How to become an au pair in Denmark?

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Denmark has 9 different programs for the different au pair citizenships.
Choose here which programs you want to see and compare.

step by step to get to Denmark

Au pair
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Working Holiday
New Zealand

find family / au pair, sign contract

 The au pair and host family must fill in and sign the au pair contract developed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration. The contract is part of the application form and must be filled in when completing the application. Among other things, it must be stated during which hours one is to carry out household chores

 In Denmark, this contract is already included in the appication form for a residence permit. The au pair contract may be signed for a maximum of 12 months. The au pair contract is needed to apply for a residence permit.


invitation letter

The au pair and host family must fill in and sign an au pair contract developed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration. The contract is part of the application form and must be filled in when completing the application. Among other things, it must be stated during which hours the au pair is to carry out household chores

insurance

The host family must take out the following three insurances covering the au pair: 

  1. insurance against industrial injuries, 
  2. insurance against personal injury outside work, 
  3. and insurance covering transportation to the au pair's home country in the case of the au pair's death, serious illness or injury

visa

Citizens from many countries are exempt from acquiring a visa to Denmark, however, it is best to review this link to be certain:

List of countries requiring a visa and those exempt

The passport and visa promulgation lists the countries whose citizens can travel visa-free, provided they hold certain documentation.

further documents

  • 2 completed application forms (including the au pair contract)
  • a valid passport
  • 2 recent colour photos 3.5x4.5 cm, no dark background, the face must be 70%-80% of the photo
  • if the au pair is a minor, then he or she must enclose a consent signed by his or her parents or guardian
  • a birth certificate
  • information regarding the language skills and education of the au pair as well as their possible relation to the host family.

organize trip

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.

start journey

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.

step by step once you're in Denmark

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arrive

There are a great many things to take care of when the au pair arrives in Denmark.

One can always get help at one of the four International Citizen Service Centres (ICS) placed in the largest cities in Denmark. Located in Aalborg, Aarhus, Copenhagen and Odense. If you live outside these cities you will might have to contact your local municipality.

All the public authorities you typically need to contact are represented at these four International Citizen Service Centres. The ICS centres make the contact to Danish authorities as easy as possible. In most cases, one will only need to visit an ICS centre in order to take care of paperwork with regard to residence permit, registration certificate, tax card, civil registration number (CPR), health insurance card etc.

One can also get help at International House Copenhagen.

residence registration

The Central Person Register (Folkeregistret)

The au pair must be registered as a resident at your host family's address no later than five days after arriving to the home of your host family. This is done at the local Citizen's Service Centre (Borgerservice), where you will be issued a so-called CPR number and 'health card' as proof that you are covered by the Danish National Health Insurance. If you change address, or when you leave Denmark, you must go in person to the local Citizen's Service Centre (Borgerservice) to report this.

As an au pair, both the au pair and host family in Denmark must supply information for the processing of the residence permit application. 


Case Order ID and fee

Before submitting the application, the au pair or the host family must create a Case Order ID and must normally pay a fee. The Case Order ID must be stated in the application.

The fee is a case processing fee: This means that the fee covers the processing of the application. Consequently, the fee will not be refunded if the application is processed - regardless of whether the au pair is granted a permit or the application is turned down because one does not meet the requirements. Likewise, the fee will not be refunded if the au pair withdraws his or her application.

It is important to make sure that the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration receives the correct amount. If one pays too much, this may delay the processing of one's case as the Agency will have to refund the excess amount. If one pays too little, one's case may be rejected. This means that the application will not be processed.

Read more about fees

work permit

The tasks performed by an au pair are not considered as work. For this reason, the au pair does not need a work permit. Attention: Nevertheless, the au pair is not allowed to take up additional work, paid or unpaid. But the relationship between the au pair and the host family is regarded as a relationship between employee and employer and is thus subject to Danish laws regarding holidays and taxation.

bank account

The allowance must be paid into a Danish bank account in the au pair's name no later than the last work day of each month.

To be a customer of a Danish bank, the au pair will need to bring the following documents to the bank:

  • Identity papers with photo (driver’s licence, passport or the like)
  • Documentation of address in Denmark
  • An employment contract.

If one's salary is paid by a Danish employer, one can choose to have the salary transferred from a Danish bank to a bank account abroad. The transfer may take a couple of days and some banks charge a fee for the transfer. One can get more information from the individual bank.

Once the au pair has an account, most banking transactions can then be handled through online banking. An online banking agreement may, as a rule, be made at the same time as the au pair opens his or her account.

driving a car

How long the au pair may drive in Denmark on his or her foreign driving license and whether one must pass a driving test to check required skills in connection with the exchange of the driving license will depend on the country or federal state, etc. in which one's driving license was issued. A distinction is made between various groups of countries, etc.

The price of having your foreign driving license exchanged for a Danish driving license is DKK 280 (2015).

Licenses: Find out which are valid and which have to be exchanged


elongate visa / apply for residence permit

Extension of the residence permit:

The au pair is allowed to continue working as an au pair while the Immigration Service is processing their application. He or she has to continue working for the same family under the conditions of the previous contract which must not be modified. The original au pair contract signed between the host family and the au pair has to be extended, too, and has to be included into the application for the extension of the residence permit. 

An au pair is not allowed to start working for a new host family without the permission of the Danish Immigration Service.

Attention: An au pair who works illegally may be imprisoned or expelled from Denmark. A host family who illegally employs an au pair also risks being imprisoned.

Within five days after their arrival, the au pair must register with the Central Office of Civil Registration (CPR Office).

social welfare system

One can have a personal tax number without having a CPR number.

Personal tax numbers are given to those who come to Denmark but cannot get a civil registration number (CPR number), eg. because they only work in Denmark for a short period.

One can request a personal tax number by completing form no. 04.063 from SKAT (available in four languages).

One can also contact the local tax center or one of the International Citizens Services Centers to obtain a personal tax number.

Remember to bring form no. 04.063, ID with picture, such as passport or ID card.

Citizens from outside the EU, Switzerland or the Nordic countries must also bring a work permit. A personal tax number works like a civil registration number, i.e. it is your Danish personal identification number.

step by step to change family in Denmark

Au pair
World
Working Holiday
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find new family

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

insurance

The host family must take out the following three insurances covering the au pair: 

  1. insurance against industrial injuries, 
  2. insurance against personal injury outside work, 
  3. and insurance covering transportation to the au pair's home country in the case of the au pair's death, serious illness or injury

residence registration

Learn everything about applying for a residence permit here.

work permit / residence permit

The tasks performed by an au pair are not considered as work. For this reason, the au pair does not need a work permit. Attention: Nevertheless, the au pair is not allowed to take up additional work, paid or unpaid. But the relationship between the au pair and the host family is regarded as a relationship between employee and employer and is thus subject to Danish laws regarding holidays and taxation.

An au pair MUST hold a residence permit in order to work with a host family in Denmark. If the au pair is a citizen of a country outside the EU/EEA, it is then the responsibility of the au pair to obtain a residence permit.

step by step to leave Denmark

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World
Working Holiday
New Zealand

de-register residence

It is important that the au pair and the host family notify the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration if you leave the host family or leave Denmark before your residence permit expires.

If one holds a residence permit on the grounds of being an au pair, the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration is handling questions regarding lapsing.
Read more about the lapsing of a residence permit on the grounds of work,studies, au pair or internship

Leaving Denmark: 

Please call SKAT on 45 72 22 28 92 when you have de-registered from the Danish National Register.



other

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

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

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Hi, my name is Julien Baldini

and I’m responsible for this country information

I have thoroughly researched the information on this page, still I can’t give a guarantee that everything is correct and up-to-date.

If you should find any mistakes, please send me a message.

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