An au pair stays with a host family and helps with light household duties/taking care of children in exchange for pocket money, board and lodging. The aim of the visit is to acquire international experience and to get an opportunity to learn the local culture.
With the au pair residence permit, you are only allowed to work as an au pair in the host family and at the address of the host family. Working at another place/ for other families is not allowed and will put the au pair under a risk of losing their residence permit and having to leave the Netherlands.
To work and live as an au pair in the Netherlands you will need a resident permit. EU/EER and Swiss passport holders do not need a work permit to enter Netherlands; however, upon arrival to the host family, they must register in local municipality as residents. Others are required a resident permit, which should be arranged before your arrival.
Since the main goal of your arrival to the Netherlands is cultural exchange, your work permit should be arranged accordingly and only via officially recognised exchange agency (sponsor). Do not worry, our agency will take care of all paper work and will guide you throughout the process. The agency will assist in entry and residence procedure in order to get you a temporary residence permit to enter the country (MVV) and regular residence permit (VVR). After your au pair’s application has been approved, you will be able to pick up your MVV in Dutch embassy or consulate located at your current place of residence. VVR is to be collected in Immigration and Naturalisation Office upon your arrival to the Netherlands. The citizens of some countries such as Australia, Canada, Japan, Monaco, New Zealand, USA, South Korea do not require visa to enter the Netherlands, however they will need regular residence permit VVR.
A work permit can be granted for a period of 12 months maximum. It cannot be renewed. The average processing time for the au pair’s application is 3 months.
In order to be granted a permit:
In addition
Our services are free for au pairs throughout the whole process and after arrival. The visa fee (285 euros) and medical insurance (apr.90 euroes per month) are to be covered by the host family. However, you should be prepared to bear the travel costs to the Netherlands by yourself unless your host family is willing to share (cover) your expenses. We will assist you in finding tickets if it is needed. The host family is not obliged to pay for the au pair’s return ticket; however it is possible if family wants to reward the au pair for satisfactory work.
Your duties may vary and depend on the host family’s needs and daily routine, but you are only allowed to perform light domestic work and childcare. You and the host family will agree on daily routine schedule, which will be added to your au pair application.
As an au pair in the Netherlands you work maximum 30 hours a week, with 8 hours maximum per day. You are entitled to have at least 2 days off per week (your days off do not necessarily have to be during the weekend, but you are entitled to have at least one fixed, free of work weekend per month (from Friday evening to Monday morning).
You will be paid 340 euro pocket money per month. According to the Dutch low, you are not allowed to receive/earn more money
As an au pair in the Netherlands you are entitled to a minimum of 2 weeks paid holiday per year. Time of the holidays should be agreed between the au pair and the host family.
Since the main goal of the au pair program is cultural exchange, au pairs are entitled to have an opportunity to learn more about Dutch culture. At the same time, the official immigration office does not provide clear information about how it should be done. Most importantly, the family must provide an opportunity the for au pair to learn about Dutch culture. Many host families choose to assist au pairs in finding language courses as well as provide reimbursement for course up to 320 euros per year. However it is not mandatory as long as family provides alternative opportunities to learn the culture. For example, host family can assist the au pair in arranging season tickets for Dutch railways or provide you with museum cards so you can travel and learn the culture in your free time.
The au pair, as well as every person who lives or works in the Netherlands, is legally obliged to have standard health insurance to at least cover the cost of a consultation with a general practitioner, hospital treatment and prescription of medication. Insurance must be arranged before au pair’s arrival. Your medical insurance is to be covered by host family.