Which documents does every au pair need?

The list for every country includes a passport that is valid for your whole stay, a signed written agreement with the host family (with a copy for you), health insurance that covers you from the day you land, and scans of your documents in your email. Visa or permit steps depend on the host country, so pick yours below.

Who pays for health, accident and liability insurance?

That depends on the country. In some countries the rules put it on the host family. Ask the family before you say yes, and read the full rules for your country, which the checklist links to.

Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?

No account is needed. Your ticks stay on the device you use, and nothing is sent anywhere unless you email the list to yourself.

What if my country is not listed?

Choose "My country isn’t listed" for the general list, without country rules. Ask your agency or the embassy of the host country which visa and rules apply to you.

Your au pair preparation checklist

Everything to sort out before you fly — documents, insurance, money, packing and the questions to ask before you say yes. Pick your host country: the rules that apply to you are different in each one.

What applies in every country

Whichever country you go to, these points are on your list. Pick your country below for the visa rules and the country-specific steps.

Documents and visa

Passport valid for your whole stayCheck the expiry date against the day you plan to fly home, not the day you arrive.
Police clearance certificate, if your agency or visa asks for one
Written agreement with the host family, signed, with a copy for you
Driving licence, and an international driving permit if you will drive
Scans of every document in your email, not only on your phone

Insurance and health

Health insurance that covers you from the day you land
Who pays for health, accident and liability insurance?(Ask the family)In some countries the rules put this on the family. The full rules for your country say which.
Vaccination record, and any vaccination the country or the family asks for
Your regular medication for the first weeks, with the prescription
Emergency numbers of your host country saved in your phone

Money and pocket money

Know what you will be paid, and when
Who pays for your language course, and for getting there?(Ask the family)
A bank card that works abroad, and your bank knows you are travelling
Find out whether you need a local bank account to be paid
Some cash in the local currency for your first day

Packing

Clothes for the coldest month of your stay, not the month you leave
Shoes you can run after a small child in
Plug adapter for your host country, and your chargers
Medication in your hand luggage, in the original packaging
Paper copies of passport and visa, packed apart from the originals
A phone that takes a local SIM card or eSIM
Something from home to share — photos, a recipe, a game from your country

Questions to ask before you say yes

Which hours, on which days?
Which days and evenings are off, and what happens in school holidays?
How old are the children, and what does a normal day look like?
Where is my room, and does it lock?
Will I drive? Whose car, whose insurance, whose fuel?
Who covers when I am ill, and when the children are?
What are the house rules — guests, coming home late, phone use with the children?
Who picks me up when I arrive?

Where are you going?

Tap your country to see your list.

Next step

Au pair rules by country

Hours, pocket money and visa rules for each host country in one overview.

Open →

Questions about the checklist

Which documents does every au pair need?: The list for every country includes a passport that is valid for your whole stay, a signed written agreement with the host family (with a copy for you), health insurance that covers you from the day you land, and scans of your documents in your email. Visa or permit steps depend on the host country, so pick yours below.
Who pays for health, accident and liability insurance?: That depends on the country. In some countries the rules put it on the host family. Ask the family before you say yes, and read the full rules for your country, which the checklist links to.
Do I need an account, and is my progress saved?: No account is needed. Your ticks stay on the device you use, and nothing is sent anywhere unless you email the list to yourself.
What if my country is not listed?: Choose "My country isn’t listed" for the general list, without country rules. Ask your agency or the embassy of the host country which visa and rules apply to you.

Keep the year organised in one app

AuPairSync keeps the weekly schedule, tasks, messages and child profiles in one place — so the hours you agreed are the hours everyone sees.

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Why families trust AuPairSync

We comply with the GDPR.
We do not sell, rent or share personal data for third-party marketing, and we do not use Google Analytics for advertising.
Family data is stored with Firebase (Google Cloud). Transfers to the US rely on the EU-US Data Privacy Framework (Google Cloud), Standard Contractual Clauses and data processing agreements with our vendors.
Data travels encrypted (HTTPS/TLS), access is restricted with Firebase Security Rules, and you can sign in with Apple or Google.
You can delete your account yourself in the app, or ask us by email; we process requests within 30 days.
Available on iPhone (App Store) and Android (Google Play).
The app comes in 7 languages: English, German, Spanish, French, Dutch, Portuguese (Brazil) and Chinese (Simplified).
Free for 30 days, then €4.99 a month for the whole family Au pairs never pay: the host family's subscription covers them.

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