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Au Pair Bank Account

How to open a bank account abroad - All you need to know
An Au Pair bank account will give you the opportunity to stay financially flexible in your host country. Your Host Family can transfer your monthly Au Pair salary to your account so that you will have access to it. Read our tips about the Au Pair bank account if you are wondering how to open a bank account and what you need in order to open it. We also provide information about opening a bank account from abroad.

Once you find a suitable Host Family at AuPair.com, it’s time to plan your trip and think about details. As an Au Pair you will get accommodation, meals and a weekly/monthly amount of pocket money to cover your personal expenses abroad. What will be the best way to receive this money? We compiled the best tips about the Au Pair bank account. 

1. Payment by the Host Family

Some Host Families prefer paying their Au Pair cash only, whereas others would rather rely on transferring the Au Pair’s salary to her/his bank account. Even though paying cash might seem to be the most convenient method, there are some advantages to the Au Pair bank account solution. If the Host Family uses a standing order, you can always be sure that the payment is on time. Also you have a better overview about the payments in the past. 
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Though you will always have access to your bank account in your home country via online banking, there are certain advantages of opening a bank account in the host country as well. For instance, transactional fees during transfers and ATM charges significantly decrease when using a local card. 
 
Au Pairs usually get paid on a weekly or monthly basis. Most of the countries have established the standards for the Au Pair salary. To avoid misunderstandings and problems concerning the payment during the Au Pair stay, we recommend to discuss this issue with your Host Family. Talk about these details and write them down in the Au Pair contract.  

2. How to choose the right Au Pair bank account

Au Pair bank accountOne of the best indicators when it comes to Au Pair bank accounts is the question if the bank charges fees for opening the account. Depending on the host country, you will find banks that offer accounts for young people. In most cases you won’t need to pay fees for these special accounts. But always have the account maintenance charge in mind when you open a bank account. 
 
Another good point is to choose a bank account which allows online banking. Please make sure that you have the option of online banking if it’s important for you to stay flexible at any time. 
 
Moreover you can use your credit card to withdraw money during your Au Pair stay, but please consider that some credit card provider will charge you for using it in a foreign country or withdrawing money in a different currency. Having a bank account in the host country prevents these charges. 
 
What about the new so-called virtual credit cards - are they useful? It depends: Virtual credit cards are quite useful if you like online shopping because they make the shopping process safer. But for everyday life the virtual credit cards are of no use in most cases, since you can’t withdraw money at an ATM with them. You should therefore take into account if the provider allows you to only transfer money online but also to withdraw it.

3. How to set up a bank account abroad

If you want to set up a bank account abroad you have two different options. You can either open an Au Pair bank account in person or online. If you still don’t feel very comfortable with the new language you can ask your Host Parents whether they will accompany you to the next bank branch so that you can open the account together. This way the Host Family can have a look at what the bank employees are doing and which kind of account they offer. 
 
Another way to set up a bank account is to open it online. Please note that not every bank provides this modern approach - depending on the host country you might show up in person. However sometimes you can provide all the necessary documents online and set up the Au Pair bank account within a few days. 
 
One important hint: perhaps you have to wait for the bank card to arrive at your home address. The best solution is to take care of that in the early stages of your planning schedule. 

4. Au Pair bank account requirements

What do I need to open a bank account? Ask your family to accompany you to the bank or arrange a meeting for you. It might be a good idea to use the same branch which serves your Host Family. 
 
As a rule, you will require the following documents: 
  • Your passport
  • Au Pair visa (if required)
  • Invitation letter or Au Pair contract, which states that the Au Pair lives and works with a Host Family  
Some banks might also request a bank statement from your bank at your homeland if you had an account before. Double check the list of documents with the branch as they might request some extra documents. Also, ask about the process and time requirement. In some countries, it takes up to two months to open the account. 
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