Follow our tips on how to find the perfect au pair / the perfect host family with connectAuPair.

It´s mandatory to have health insurance (see also rules and regulations - health, accident and liability insurance). 

Health insurance can be taken out for the au pair at a private insurance company. Any foreign health insurance is only sufficient if the benefits are also granted in Austria.

The amount, which the host family has to pay for the private insurance of the au pair is not included in the wage and therefore is non-contributory.

Firstly, the au pair has to send the host family proof of minimum knowledge of German in the form of a school report or other certificate in German or English translation and the signed au pair contract .

Then the host family has to send the following documents to the au pair so that he/she can apply for a visa (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Sonderfälle unselbstständiger Erwerbstätiger): 

*Confirmation of notification of the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS): 

In order to get this document the host family needs to notify the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS) in Austria 2 weeks before the au pair placement begins.

A confirmation of notification is only issued if:

• The Au pair is not younger than 18 and not older than 28,
• An authorized job agency was located (It's not mandatory to involve an au pair agency to become or employ an au pair in Austria.)
• The Au pair was not previously listed as an au pair in Austria for longer than a year in the last five years
• The degree and the economic salary of the work correspond with the Au pair relationship, which means 
  1. The Au pair shall get to know the country and people of Austria and shall deepen the knowledge of German acquired in their home countries with the help of the host family, and
  2. The Au pair shall take part in the family life of the host family (at least one parent with a child) and shall help with the household chores including child care, and
  3. The Au pair must prove a minimum of German knowledge (school lessons or one semester of studying or a language course) before the start of the employment by presenting a school report or other certificate in German or English translation and shall deepen their language skills by living with the host family.

The confirmation of notification will initially be issued for six months.

*Signed au pair contract 

Finally the au pair must go in person to the Austrian embassy and apply for a visa. 

Additionally to the confirmation of notification and the signed au pair contract, the au pair must present these documents: 

*Proof of sufficient health insurance. See also rules & regulations - health, accident & liability insurance. 

*Proof of a minimum of German knowledge by presenting a school report or other certificate in German or English translation.

*Other documents may be required, we recommend to contact the Austrian embassy in the au pair´s country of origin. 

Which further documents the au pair probably needs to bring along?

To proof the payment of the pocket money, most families will want to transfer the money to a bank account of the au pair. Therefore the host family should check what documents the bank asks for to open a bank account for an au pair, so the au pair can organize them at home already (see also “bank account” below).

If the au pair wants to drive a car in the host country, (s)he eventually needs e.g. a legally attested copy of the national driving license. See also “driving license” further below.

The trip will normally be organized by the au pair, of course in accordance with the host family.

Even when everything is clear and all questions are asked, it's good to stay in touch until the journey starts - it's important that also the children get to know that a new au pair is coming and communicating from time to time through Skype is a good way to get used to each other.

What to take with you as au pair? In our community you can find tips from other au pairs!

Please note: Border authorities may examine whether the prerequisites for entry continue to apply. This examination is international practice. The au pair might be refused entry even though (s)he is in the possession of a valid visa, if the prerequisites for entry no longer apply.

Therefore the au pair should carry with him/her documents giving evidence to the purpose of the stay - in particular proof of sufficient funds (au pair contract) and health insurance.

Although it's not mandatory, normally the host family picks up the au pair from the airport or train station (or organizes a pick-up).

The first days should then be reserved for getting to know each other and introducing the au pair to the family's daily routines.

You are not sure how to welcome your au pair and which rules you should define? Have a look at our tipps and discuss with other families in our community!

You are feeling homesick, the kids don't seem to like you and you just feel like returning home asap? Get comfort and tipps from other au pairs in our community!
And with our nearBy function you can immediately see which other au pairs live nearby and can meet with them.

The au pair must register to the competent registration authority [Meldebehörde].

Failure to fulfil the legal obligation to register the au pair´s residence, for example by failing to register or de-register or by registering or de-registering although no accommodation is established or the existing accommodation is not given up, is considered an administrative offence which can result in a fine of up to 726 Euro. Should the offence be repeated, the fine can be up to 2180 Euro.

Information on notifying changes of address to government authorities, organizations etc. can be found on the German website at HELP.gv.at.

Deadlines

Within three days after moving

Competent authority

For the registration of a principal residence or a further residence: the registration authority that is competent for the new residence

The municipal office [Gemeindeamt]

In statutory cities: the Magistrate [Magistrat]

In Vienna: the Municipal District Office [Magistratisches Bezirksamt]

Procedure

Registrations can be carried out either in person or through the post or be delivered by a person the au pair trusts. However, registrations via fax or e-mail are currently not permitted by law.

For making a registration the au pair requires a residence registration form which makes it possible for the registration authorities to enter the registration data into the register. This form can be downloaded and it is available at registration authorities. Furthermore, it is available at some tobacconists.

The columns of the form must be filled in completely and legibly. Please note the following characteristics:

Religious belief [Religionsbekenntnis]: This column can also be filled in after the accommodation provider has signed the form. It can also be left empty.

Central register number [ZMR-Zahl]: This number must be declared as far as it is known. Central register numbers are twelve-figure numbers arbitrarily allocated by the system and are used for identification by the authorities.

Signature of the person who is obliged to register: By signing the form, the person confirms the accuracy of the registration data.

Signature of the accommodation provider

An accommodation provider is a person who effectively provides accommodation for a person taking up the accommodation, for example a house owner or an owner of a condominium for himself or herself, for a cohabitant (e.g. his or her partner or relative) or for the main tenant, the main tenant for his or her cohabitant or subtenant, the subtenant for his or her cohabitant.

The au pair will receive a written confirmation of registration [Bestätigung der Meldung] (formerly known as "Meldezettel").

Documents required

Travel document (e.g. passport)

In the case of not registering in person, the original documents or notarised or legally certified copies of these documents must be sent or given to the postal carrier together with a Residence Registration Form [Meldezettel] that has been filled in. Please consider the risk involved in sending original documents per post; it is not borne by the competent authority.

Expenses

There are no fees or costs.

If the au pair has a visa, the work permit is granted with this document.

If the host family wishes to get tax deductions for au pair costs under deductible expenses for child care, this is possible, but the au pair, among others, will have to open a bank account. 

The au pair can open a current account online. 

In order to do this, the au pair will have to follow this steps: 

• Complete a form online and print it.
• Sign current account agreement 
• One copy of these documents: 
• Official identity document (passport)
• Visa
• Finally, the au pair has to send all of these documents to the bank.

A very good option for au pairs is an online bank like N26: It's very easy to open an account, it's for free and everything can be done via smartphone.

A foreign driving license in Austria is valid for six months starting from establishment of the residence (Wohnsitz), in case of establishing a residence in Austria.

If the foreign driving license is not written in German, it is only valid in combination with an international driving license or a translation.

After six months the driving license has to be converted to an Austrian driving license.

This can be done at every driving license authority in Austria

In cities with Federal Police Headquarters: the Federal Police Headquarters (Landespolizeidirektion) In Vienna: the Motor Vehicle Department (Verkehrsamt)
 In Linz: the City Police Command Linz (Stadtpolizeikommando Linz)

In cities without Federal Police Headquarters or in Municipalities: the district administrative authority (Bezirkshauptmannschaft)
 In the statutory cities of Krems and Waidhofen/Ybbs: the Municipal Authority (Magistrat)
For the statutory city of Rust: the Federal Police Headquarters Burgenland (Landespolizeidirektion Burgenland)

Required Documents (Most driving licence authorities require the original documents plus copies.)

• Passport (Reisepass)
• Foreign driving license
• Possibly a translation of the driving license
• One perfectly identifiable photo (35 mm x 45 mm) of the owner (if possible following specific passport photo criteria)
•  Medical report
• Possibly Residence Registration Form (Bestätigung der Meldung) (simplifies the process at the responsible authority)

The driving license authority may ask for additional documents in particular cases.

The au pair must normally make a practical driving test.

Should the au pair be driving the host family´s car, au pair and host family should clarify issues of insurance and liability beforehand, including the question who is to bear the costs for material damage in the event of a car accident.

Au Pairs from third countries need a residence permit (Aufenthaltsbewilligung – Sonderfälle unselbstständiger Erwerbstätiger) for the whole duration of the Au Pair relationship.

The confirmation of notification will initially be issued for six months and can be extended for a maximum of six months if the main criteria still exists and if the au pair has gained during the first six months knowledge of German in an appropriate educational institution. 

Please apply for an extension 4 weeks before the confirmation of notification expires. The confirmation of notification should be kept in a safe place and it also should be available for inspection. 

The issuing of an entry visa for au pairs coming from Africa and Asia might take up to three to four months. The AMS cannot compensate for this period of time by a corresponding extension of the au pair confirmation of notification. Consequently, an au pair placement for twelve months might not be possible.

If the Au pair is employed under the subsistence pay the registration with the legal accident insurance is sufficient. 

In this case, a registration with the legal social insurance (ASVG) is not required.

Have a look at our tips, how to change family!

As normally the host family pays for the insurance, either the current insurance must be taken over by the new family or the current insurance is terminated and a new one is issued.

In cases where a new principal residence (with a different address than the address of the former principal residence) is established, a registration [Anmeldung] is required instead of a change of registration. The de-registration or change of registration of the former principal residence to a secondary residence can be carried out at the same time if necessary.

Deadlines:

Within one month

Competent authority:

The registration authority

The municipal office [Gemeindeamt]

In statutory cities: the Magistrate [Magistrat]

In Vienna: the Municipal District Office [Magistratisches Bezirksamt]

Procedure:

Changes of registration can be carried out either in person or through the post or be delivered by a person you trust. However, changes of registration via fax or e-mail are currently not permitted by law.

For a change of registration the Au-pair requires a residence registration form [Meldezettel-Formular] which makes it possible for the registration authorities to enter the registration data into the register. This form can be downloaded and it is available at registration authorities. Furthermore, it is available at some tobacconists.

The columns of the form must be filled in completely and legibly. Please note the following characteristics:

Religious belief [Religionsbekenntnis]: This column can also be filled in after the accommodation provider has signed the form. It can also be left empty.

Central register number [ZMR-Zahl]: This number must be declared as far as it is known. Central register numbers are twelve-figure numbers arbitrarily allocated by the system and are used for identification by the authorities.

Signature of the person who is obliged to register: By signing the form, the person confirms the accuracy of the registration data.

Signature of the accommodation provider

An accommodation provider is a person who effectively provides accommodation for a person taking up the accommodation, for example a house owner or an owner of a condominium for himself or herself, for a cohabitant (e.g. his or her partner or relative) or for the main tenant, the main tenant for his or her cohabitant or subtenant, the subtenant for his or her cohabitant.

The Au-pair will receive a written confirmation of registration [Bestätigung der Meldung] (formerly known as residence registration form [Meldezettel]).

Documents required

Travel document (e.g. passport)

In the case of not changing one's registration in person, the original documents or notarised or legally certified copiesGerman text of these documents must be sent or given to the postal carrier together with a Residence Registration Form [Meldezettel] that has been filled in. Please consider the risk involved in sending original documents per post; it is not borne by the competent authority.

Expenses

There are no fees or costs.

As the work permit (and the correlated visa) is always issued for working as an au pair for a certain family, it has to be newly issued when the au pair changes the host family. 

The au pair needs to apply for the new visa at the local immigration authority (Niederlassungsbehörde). 

Required documents: 

• passport
• recent photograph (45 x 35 mm)
• confirmation of residence registration (Meldezettel)
• proof of health insurance
• au pair contract
• Confirmation of notification of the Public Employment Service Austria (AMS)
• If necessary, further evidence

Officially, the au pair is only allowed to work at the new host family after he/she has received the new work permit.

We strongly recommend to contact the relevant authorities to ensure that the au pair can stay legally in Austria. 

If the au pair is still going to be employed under the subsistence pay the registration with the legal accident insurance is sufficient.

In this case a registration with the legal social insurance (ASVG) is not required.

The au pair must de-register with the registration authority [Meldebehörde]. De-registration of one's principal residence must be carried out by the authority competent for this residence. Secondary residences can be de-registered at every registration authority.

If a new principal residence is registered, the authority competent for the new principal residence is able to carry out the de-registration or the change of registration [Ummeldung] of the former residence together with the registration [Anmeldung] of the new residence. In this case separate de-registration is not required.

Failure to fulfil the legal obligation to register one's residence, for example by failing to register or de-register or by registering or de-registering although no accommodation is established or the existing accommodation is not given up, is considered an administrative offence which can result in a fine of up to 726 Euro. Should the offence be repeated, the fine can be up to 2180 Euro.

Deadlines

Within three days before or after move-out

Competent authority

The registration authority

The municipal office [Gemeindeamt]

In statutory cities: the Magistrate [Magistrat]

In Vienna: the Municipal District Office [Magistratisches Bezirksamt]

Procedure

De-registrations can be carried out either in person or through the post or be delivered by a person you trust. However, de-registrations via fax or e-mail are currently not permitted by law.

For making a de-registration you require a residence registration form [Meldezettel-Formular] which makes it possible for the registration authorities to enter the registration data into the register. This form can be downloaded and it is available at registration authorities. Furthermore, it is available at some tobacconists.

A separate residence registration form must be filled in for each person who wants to carry out de-registration. The accommodation provider's signature is not required for de-Registration.

You will receive a written confirmation of de-registration [Bestätigung der Abmeldung].

Documents required

Official identification with photo [Amtlicher Lichtbildausweis (Identitätsnachweis)]

In the case of not de-registering in person, the original documents or notarised or legally certified copies of these documents must be sent or given to the postal carrier. Furthermore, it is required that a filled-in Residence Registration Form [Meldezettel] showing the previous and the new residence is also sent or given to the postal carrier. Please consider the risk involved in sending original documents per post; it is not borne by the competent authority.

Expenses

There are no fees or costs.

Also consider the following, especially when the au pair leaves earlier than planned:

• Cancel standing order for pocket money
• Cancel au pair insurance