I was there) and then she was angry that they were using me for that. The whole system is just odd sometimes.
I’m sure having work help organize it makes all the difference. I had to get my work permit once here, but it wasn’t too terrible, just a million trips to and from all the million government offices
Cute pic, girl!
http://therealfoodrunner.blogspot.com/
My best friend really wants to do this so I’ll have to tell her the cut off is 24 yikes! (She’s 23)
Ah yes tell her to hop on it! She can be 25 while being an au pair, as long as she signs up at 24 though!
Hi! I just read this article, and it’s very helpful because I’m just starting the process of getting an au pair visa for Germany. I graduate from college this June, and I already have a host family that I’m very excited about. But I was concerned because I literally know no German. I’m very excited to learn German and my family is enrolling me in German classes, but hearing about your experience with little knowledge of German not being a problem comforted me. My only question is this: do you get the visa before you go or once you’re there? I know that Americans are allowed to enter Germany as an au pair without a visa, but you do still need to get one right?
You will get the visa once you are here. Just enter the country on a tourist visa. You will then obtain the visa with your family from the nearest Ausländerbehörde (foreigner’s office). You will do this after you have registered at your new address.
All very exciting! What city will you be in? Let me know if you have any more questions.
Also if you want to “beat the system” a bit – register your address a couple months after arrival and make your visa appointment just ahead of the 90 days. The visa only lasts on year and will begin from the day you are registered at your address (at least that’s how it was for me and friends). So, incase you want to stay longer (you never know
) – this will give you a couple extra months. You can just tell them you were traveling around up until then. Not completely legal but w/e
Haha, thanks for the advice! That’s good to know. I’ll be staying in Cologne. It is so exciting, I can’t wait!!