Apply for Residence Permit for Au Pair Employment
Find out how you can live and work as an au pair in Germany.
At a glance
How do you get a residence permit as an au pair?
You want to live and work as an au pair in a German host family? Then you may receive a residence permit. The authority decides on a case-by-case basis. The residence permit is valid for a maximum of one year.
You can submit the application if you are already in Germany for other reasons. Or if you are entitled to apply after visa-free entry. However, if you entered with a national D visa already valid for one year as an au pair, you cannot receive a residence permit.
An extension is not possible. After your au pair activity, however, you can apply for a residence permit for other purposes. For example, for a language course or studies.
Note: If you only want to change your host family, you cannot use this application. Use the online application "Residence title for employment — change of employer" instead.
Requirements
Who qualifies?
- You are between 18 and 26 years old, have basic knowledge of the German language (at least level A1), and have not yet worked as an au pair in Germany for one year
- German is spoken as a mother tongue in your host family. If German is only spoken as a family language, you must not come from a home country of the host parents.
Additional requirements
- You need a valid residence title or a national D visa. Or you are entitled to apply after visa-free entry. With a D visa already valid for one year as an au pair, you cannot receive a residence permit.
- The Federal Employment Agency must approve the employment, your host family must live in Berlin, and you need sufficient health insurance.
- You must not pose a threat to public safety or order. Even fines can prevent the issuance. During ongoing criminal proceedings, the application must not be processed.
How to apply
Submit the online application "Temporary residence title for employment" and upload all documents: colour passport copies, au pair contract, host family questionnaire, language certificate, and health insurance
Pay the processing fee before submitting the application by credit card or PayPal
Save the application confirmation as a PDF and print it — it certifies that your current residence title remains valid
Wait for the review by the LEA and submit further requested documents if needed
Attend the assigned appointment in person and bring all documents in original
Done! You may receive your residence permit as an au pair. The authority will decide on your application.
Residence permit as sticker
- Residence permit as electronic residence title100,00 EUR
- For Turkish nationals up to 24 years of age22,80 EUR
- For Turkish nationals from 24 years of age37,00 EUR
- Digital passport photo at self-service terminal6,00 EUR
Good to know
Your residence permit expires if you end or terminate your au pair activity. This happens automatically. You must then apply for a new residence title.
Erlischt mit Beendigung oder Abbruch der Tätigkeit als… bei…
VAB A.19c/D.12, S. 223-798
For au pair activities, your income does not have to cover the full livelihood. This is an exception to the general rule. Your livelihood can also be secured in other ways.
Etwas anderes gilt mit Ausnahme von Au- Pair- Tätigkeiten (§ 12 BeschV) grundsätzlich, wenn durch die Vollerwerbstätigkeit kein für die Lebensunterhaltssicherung ausreichendes Einkommen erzielt wird
VAB A.19c/D.12, S. 223-798
If the Federal Employment Agency gives its approval, the authority generally decides in your favor. The discretion is then exercised positively. A rejection is then unlikely.
Das Ermessen kann bei Zustimmung der BA grundsätzlich zu Gunsten des Ausländers ausgeübt werden.
VAB A.19c/D.12, S. 223-798
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Apply for Residence Permit for Au Pair Employment
If your application is approved, you will receive an appointment. A residence permit as a sticker can be issued on site at the appointment. If issued as an electronic residence title (eAT), it takes 4 to 6 weeks until it can be collected.