An Au Pair is usually a young person who lives with a host family in another country to help with light childcare and some household duties in exchange for room, board, stipend and the chance to learn the language and culture. Think of it as a cultural exchange: you become part of the family, attend language classes or study independently, and you gain real-life experience caring for children, often while exploring a new country.
This is different from paid domestic work or professional childcare: an Au Pair’s role is explicitly framed as cultural and educational exchange with limited working hours and an emphasis on integration into family life.
Differences Between An Au Pair And A Nanny?
Purpose: An au pair arrangement is primarily cultural and educational; the host family provides accommodation and a modest allowance while the au pair experiences everyday life in the country. A nanny is a professional childcare worker employed to care for children as a job.
Contract & legal status: Au pairs usually work under specific “au pair” rules and visas that limit working hours and set minimum benefits (time off, language study time). Nannies are employees under regular labour laws, with different contracts, salaries and social contributions.
Working hours & pay: Au pairs have limited, lighter duties and a regulated allowance (not a wage in the professional sense). Nannies typically work longer hours and receive a salary, social security contributions and often benefits.
Living arrangements: Au pairs live with the host family as a member of the household. Nannies may live in or outside the family home but are generally viewed as staff rather than a cultural exchange participant.
You can move to many countries as an au pair (USA, UK, many EU countries, Australia, etc— each with different rules). This post focuses on France: how the au pair system works there, the requirements, visa details etc.
France is a popular au pair destination because of the vibrant culture, chances to study French, and well-established legal frameworks for au pairs. Host families often expect basic French skills and a willingness to join family routines, and many au pairs enjoy a mix of childcare, cultural immersion and travel.
Basic Requirements
While small variations exist depending on your nationality, the common requirements are:
Age: Typically between 18 and 30 years old (some flexibility for EU citizens).
Marital / family status: Usually single with no dependent children.
Nationality: You must be a non-French national (i.e., not already a French resident/citizen) to apply as an au pair under the specific program for foreign au pairs.
Language: Basic French knowledge is usually required (level A1–A2 is often sufficient) since you’ll care for children and integrate into daily life.
Education / status at home: Many French host families expect the au pair to be studying at home or to have a high-school diploma (this varies if you’re an EU/EFTA citizen).
Availability: Willing to stay for at least 3 months, with most arrangements running 6–12 months (some families and visas permit up to two years total in France under extension rules).
Health & character: Be fit for childcare duties and provide any requested background checks or medical documents if required by the embassy or family.
- Placement agreement: You must have an au pair placement agreement setting out your working conditions, your pay and the arrangements for your French classes. Details of your subsistence, accommodation, and insurance arrangements will also be stated.
What To Expect Day-to-Day As An Au Pair
Living arrangements: You’ll live with your host family, have your own bedroom, have meals, and be integrated into family life.
Working hours: Typically light and clearly defined — morning or evening childcare, school drop-offs/pick-ups, preparing meals for kids and light tidying. Hours must respect French rules for au pairs (not full-time nanny hours). Expect around 25–30 hours per week on average, plus agreed free time.
Pocket money & benefits: You receive a weekly or monthly allowance (pocket money), paid holidays, and time to attend French classes. Exact amounts are decided in the au pair contract but are regulated by best-practice guidance.
Language & study: Host families are expected to allow time for you to study French. Many Au Pairs enroll in evening or daytime language classes.
Cultural exchange: You take part in family life like outings, daily routines and celebrations, which is the core of the au pair experience.
Visa: Which Visa Do You Need And How Long Can You Stay?
If you are a non-EU/EEA citizen, you will generally need a long-stay visa — the VLS-TS (visa de long séjour valant titre de séjour) issued for au pairs and sometimes called the “stagiaire / aide familial étranger / jeune au pair” category.
Typical initial visa length: One year, which can often be validated on arrival and used as a residence permit (VLS-TS).
Extension: The au pair stay in France can be extended up to a maximum of two years in total in many cases (often via visa renewal or prefecture formalities). After arrival you’ll register/validate your VLS with OFII (French Office for Immigration and Integration) as required.
How To Apply
Find a host family: Register on job boards like AuPair.com or Aupairworld.com where you find a family you want to work with. Once you both agree, you must draw up a formal au pair contract (convention au pair) that spells out duties, hours, pocket money, holidays, and language-study time.
- The family validates the contract with the relevant French authorities (often your host family will need to assist from their side). The exact paperwork and validation step depend on the family’s location and whether they are registered to host an au pair.
- Apply for the visa at the French embassy/consulate in your country once the contract is agreed and the family has validated it. You’ll need a passport, a signed contract, proof of language basics, proof you can travel and support yourself to arrival, passport photos, and any local embassy-specific forms. Use the official France-Visas portal to make an appointment and submit documents.
- On arrival in France: validate your long-stay visa (VLS-TS) online or at OFII and attend any required appointment (stamp, medical check or registration). Your visa then functions as your residence permit for the period indicated.
Can An Au Pair Change To Another Visa Type While in France?
Your au pair visa (VLS-TS) works as your residence permit while you are in France. If you want to stay longer, for example, to study or work, you must follow French immigration rules. This usually means:
Applying for a student visa if you plan to attend school or university
Getting an employer who will sponsor you for a work visa
Submitting the required documents at the local prefecture (immigration office) or online and sometimes leaving France to reapply
There are a few exceptions. If you get married to a French or EU citizen or qualify for family reunification, you may be able to change your status from inside France.
Bottom line: don’t assume you can easily switch to another visa after your au pair year. If your goal is to study or work in France later, plan ahead — research the requirements and timing before you travel so you’re ready when the time comes.
Pro Tips
- Ensure your checklist includes these when choosing a family: a clear contract, availability of a private bedroom, specified pocket money/stipend/allowance, agreed study time for French, reasonable working hours, references from previous au pairs (if possible), and a clear plan for arrival and visa paperwork assistance.
- Before you travel, arrange at least the first month of accommodation and make sure the family will help you validate your VLS-TS/OFII registration. Bring digital and printed copies of the contract and correspondence.
- If you have no knowledge of French, start basic lessons on free apps like Duolingo or take a few paid lessons, so you arrive able to handle simple instructions and build rapport from day one.
- Moving to France as an Au Pair is one of the most accessible and rewarding ways to live abroad: you get language immersion, cultural exchange, affordable living while you learn, and take responsibility caring for children. If you want to find out more about this or other routes that can get you to live in France, check out their website here.
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