An au pair is a young adult, typically aged 18 to 25, who lives with a host family and provides childcare and light household help in exchange for accommodation, meals, a weekly allowance, and a genuine cultural exchange experience. The arrangement is not standard employment; it sits at the intersection of family life and cultural immersion, making it distinct from hiring a professional nanny or daycare service. Below, you will find clear answers to the most common questions families ask before joining an au pair program.
What does an au pair actually do day to day?
An au pair’s daily responsibilities center on childcare and light household support, not full domestic work. A typical day involves getting children ready in the morning, taking them to school or activities, preparing simple meals, and spending quality time with them in the afternoon. Light household tasks connected to the children, tidying their rooms and doing their laundry, are also part of the role.
The key word here is light. Au pairs are not housekeepers. Their primary focus is the children, and the household tasks they take on are those that naturally arise from caring for a family. In the Netherlands, the au pair program is structured around a maximum of 30 hours of work per week, spread across fixed, agreed-upon hours that are set in advance and do not change week to week. This structure preserves time for the au pair to attend language classes, explore Dutch culture, and participate in social activities.
Practically speaking, an au pair should be comfortable cooking simple meals, think sandwiches, omelettes, and pasta, and be genuinely enthusiastic about spending time with children. The best au pairs bring patience, warmth, and a positive attitude to everything they do, treating the host family’s home as their own for the duration of their stay.
How is an au pair different from a nanny or babysitter?
The most important difference between an au pair and a nanny or babysitter is the cultural exchange element. A nanny is a professional childcare worker hired for a salary; a babysitter provides occasional, on-demand supervision. An au pair, by contrast, lives with the family as a temporary household member and participates in daily family life as part of a structured cultural exchange program.
This distinction has practical implications for host families:
- Live-in arrangement: Au pairs live in the family home, which means childcare is integrated into daily life rather than scheduled around fixed appointments.
- Cultural immersion: The arrangement is mutual. Families offer the au pair a window into Dutch life; the au pair offers the children exposure to a different language and culture.
- Fixed hours and allowance: Unlike a nanny contract, the au pair arrangement in the Netherlands is governed by specific program rules, including fixed, pre-agreed working hours and a set weekly pocket money amount rather than a professional salary. These hours are established at the start of the placement and remain consistent throughout.
- Age and experience profile: Au pairs are typically young adults gaining life experience, not career childcare professionals. Families should expect enthusiasm and genuine care rather than formal credentials.
For families who can organise their household routine around a fixed schedule and want live-in childcare that also enriches their children’s world view, the au pair arrangement often offers something a nanny or babysitter simply cannot replicate.
What are the legal requirements for hosting an au pair in the Netherlands?
Hosting an au pair in the Netherlands is a legally regulated arrangement governed by the Dutch Immigration and Naturalisation Service (IND). Families must meet specific income requirements, and the au pair must be sponsored through an IND-recognised agency. Without a recognised sponsor, the visa process cannot proceed.
Key legal requirements for host families include:
- Provable, sustainable income: The IND sets minimum income thresholds. Savings, family support, and informal income do not qualify. Income must be demonstrable and expected to continue for the duration of the au pair’s stay.
- Dutch taxpayer status: Simply earning enough is not sufficient. The host family must be a registered Dutch taxpayer.
- Business owners: If the host parent runs their own business, it must have been operational for at least 18 months before the application.
- IND-recognised sponsorship: The au pair’s residence permit is tied to the sponsoring agency. The agency acts as the official sponsor and is legally responsible for ensuring the placement meets all program conditions.
It is also worth noting that as of 1 July 2026, the notarisation of au pair contracts for Filipino nationals has been suspended pending a review of the program. Families interested in candidates from other nationalities are not affected, and placements across more than 20 other nationalities continue as normal.
Who is eligible to become an au pair in the Netherlands?
To be eligible as an au pair in the Netherlands, a candidate must be single, between 18 and 25 years old, hold a valid passport, and have completed at least a high school education. They must also speak English at a minimum B1 level and have verifiable childcare experience supported by references.
Beyond the basic criteria, eligible candidates should be:
- Medically fit to work with families and children, confirmed through medical clearance
- Independent, patient, communicative, and genuinely open-minded
- Comfortable cooking simple meals and helping with light household tasks
- Willing to adapt to a new climate, culture, and way of life
- Free of parental or guardianship responsibilities; candidates must have no children of their own
One point worth highlighting for families: au pair candidates should never be charged significant fees to join a program. Legitimate programs do not require applicants to pay agency or processing fees. If a candidate has been asked to pay substantial sums by a third party, this is a red flag worth investigating before proceeding.
How does the matching process between au pairs and host families work?
The matching process connects host families with screened au pair candidates through a structured sequence of profile review, interviews, and mutual agreement. Neither side is placed with someone they have not chosen; the process is designed to ensure both the family and the au pair feel confident before any commitment is made.
Here is how the process typically unfolds:
- Family registration: The host family shares information about their household, their children, and what they are looking for in an au pair.
- Candidate screening: Au pair applicants are screened for eligibility, including reference checks, document verification, and suitability assessments.
- Profile presentation: A curated shortlist of suitable candidates is presented to the host family for review.
- Interviews: Families interview their preferred candidates. Au pairs also decide whether they feel comfortable with the family.
- Mutual agreement: Both sides confirm they want to move forward before any documents are prepared.
- Documentation and visa: Once a match is agreed, the agency handles contracts, visa applications, and all IND paperwork.
Matching timelines vary depending on preferences, availability, and timing, but the process is typically completed within one to three weeks for families working with an established agency. Some candidates match quickly; others take a little longer. The important thing is that the match is right, not just fast. You can learn more about hosting an au pair to understand what to expect at each stage.
What costs should host families expect when joining an au pair program?
Host families in the Netherlands should budget for three main costs: a weekly pocket money allowance paid directly to the au pair, the cost of providing accommodation and meals, and an agency fee for placement and ongoing support. The exact figures are set or influenced by IND guidelines and vary by agency.
Here is a practical breakdown of what to expect:
- Weekly pocket money: Au pairs in the Netherlands receive a regulated weekly allowance. This is not a salary but a contribution to their personal expenses during the stay.
- Room and board: Host families provide a private room and all meals. This is part of the au pair’s compensation and is factored into the overall cost of the arrangement.
- Agency fees: Reputable agencies charge host families a placement fee that covers screening, matching, documentation, visa support, and ongoing program management. Families should expect transparency around these costs upfront.
- No fees for au pairs: Legitimate programs do not charge the au pair. If a candidate has been asked to pay, that is a concern worth raising with the agency.
Compared to full-time daycare or a professional nanny, the au pair arrangement is often a more cost-effective solution for families whose routines align with a fixed, structured schedule, particularly those with multiple children or consistent weekly commitments.
How Sunshine Au Pair helps families find the right match
Sunshine Au Pair is the Netherlands’ only IND-recognised au pair agency with over a decade of experience and more than 1,000 successful placements. As an official IND sponsor, the agency can legally manage the entire visa and immigration process on behalf of host families. Here is what working with Sunshine Au Pair includes:
- Full candidate screening, reference checks, and eligibility verification
- A curated shortlist of suitable au pairs from 20+ nationalities
- Facilitated interviews and detailed feedback throughout the matching process
- Complete handling of IND documentation, contracts, and visa applications
- A dedicated Program Manager supporting your family from registration to the end of the hosting year
- Regular cultural events, first aid training, and community activities for your au pair
- Ongoing check-ins and mediation support if any issues arise
Whether you are hosting for the first time or welcoming your fourth au pair, Sunshine Au Pair guides you through every step with clarity and care. Get in touch with the team to find out how to get started.