Poland is one of the most underrated countries. Did you know that Poland has sunny days as well? Poland is placed in the transitional region between oceanic and continental climates, for this reason you will experience both
hot summers and
frigid winters. You do not have to choose between the mountains and the sea, because you can have both in Poland. Would you like to
windsurf? Come to the Polish peninsula, or stay in Gdynia, Sopot, Gdańsk and drive one hour to get there. Would you like to do
climbing and
skiing? Come to the South of Poland or stay in a bigger city like Cracow and drive two hours to these sights.
Do not be afraid of being hungry in Poland, your Polish hosts will undoubtedly serve you great amounts of food. At the end it doesn’t matter if you choose the North or the South of Poland, you can find
good Polish food everywhere – look for
kluski, pączki, pierogi, żurek, barszcz and do not forget to try Polish bread (it’s the best!). For more tips check out
this article.
Although Poland does not have an official
Au Pair program, it is possible to find a Host Family and start your stay there.
The Au Pair will need to sign a regular work contract. The Host Family must employ the Au Pair on a regular basis as a childminder. Therefore, the Au Pair must fulfill the requirements for childminders. Families and Au Pairs can also fulfill and sign the Au Pair contract template available
here. It is possible to download it and personalize it including all relevant details. Besides, it is important to add as many details as possible. Some of the most important points to include in this document are:
The Au Pair contract
Termination of the contract
If the Host Family and the Au Pair have irreconcilable differences or there is a situation beyond their control that interrupts the stay, then they can
terminate the contract. It is important that both parties respect the
two weeks notice period during which the Au Pair can find another Host Family and vice versa.
In Poland, having
health insurance is obligatory. When applying for a visa to Poland and legalising your stay, you always need to present an insurance coverage document. Au Pairs from EU/EEA countries are covered by their
European Health Insurance Card.
If it’s needed the Au Pair can submit an application to the National Health Service at the appropriate branch in the Host Family's locality. People who are insured in the National Health Fund (NFZ) can use state-funded healthcare services that are mostly free-of-charge, except of e.g. some dentistry services.
Tip: However, many Polish residents take out private cover because of long waiting time for the appointments. We recommend taking out voluntary insurance through another health insurance company.
Click
here to know which insurers offer insurances that meet the necessary conditions in Poland.
In addition to the regular Polish insurance system, you can find out about AuPair.com partner companies like
Dr. Walter or
Care Concept that provide insurance to the participants from all over the world.
You do not need a visa for Poland if:
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Your country is part of the EU/EEA or in the Schengen area.
However if you wish to stay longer than three months, you are required to register your stay. You need to present yourself in person at the voivode (local government) of the area you are settling in.
-
Your country of residence has a visa-free agreement with Schengen.
This includes citizens of the US, Australia, Canada, Georgia, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Thailand, and Tunisia, among others. (Check if you need a visa
here).
Citizens from these countries are allowed to enter and stay in Poland for 90 days within a six-month period.
Tip: We recommend our Au Pairs first coming to Poland to use the visa-free agreement and then apply for a short-term residence permit in Poland, stating the reason for the stay, such as cultural exchange, language course or studies. The application for temporary residence is submitted at the local Voivodeship office (which is the Polish equivalent of a municipal office).
You do need a visa for Poland if:
The Au Pair visa
-
Your country does not have a visa-free agreement.
Au Pairs can apply at their local Polish consulate for a D-type visa, which along with a work permit, will allow them to work in the country for up to a year and which will also allow you to stay for 90 days within half a year in the countries of the Schengen Area. You will also need a short term residence permit.
The Au Pair can schedule a
visa appointment, complete the Poland visa application form and pay the fee at the e-Konsulat (Poland’s consular website). The Au Pair should download the application form and attach it to the rest of the documents. Please note that after you schedule your appointment and pay the fee online, you still have to submit your documents to the Polish embassy/consulate in person. Find the Polish
e-Konsulat website
here.
Keep in mind that the processing time for a visa application may take longer, and you will have to wait for your answer up to 60 days.
Tip: Regardless of where you are applying from, your first point of reference should be a Polish embassy or consulate. You can find Poland’s authorities abroad
here, don’t forget to check specific requirements
here.
Poland does not have an official
Au Pair program yet, which means that the Host Family has to hire the Au Pair as a regular employee. The Au Pair should not receive a
pocket money, but a real salary in line with current wage in the country.
Au Pairs usually work
25 to 40 hours per week and also have a certain amount of paid
holidays during the program. According to the Polish Labour Code, employees are entitled to
20 days of paid vacation per year. Although Host Families in Poland must hire Au Pairs with a regular employment contract, you should keep in mind that the main goal of this program is a cultural exchange. Au Pair should spend time with the Host Family and should also have some time off - at least one free day - during the week. Remember that the working hours per week cannot exceed 40 hours.
The Host Family has to provide the Au Pair with a
private room throughout the whole Au Pair experience abroad. Because the
Au Pair program is not official in Poland, Host Families can decide to either host an Au Pair in their own house or in a flat nearby as long as it is in a safe area. However, we highly recommend both, Host Families and Au Pairs, to live together to have an authentic cultural exchange experience.
You can read about all the duties and requirements of the official Au Pair program by clicking
here.
One of the main aspects of the Au Pair program is to improve your language skills and learn the local language. Since the program in Poland is not official, participating in the
language course is not mandatory. However, learning the basics necessary to communicate with your Host Family and local people will definitely be to your advantage. Attending a language
course will also help you obtain a visa or short-term residence permit. You can find plenty of available resources – online classes, private schools and one-to-one tuition. Depending on your needs, you will find courses for short and long periods at different levels. Being an Au Pair will be fun, but it may be even better with knowing a few basic words, so take advantage of this opportunity. Being a Host Family in Poland will improve your knowledge of a foreign language, but don’t forget that the Au Pair is a cultural and language exchange, so always include the language course in the Au Pair’s
schedule. The Au Pair is
responsible for the costs of the language course, the family can always contribute to it.
The
requirements of the Au Pair program in Poland are different depending on the Au Pair nationality. We have collected all the information on
how to become an Au Pair in Poland valid for EU and Non-EU citizens.
EU citizens
If you are an EU citizen you won’t need to apply for a visa. However you have to meet these requirements:
-
Age: 18-30
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Language skills: must be able to communicate in English or have a basic knowledge of Polish.
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Clear criminal record
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Health insurance valid for the duration of the stay
Non-EU citizens
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Being eligible for a Visa and/or a temporary residence.
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Age: 18-30
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Language skills: must be able to communicate in English or have a basic knowledge of Polish.
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Clear criminal record
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Ability to pay for the visa and travel expenses
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Health insurance valid for the duration of the stay
Host an Au Pair
As a Host Family you are probably already tired of private kindergartens, driving and picking up your kid from school, spending a lot of money on private English or any other foreign language classes for your kid. Having an Au Pair may be a perfect solution to all those tasks. An Au Pair takes a lot of responsibility off your backs. In addition, the experiences and the memories that your family will have are priceless.
During the past years Poland has gained a lot of international students. Have you ever considered hosting one of them? It’s a good option for a family who needs someone to assist them part-time. Probably as a family you will not need to stress about a visa, because your future Au Pair will already have
student visa.
Despite the fact that Poland does not have an official Au Pair program, it is essential that Host Families treat their Au Pair as if they were a new temporary family member, and not as employees. The main reason for taking part in the Au Pair program should always be the cultural exchange. Host Families must be interested in
sharing their culture while meeting and embracing another one.
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Having at least one kid under the age of 18 years.
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Being able to offer meals and a monthly salary.
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Being able to provide the participant with their own room (in their own home or nearby)
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Respect the working hours of the Au Pair.
Poland is a country where you can have lot of fun and visit amazing places. We gathered the best cities to see in the country! Enjoy your Au Pair stay and Polish cuture!
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