Au pair jobs in France: conditions, agreement, visa and finding a host family
An au pair placement in France is a cultural exchange stay in which a young foreigner lives with a host family, receives board and lodging, and helps with childcare and light housework in return for pocket money, for at least three months.
This page in other languages : Français
What does an au pair stay involve?
The au pair lives in the host family’s home, has a private room and shares meals. In return, they look after the children and help with light housework, while keeping enough time to attend French classes and discover the country.
It is not an ordinary seasonal job but a regulated exchange status inspired by the 1969 European Agreement on au pair placement. It differs from the salaried au pair, who is covered by the collective agreement for private household employers in France.
Typical duties
Duties centre on the children: school runs, snacks, play, bath time, homework help and occasional evening babysitting. Housework stays light and linked to family life; an au pair is not a substitute for a full-time domestic employee or cleaner.
Length of stay and calendar
The agreement covers three months to one year and can be renewed once with a new agreement, for a maximum total of two years. Many families recruit for the September school start, but needs also arise in January and before the summer.
Summer-only stays
A summer au pair stay of a few weeks does not fit the French au pair status, which has a three-month minimum. For non-EU nationals, a short July and August placement is therefore not possible under the specific au pair visa.
Who can become an au pair in France?
The French au pair status is for non-EU nationals aged 18 to 30, of a different nationality from the host family and with no family ties to it. Applicants need basic French, secondary-level education or professional qualifications.
Young people from the EU, EEA or Switzerland need no visa. Their stay falls under other arrangements, such as the trainee family helper or the salaried au pair, whose rules differ noticeably from the au pair status described here.
Long-stay visa and residence permit
Non-EU applicants request a long-stay visa marked jeune au pair up to three months before departure, enclosing the signed agreement. The visa must be validated online within three months of arrival, and a tax is payable at that stage.
Renewal and work restrictions
To extend the stay, an au pair residence card is requested from the prefecture within the two months before the visa expires, with a new agreement. First issue costs 150 euros. No other paid work is allowed during the au pair stay.
Pocket money, hours and living conditions
The family pays at least 320 euros of pocket money per month on top of board and lodging. Duties are capped at 25 hours per week, with at least one full day off weekly and time set aside for language classes.
The bedroom must measure at least 9 square metres and have a window. The family registers the au pair with Urssaf within eight days of arrival and alone pays the social contributions, which are calculated on a flat-rate basis.
Table of key conditions and documents
The table below sets out the rules published by the French administration for the au pair status. It helps check quickly that a family’s offer respects the legal framework before signing the agreement and applying for the visa.
| Item | Rule or amount | Document |
|---|---|---|
| Age | 18 to 30 | Passport |
| Pocket money | At least 320 euros per month | Signed agreement |
| Duties | Maximum 25 hours per week | Signed agreement |
| Rest | One full day per week | Signed agreement |
| Bedroom | At least 9 square metres, with window | Described in the agreement |
| Agreement | Cerfa form 15973 | Family and au pair |
| Residence card | 150 euros at first issue | Local prefecture |
Steps to find a family and travel
Preparation takes several months because the agreement must be signed before the visa application. Candidates who start early have more choice of region and family profile, two factors that weigh heavily on the success of the stay.
- Check age, nationality and French language or education requirements.
- Consult the list of au pair agencies referenced by Service-Public, or look for a family directly.
- Hold several video interviews with the family, ideally with the children present.
- Complete and sign cerfa agreement 15973 stating duties, hours, housing and pocket money.
- Apply for the long-stay au pair visa up to three months before departure.
- On arrival, validate the visa online and enrol in French classes.
- Make sure the family has registered you with Urssaf within eight days.
Common mistakes and risky situations
Most stays go well, but some families confuse an au pair with low-cost domestic staff. The situations below should raise concern because they fall outside the legal framework or expose the young person to administrative problems.
- Travelling on a short-stay tourist visa instead of the au pair visa.
- Accepting more than 25 hours of duties a week, regularly extended into evenings and weekends.
- Paying excessive fees to an unknown intermediary to be matched with a family.
- Handing your passport over to the family or an agency.
- Taking a second paid job, which is forbidden during the stay.
Frequently asked questions about au pair jobs in France
The answers below summarise the rules for the French au pair status in 2026. They do not cover in detail the salaried au pair, who has an ordinary employment contract with a private household and must earn at least the legal minimum wage.
Can men become au pairs?
Yes. The status is open to anyone meeting the age, nationality and language conditions, regardless of gender. Families mainly select on childcare experience, references and, where school runs are involved, a valid driving licence.
Can pocket money be lower than 320 euros?
No, 320 euros per month is a minimum. Families may pay more, especially in large cities where transport and leisure cost more. The agreed amount must appear in the agreement signed by both parties before the visa application.
What happens if things go wrong with the family?
Talking things through comes first, with help from the agency if one is involved. Disputes go to the civil court. Changing family requires a new agreement, and the European agreement allows either side to end the placement with notice.
Are French classes compulsory?
The au pair must have enough time to attend classes of their choice, and the stay aims to improve French. Enrolling in a language school or university course also makes the renewal procedure at the prefecture more straightforward.
Is there an au pair visa for the United Kingdom?
No dedicated au pair visa exists in the UK. Young people from eligible countries can use the Youth Mobility Scheme, which allows work for up to two years from age 18 to 30 or 35, with a 340 pound fee and proof of savings.
Where to find these jobs
- Service-Public.gouv.fr — Approved au pair agencies — Search tool for au pair placement agencies referenced by the French union of au pair agencies.
- Service-Public.gouv.fr — Au pair agreement form — Official form to complete with the chosen family, required for the French au pair visa application.
- GOV.UK — Find a job — Official UK job search service, useful for Youth Mobility Scheme holders seeking childcare or seasonal work.
Official and legal references
- Service-Public.gouv.fr — Au pair status in France — Age, hours, pocket money, agreement, visa, length of stay and contributions for au pairs in France.
- Service-Public.gouv.fr — Au pair residence card — Conditions, documents, cost and processing time for the French au pair residence card.
- Service-Public.gouv.fr — Salaried au pair — Rules for au pairs employed under an ordinary contract with a private household in France.
- GOV.UK — Youth Mobility Scheme visa — UK visa for young people from eligible countries, with age limits, fees and savings requirements.