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What are the main alternatives to the Au Pair program?
If you're considering working or living abroad with a Host Family, you can choose between several roles: Au Pair, Nanny, Caregiver for the elderly, Granny Au Pair, or Live-in Help. Each option differs in purpose, legal status, age limits, and compensation. For example, Au Pairs join a cultural exchange and receive pocket money, while Nannies and Caregivers are employees with formal salaries. Granny Au Pairs and Live-in Helpers often volunteer in exchange for room and board.
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AuPair.com is the most reliable online matching agency that gives you the chance to apply for jobs as an Au Pair, nanny, elderly caregiver, Live-in help and Granny Au Pair. Each position has different characteristics that will be explained in the following article.
We have also provided with an overview table to look at the different criteria:
| Au Pair | Nanny | Caregiver for Elderly | Granny Au Pair | Homeshare/ Live-in help | |
| Age | 18-30 | Any | Any | 50+ | Any |
| Married with children allowed | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Working hours | 18-45 hours/week | Regulated by labor law | Regulated by labor law | Few | Few |
| Cultural exchange | Yes | No | No | Yes | No |
| Wages | Pocket Money | Salary | Salary | Reimbursement of expenses | No |
| Language course | Possible or mandatory | Not requested | Not requested | Not requested | Not requested |
| Relation with family | As a family member | As an employee | As an employee | As a family member | As a room mate |
| Contract | Au Pair contract | Work contract | Work contract | Private stay | Private stay |
| Visa and work permit (non-EU citizen) | Visa | Visa + Work Permit | Visa + Work Permit | Tourist Visa | No official visa |
| Duties and responsibilities | Childcare and light domestic work | Childcare and domestic work, on agreement | Eldercare and domestic work, on agreement | Flexible, on agreement | Help in everyday life |
Au Pair
General requirements
The requirements of the Au Pair program vary depending on the Host Country, but usually the age of an Au Pair is between 18 and 30. Many Host Countries require the Au Pair to have a minimum knowledge of the language or a minimum level of education. Please check if you can become an Au Pair and the specific requirements of the different Host Countries.
Wages and costs
Au Pairs get monthly pocket money, in addition to full board and accommodation. Some Host Families can also pay for language courses, according to the regulations of each Host Country. Travel costs, on the other hand, should be covered almost always - except for few Host Countries - by the Au Pair.
The Au Pair is usually responsible for the insurance that should cover her whole stay. Depending on the Host Country, law regulations in this matter may be different, but purchasing a private insurance is generally the best option. Find more information about insurance for Au Pairs from non-EU countries or the European Health Insurance Card for EU-citizens.
Visas
If there is any need for an Au Pair to get a visa to enter the Host Country, the embassy of the Host Country is usually the best source of information. To submit the visa application, the Au Pair contract needs to be signed by both parties. The letter of invitation, written by the Host Family, may also be necessary. More detailed information can be obtained from the embassy.
If you want to be an Au Pair in the USA, you will need to contact a full-service Au Pair agency in your country and ask for further guidance. AuPair.com, as an online matching agency, offers you only a so-called “pre-match”. Read more about US sponsor organizations and J-1 visa.
Nanny and Caregiver for elderly
Live-in nanny and elderly caregiver are not cultural exchange programs and you would be considered an employee of your future match. These job positions only differ by duties and responsibilities, which mainly depend on the agreement between you and your employer.
General requirements
Both a Nanny and a Caregiver for elderly have no age limits, they do not need to attend a language course and they are officially perceived as employees. In fact, they need to be employed and to sign a contract.
Wages and costs
Nannies and elderly caregivers receive a salary according to the minimum limits set by local law. In countries with a public health system, health insurance is provided with a legal contract. An accident and liability insurance is always suggested anyway. In terms of travel costs, these details need to be discussed directly with the Host Family, as there are no clear regulations on the matter.
Visas
Non-EU citizens coming in the EU need to apply for a visa and a work permit. For information about the visa, you need to contact the host country's embassy in your homeland and ask for the requirements.
Granny Au Pair
The Granny Au Pair is a social project, in which elderly people can have a chance to become Au Pairs.
General requirements
This project is dedicated to over 50 year-old women who still want to live abroad and experience foreign cultures. The only requirements are to love children and have previous experience in childcare and housekeeping.
Wages and costs
Granny Au Pairs, as volunteers, do not receive pocket money or salary, otherwise they must be employed according to the law, signing a contract as nanny. The Host Family should provide the Granny Au Pair with accommodation, full board and should cover the costs of travel, private insurance, language courses and the Granny’s full board.
If the Granny Au Pair is an EU citizen, the European Health Insurance Card will ensure her medical service. The Granny can also consider additional private insurance, which is necessary for Granny Au Pairs coming from non-EU countries or European Grannies in non EU-countries.
Visas
There is no special visa for Granny Au Pairs. To find out which visa you will need to apply for, get in touch directly with the embassy of your Host Country in your Home Country.
Homeshare/ Live-in help
The Homeshare/ Live-in help is a social project, in which usually young people who are looking for affordable living space help out seniors or people who need support in their everyday life.
General requirements
This program is rather for young people, mostly students or young professionals, who would like to live in a certain country. In exchange for their help, the host does not require any payment for rent.
Wages and costs
Live-in help, just like Granny Au Pairs, is seen as volunteering and therefore does not require pocket money or salary. If the candidates want to earn money taking care of a senior, they should apply for a position as a Senior Caregiver and signing a proper working contract as an employée. The senior should provide the candidate with a room in his or her house or apartment. The candidate however, needs to cover the costs for the flight, the visa (if needed) and the insurance.
If the Live-in help is an EU citizen, the European Health Insurance Card will ensure medical service in case the target country belongs to the EU. Otherwise the applicants would need to pay for a private insurance.
Visas
Since the Homeshare/ Live-in help program is not known in many countries, there is no official visa yet. We recommend this project to those people who do not need a visa to live in the desired country. If you need a visa, please contact the embassy of your host country in your home country directly. Please note, that you can also do this program in your own home country.
- What are the tasks of an eldercare provider?
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A senior caregiver helps older persons in their everyday life. This includes doing the shopping, cooking and eating meals together and keeping the household clean. A senior carer may provide basic care, but may not carry out medical activities, such as giving medication or injections.
- How many hours a week can an eldercare worker work?
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Senior carers usually work 40 hours a week with a five-day week. However, the working hours can be adapted to the senior's needs.
- How do I become a senior caregiver?
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Create a profile on AuPair.com as a senior carer and search for suitable employers. There are different types of employment, which involve different amounts of work.
- Can an Au Pair have a second job?
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It depends. If the Au Pair is an EU citizen and is staying within the EU, then he/she can have another job. For the rest of the cases, it depends on the visa the Au Pair holds, the amount of hours she already works and the specific labour laws of the Host Country.
- How to become an Au Pair/Caregiver/Nanny?
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AuPair.com is an online matching agency, where Au Pairs/Nannies/Caregivers and Host Families can find each other. As an online Au Pair worldwide Agency , AuPair.com helps you connect with Host Families and explore opportunities independently. We provide the tools and information you need to make your own informed decisions.
To become an Au Pair/Caregiver/Nanny at AuPair.com you can:
- register and create the profile - click here to enter our registration form.
- customize your profile, adding relevant pictures, videos and references - your offer will be displayed to all members of the service as long as you wish.
- search for Host Families and send them a request. You can either send them an invitation to contact you back, or add them to your hotlist. In both cases the family will get a mail notification at once.
If you become a Premium Member, you will be able to contact everyone - you don't need to wait until Host Family writes you back.
If you are interested in Au Pair programs in specific countries, please find here a detailed description of their Au Pair programs.
AuPair Wiki, with all the details regarding the Au Pair program in general, may be found here. Learn more about Caregiver and Nanny.
- I am looking for a family looking for a babysitter.
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You can register on our website and choose the types of jobs you’re interested in. AuPair.com is an online matching platform, giving you access to thousands of potential candidates and Host Families worldwide. While each user handles their own exchange arrangements, we provide all the essential information you need — including program requirements, age criteria, and typical costs for Au Pairs and Host Families.
AuPair.com offers you a platform to get to know each other, we offer you thousands of candidates and families; however, you should contact your ideal candidate or host family on your own!
- We want to hire an Au Pair/Caregiver/Nanny. Can you help?
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Online matching agencies, like AuPair.com, let you get in touch with Au Pairs/Caregivers/Nannies from the entire world. As an online Au Pair matching platform, we give you all the tools you need to find the ideal candidate independently and organise your exchange your way. You can also find clear information on our website about Au Pair contracts, pocket money, and Host Family requirements.
On AuPair.com you can:
- totally free search through our database and look for a perfect match
- choose one of two accounts: either a free Basic Account or a Premium Account, purchased for a certain price, depending on the length of Premium Membership. More information about AuPair.com's Premium Membership you can find here.
- How can I find a candidate that is already located in my country of residence?
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Some Host Families need support very promptly. Therefore, we often get the question how to find candidates on our platform who are already located in the family’s country of residence and want to change Host Family.To do this, you need to:1) go to the dashboard menu on the left side after logging into your profile2) click “Search” and then “Search criteria”3) select for the option "Candidates currently living in" your country of residence4) select "all” for the option “Nationality“5) tag the box “Save preferences” and click on “Find”6) make sure that your “preferences” match your search criteria