Summary
An "au pair" stay gives you the opportunity to enjoy an enriching experience in Belgium: improve your language skills, discover Belgian culture and share the daily life of a host family. In return, you help with light household tasks and childcare.
PLEASE NOTE : an "au pair" stay is a cultural exchange, not a job.
Key points
- Your host family must apply for a Type B permit so that you can come to Belgium.
- You must be between 18 and 30 years old.
- You must attend courses during your stay.
- Your stay must not exceed 12 months.
- You must receive pocket money.
- You may only carry out certain activities (childcare and light household tasks), and only for a limited amount of time each week (maximum 20 hours per week and 4 hours per day). You must also have at least one day off per week.
In detail
Access conditions for becoming an "au pair"
Authorisation
You must hold a type B work permit. Your host family is responsible for applying for it.
Age and status
First, you must be between 18 and 30 years old and have completed secondary education.
You must not have previously obtained work authorisation in Wallonia. You cannot combine "au pair" status with worker status and, under no circumstances, may you have the status of a “posted worker”.
Mandatory training
During your "au pair" stay, you are required to attend courses:
- if you do have a basic knowledge of the usual language spoken by your host family, you must take intensive courses in that language as soon as you arrive in Belgium;
- if you have basic knowledge of the usual language spoken by your host family, you may take courses of your choice.
Living conditions
You must benefit from specific living conditions. Your host family accommodates you and includes you in their daily life. They must provide you with:
- your type B work permit;
- a private, furnished and heated bedroom;
- a cultural programme to discover Belgium;
- insurance coverage in case of problems, including health issues, accidents or repatriation.
These hosting conditions are checked before your arrival and may also be checked during your stay.
Length of stay
You may stay in Belgium as "an au pair" for a maximum of 12 months.
You may renew your application once only, provided that your "au pair" stay does not exceed one year in total.If you experience problems during your stay, you may change host family. However, this change is only possible once, as the total duration of your stay may not exceed one year.
Authorised activities
As an "au pair", your activities consist of helping with light household tasks and childcare. These activities must not exceed 4 hours per day or a total of 20 hours per week. (for example, a maximum of 12 hours of childcare and 8 hours of light household chores).
Your stay is intended to be cultural. You are therefore not allowed to carry out heavy tasks, additional work or any other job, whether at the host family’s home or elsewhere.
Make sure you have at least one full day off per week.
Your host family must pay you at least €750 in pocket money per month throughout your stay.
To receive this allowance, you will need to open an account with the bank of your choice and provide your bank details to your host family.
Have you started the procedures but are still waiting for your residence permit? In that case, you may receive your allowance in cash in the meantime. Make sure you keep the signed monthly receipts as proof of payment.
Work permit - law 2024 Work permit - law 1999 Work permit - law 2018
Useful links
Site emploi