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Au-Pair Visa
The aim of an Au-Pair stay is to improve German language skills and to broaden general knowledge through experience.
General Information
The aim of an au pair stay is to improve German language skills and to broaden horizons and general knowledge through experience. To work as an au pair in Germany you must be at least 18 years old and not older than 26 years at the time of the application. For your stay, a minimum duration of 6 months is required. The maximum stay is 12 months. An au pair stay is only possible once, even with a different family.
A visa or residence permit will not be granted if the host family and the au pair are related to each other. In general German must be the native tongue spoken in the host family. If German is not spoken as native tongue but as the host family’s usual language of communication, an au pair may not originate from the home country of the host parents. This is to ensure that communication in the family takes place in German and not in the language of the country of origin.
Au pairs must have German language skills minimum level A1 as defined by the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages. Your language skills will be evaluated during your visa interview.
Please read the Government factsheet “Information for au pairs and host families” carefully.
Processing period
The processing period may take 2-3 months. During the processing period you cannot inquire about the status of your application. Upon expiry of the processing period only the applicant, his/her legal representative or persons holding an authorization letter from the applicant may inquire about the status of the visas.
Fees
The fee is 75,00 € payable in USD cash only. Please bring small USD bills. The application form can be downloaded for free.
Necessary documents
Please bring the following documents in the mentioned order to your appointment at the Embassy. Additional documents may in some cases be requested. Documents sent in advance will not be archived.
Complete the online application form (application forms are required for each applicant separately; all children require separate forms).
Bring one signed copy of the form including the barcodes to your appointment.
A valid passport signed by the holder, issued within the last 10 years and valid for at least one year is necessary. The passport needs to have at least 2 subsequent blank pages. Please bring one photocopy of the passport biodata page to your appointment.
1 fully biometric passport photo, 35 x 45 mm, no older than three months. Digitally altered passport photos cannot be accepted. Please ensure that your photo adheres to German biometric requirements and is taken in front of a white/bright background.
Non-Zimbabweans - please bring your valid Zimbabwean residence permit and 1 photocopy to your appointment.
Host family's questionnaire to be completed by the host - plus 1 copy
Au-pair contract - plus 1 copy
Confirmation of residency (Meldebescheinigung) of host family
- (including accident insurance, “Unfallversicherung”) commensurate with the level of statutory German public health insurance (“gesetzliche Krankenversicherung”) - plus 1 copy
- Letter of motivation and curriculum vitae - plus1 copy each
- 1 copy of your final school certificate
At least A1 is required. All certificates should be presented in original form plus 1 copy each. Certificates issued by any institution testing in accordance with the standards of the Association of Language Testers in Europe (ALTE) are accepted.
Book an appointment
Please use our online appointment booking system
For an au-pair visa appointment you have to register on our waiting list. The current waiting time for an appointment is more than a year. You will receive the notification with the appointment date approximately four weeks before your appointment date. The waiting list for au-pair and voluntary service is the same.
Booking via telephone or email is not possible. At the appointment, you will submit all required documents and pay the visa processing fee. You will be interviewed with regard to your planned stay in Germany and your biometric data (passport photograph and fingerprints) will be collected.