Au Pair in Austria: Information on the Program

Becoming an Au Pair in Austria will not only help you learn German but also find a perfect balance between nature and culture, thanks to its mountains and cities such as Vienna, Graz, and Salzburg. A land of nature, music, and history, which, despite being a small country, has become one of the most beloved destinations.
 
Both EU/EEA/Swiss citizens and Non-EU/EEA citizens can apply for the Au Pair Program in Austria if they meet the requirements. EU/EEA/Swiss Au Pairs must register their stay if they intend to stay for more than three months, while non-EU/EEA Au Pairs require a special residence permit before starting to work.

Program requirements

The Complete Guide to the Au Pair Program in Austria

For Au Pairs

For Au Pairs

  • 18 to 28 years old
  • Basic knowledge of German (Level A1 according to the CEFR)
  • Valid passport or ID card
  • Want to improve your German skills and learn about Austrian culture/social life 
  • Not have worked as an Au Pair in Austria for more than 12 months within the last 5 years
  • Not an Austrian citizen
  • Non-EU/EEA citizens: need to obtain a visa/residence permit before entering Austria
  • Valid health insurance
  • Able to cover visa and travel expenses
If you meet all the requirements, start looking for your Host Family here. If not, explore other countries or programs.
For Families

For Families

  • Have at least one child under 18 living in the household
  • Able to pay for the Au Pair’s meals, insurance, and subsidy for the language course
  • Pay the Au Pair a regular pocket money of a minimum of 551.10 € per month
  • Able to provide a private, lockable room for the Au Pair
  • Need no more than 16.5 hours of childcare and light household chores help per week
Do you meet all requirements? Start your search to find your Au Pair. If you don’t meet them, check our other programs

Working Conditions

Working Hours

Working Hours

  • Maximum 16.5 hours per week (including babysitting and on-call time)
  • Non-EU/EEA Au Pairs: check requirements for residence permit application (There may be additional conditions regarding working hours) 
Time Off and Holidays

Time Off and Holidays

  • At least one fixed day off per week 
  • Two days of leave per month
  • For a 12-month stay, this is about four weeks of paid holiday
Language Course

Language Course

  • A language course is not mandatory
  • The Au Pair should be able to attend a German-language course
  • The Host Family has to pay at least half of the costs
Au Pair Responsibilities

Au Pair Responsibilities

  • Childcare and babysitting
  • Light household chores
  • Helping children with daily routines, homework, and preparing simple meals if agreed
  • Transporting the children to and from school or kindergarten, extracurricular activities, and playdates
  • Note: The Au Pair is not a professional caregiver/cleaner
  • Non-EU/EEA Au Pairs are not allowed to work outside the Au Pair job
Click here to learn more about the Au Pair’s duties.
Au Pair Insurance

Au Pair Insurance

  • Host Families must register the Au Pair with the Statutory Social Security (ASVG) before the stay begins
  • If an Au Pair is employed at a rate below the minimum wage threshold (551.10€ for 2026), it is sufficient to register them for statutory accident insurance with the Austrian Health Insurance Fund.
  • Host Family declares and pays for accident insurance
  • Private accident insurance does not replace the required statutory accident insurance.
  • EU/EEA citizens might be entitled to Health Insurance through the European Health Insurance Card&
Driving Licence

Driving Licence

  • If relevant, driving should be discussed upfront
  • Check the validity of the driver’s licence
  • Non-EU/EEA: usually valid for 6 months after registering residence in Austria. Afterwards, they must be exchanged for an Austrian licence.
  • A foreign driving licence that is not written in German is only valid with an international driving licence or a translation.
  • All terms should be in the contract

Host Families provide Au Pairs with:

Accommodation

The Host Family must provide the Au Pair with a private bedroom. The Au Pair needs to be able to lock the room from both the inside and the outside.

Meals

The family provides the Au Pair with free food and beverages, even when the Au Pair is sick or on leave.

Pocket Money

The minimum wage for Au Pairs in employment relationships established on or after January 1, 2026, is 551.10 € (= the monthly minimum wage threshold under the ASVG) for a workweek of 16.5 hours, including on-call time for childcare and light household chores. Au Pairs are legally entitled to 15 monthly salary payments a year, including two months' pay for paid leave and on

Language Course

The Host Family must enable the Au Pair to attend a German language course and pay at least half of the course fees. Non-EU/EEA citizens need to attend a German-language course if they wish to extend their Au Pair contract to 12 months in total.

Health Insurance

The Family must register the Au Pair with the Austrian social insurance system. If the Au Pair’s pay remains below the marginal earnings threshold, registration for statutory accident insurance with the Österreichische Gesundheitskasse (ÖGK) is usually sufficient. Private accident insurance does not replace this statutory registration. The Family declares and pays for accident insurance. Health insurance is required for the Au Pair's entire stay and is also necessary to obtain a visa. The Au Pair pays for health insurance, which can be taken out either in Austria or in another country, but it must be valid in Austria.

Transportation

Host Families in Austria are not officially required to provide a public transport card, bike, or car. However, if transportation is needed for childcare duties, the Family should cover the related costs or provide suitable transportation. Any private use of a car, bike, or public transport ticket should be agreed upon in writing before the Au Pair’s stay begins.

Legal Support

The Host Family should provide the relevant documents for visa/residence permit applications, like the Au Pair contract. They also need to report their Au Pair to AMS and register them with the Austrian statutory social insurance.

Everything You Need to Know

Begin your Au Pair journey with practical guidance for every step.

  • Entry options based on the Au Pair’s nationality
  • Required visa/residence permit documents 
  • Local registration steps and arrival obligations
Au Pair in Austria: Guided tour

Au Pair in Austria: Guided tour

Being an Au Pair in Austria is awesome! Check out our list of interesting and beautiful places to visit in Austria and read our tips for Au Pairs.
Explore Austria
Reasons to learn German

Reasons to learn German

You're looking for an intellectual stimulation and are not afraid of grammar? Then learning the German language seems to be the perfect choice for you.
Start Learning

What our customers have to say about us and our service:

Mariana's family,Austria

Mariana's family,Austria

The search on aupair.com went well, as usual. Contacting the candidates, even far from Europe, worked very well. Lillian is a reliable au-pair, always here when needed. Full of energy and ❱❱
Federica, Italian

Federica, Italian

Au Pair in Austria
I am Federica, I am 21 years old and I worked as an Au Pair in Austria, in a small town outside Linz, for two and a half months. My experience as an Au Pair was really the perfect experience. ❱❱
Barbara's family,Austria

Barbara's family,Austria

Super result Best site for the search. We now have a great aupair
Thomas's family,Austria

Thomas's family,Austria

I like the search function and the amount of information that AuPairs have to provide. This makes it easier to find a suitable candidate. It remains our preferred search platform.

Contract Information

Understanding your agreement

Written Agreement

Written Agreement

A sample contract can be found on the Labour Market Service (AMS) website. Both parties need to sign the contract, and a copy is required for the residence permit application (for Non-EU/EEA Au Pairs). An Au Pair's residence permit is valid for as long as the contract with the Host Family, but for no longer than 12 months. More about the residence permit application can be found on our Visa & Legal Steps page.
Contract Duration

Contract Duration

Au Pairs can stay in Austria for a maximum of 12 months. For Non-EU/EEA citizens, it is important to know that the initial confirmation of report is valid for six months, but can be extended for another six months, provided certain conditions are met (e.g., evidence of improved language skills).
Both the Au Pair and the Host Family may terminate the contract at any time without providing a reason, with a two-week notice period. If the contract is terminated early, this must be reported to the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (MA 35). If there is a change in Host Families, an application to amend the purpose of the stay must also be submitted.
Contract Must Include

Contract Must Include

  • Start and end date
  • Working hours per week
  • Free time and holidays
  • Au Pair duties
  • Pocket money 
  • Accommodation
  • Language course
  • Insurance

Au Pair Program Costs in Austria

For Host Families and Au Pairs

Host Family Covers

Host Family Covers

  • Pocket money: At least €551.10 gross per month for Au Pair contracts starting from 1 January 2026. 
  • Special Payments: Au Pairs are entitled to 15 monthly payments per year, which include holiday and Christmas payments.
  • Accommodation: Private bedroom in the family household, which is lockable from the inside and outside.
  • Food: Daily meals must also be provided if the Au Pair is sick or has the day off.
  • Statutory Accident Insurance: The Host Family is responsible for registering for and paying for the Au Pair's statutory accident insurance.
  • AMS Notification Fee: For Au Pairs from third countries, the family must notify the AMS. The current AMS fee for Au Pairs is €44.
  • Language Course Contribution: The Host Family must allow the Au Pair to attend a German course and pay at least half of the costs.
  • Transport: Costs if transport is needed for childcare or household duties
  • Household-related costs: internet, utilities, and everyday living expenses
  • Optional Extras: You may choose to contribute to health insurance, travel costs, public transportation, phone/SIM card, or the use of a private car. These contributions should be agreed upon in writing.
Au Pair Covers

Au Pair Covers

  • Travel Costs: to and from Austria, unless agreed otherwise
  • Health Insurance: can be taken out either in Austria or in another country, as long as it is valid in Austria.
  • Language Course Contribution: The Au Pair usually covers the remaining costs of the German course if the host family pays half.
  • Residence Permit Fee: Third-country Au Pairs require a residence permit called "Sonderfälle unselbständiger Erwerbstätigkeit". From 2026, the fee for a temporary residence permit is €218.
  • Document Costs: Additional documents required for the visa application or residence permit may incur additional costs.
  • Personal Expenses: Private spending, leisure activities, personal travel, phone plan, etc.

What else?

  • Non-EU/EEA Au Pairs are not allowed to accept any other job or employment in Austria.
  • The Host Family must provide the Au Pair with a dated breakdown of their working hours, the remuneration paid for those hours, and details of any deductions made.
  • Third-country citizens require a special employment residence permit that covers the full duration of their Au Pair employment.
  • Non-EU/EEA Au Pairs: A Host Family can only employ a foreign Au Pair if they have notified the relevant regional office of the Public Employment Service (AMS) of the Au Pair arrangement (using the notification form) no later than two weeks before the Au Pair begins work, and the AMS has issued a confirmation of notification.


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