How to get an au pair visa for France: UK guide

Dreaming of living in France and immersing yourself in the culture? Becoming an au pair is a fantastic way to do just that. It gives you the perfect opportunity to improve your French, explore the country and experience everyday life with a local family while lending a helping hand.

To make it all happen, getting the visa process right is essential. We’ve created a complete guide on how to become an au pair in France, covering visa requirements, tips for finding a host family and what to expect once you’re there.

We’ll also suggest a solution for covering visa fees and managing your finances while abroad. With a Wise account, you can send money between the UK and France at the mid-market exchange rate for low fees*.

You can also rely on the Wise card to spend in 40+ other currencies. Pay directly from your currency balance with no Wise conversion fee, or have your money converted automatically for a low fee* at the mid-market rate.

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Table of contents

What is an Au Pair visa and do you need one for France? Au Pair program in France Eligibility requirements for an Au Pair visa in France Age and nationality restrictions Host family and au pair agreement requirements Financial requirements and proof of funds Educational and language skill prerequisites Health and insurance How to apply for your French Au Pair visa Step-by-Step application guide Essential documents checklist for your application Where to apply: France's embassy or consulate Visa fees and typical processing times Life as an au pair in France: What to expect Duties, responsibilities and working hours for an au pair in France Pocket money, accommodation and other benefits Language courses and studying opportunities Visa duration and extension After you arrive in France: Important first steps Registering with local authorities Opening a bank account as an Au Pair Travelling to other countries during your stay Finding the right host family in France Reputable platforms and agencies for Au Pair placements in France Tips for a successful au pair interview and placement What happens if you change host families? Visa implications Your French Au Pair adventure awaits

What is an Au Pair visa and do you need one for France?

The Young au pair visa is the main visa option for those planning to work as an au pair in France. It’s designed for people staying with a host family in France temporarily to improve their French and take part in a cultural exchange. In return, the au pair helps the family with childcare and daily life.¹

Au Pair program in France

Whether you’re working as an au pair in France, Italy, Spain or another country, the main purpose of the program remains the same. It’s about cultural exchange between you and your host family. In France, your main responsibilities include childcare, including activities, tidying and sometimes cooking.

On the other hand, the host family pays you for your work and provides food and housing for you. While you’ll have a work contract outlining your role, you can expect to be treated as part of the family.

Eligibility requirements for an Au Pair visa in France

To be able to work as an au pair, you need to meet certain criteria. Let’s go through the France au pair requirements.

Age and nationality restrictions

The au pair visa for France requires applicants to be aged between 18 and 30. The visa is exclusively available to non-EU citizens, while EU citizens can use the Caregiver Trainee scheme instead.²

Host family and au pair agreement requirements

You’ll need to sign a contract with the host family before applying for a visa and leaving for France. The contract should contain the following information:

• Your responsibilities and tasks (up to 25 hours a week)
• The amount of pocket money you’ll receive (at least €320)
• The housing conditions
• Your days off (at least one day off per week)²

The initial duration of the agreement should be up to one year. If you extend your stay, you can sign a new agreement with a maximum duration of one year, which comes down to two years in total.²

Financial requirements and proof of funds

There’s no specific mention of financial requirements you need to meet to qualify for the au pair visa for France.

Educational and language skill prerequisites

The French au pair visa applicants need to prove that they have basic knowledge of the French language and a high school degree. If you don’t have one, you’ll need to prove you have professional qualifications to do the job.¹

Health and insurance

You don’t need to provide a medical certificate to apply for the Young au pair visa. While you’re working as an au pair, you’ll be signed up to the general social security scheme.²

However, the coverage might not start immediately and may not include everything, so it’s a good idea to look into travel or private health insurance just in case.

How to apply for your French Au Pair visa

Let’s go over the steps to apply for a French au pair visa.

Step-by-Step application guide

1. Find a host family
2. Agree on the terms of the contract
3. Sign the au pair contract
4. Make sure your passport is valid
5. Gather your documents
6. Submit your visa application

Essential documents checklist for your application

Here are the documents you’ll need to apply:

• Valid passport
• Signed au pair contract
• Visa application form
• Health insurance
• Proof of basic knowledge of French³

You might also need a cover letter explaining why you want to stay with a host family, a birth certificate and a medical form.³

Where to apply: France's embassy or consulate

You should submit your visa application to the French consular authorities in the UK at least three months before departure.²

In the UK, you can apply at the French Consulate General in London or in TLScontact’s offices in London, Manchester or Edinburgh.⁴

Visa fees and typical processing times

The fee for all long-stay visas, including the au pair visa for France, is €99.⁵ Applications are usually processed within 15 working days.⁴

Life as an au pair in France: What to expect

Let’s take a look at what your life in France will look like.

Duties, responsibilities and working hours for an au pair in France

What’s usually expected of the au pair is childcare and minor housework. The maximum time you’ll spend on tasks is 25 hours per week.²

You’ll have at least one free day per week, or more if you agree on that with the host family. This ensures that you have the time to attend courses in the disciplines of your choice.²

Pocket money, accommodation and other benefits

You’ll receive a minimum of €320 a month working as an au pair in France.² The people that hire au pairs are generally well off, so they’ll have enough income to provide you with a private room and food and pay increased household bills.

They’ll also sometimes contribute to your language course payments or cover other activities, with some even paying your visa costs.

Living with a local family will help you improve your language skills and experience French culture first-hand. You might have the chance to celebrate holidays with them, try authentic French cuisine and explore the country.

Language courses and studying opportunities

EU citizens come to work as au pairs in France under the Caregiver Trainee scheme, which requires them to attend a language course. The Young au pair visa available to UK citizens doesn’t have this requirement. However, you can still take courses and study in your free time.²

Visa duration and extension

You can stay in France for three to twelve months on the Young au pair visa. The visa can later be extended for another year, allowing a maximum stay of two years.²

After you arrive in France: Important first steps

Once you’ve got your visa and arrived in France, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Registering with local authorities

About two months before your visa expires, you need to apply for a temporary residence permit at your local prefecture. You’ll need to bring a full set of documents, including your passport, proof of address, your host agreement and a copy of your host family’s IDs. You can find the complete list on your prefecture’s website.⁶

You can expect a response from the prefecture within 90 days. If you haven’t heard anything after that, it unfortunately means your application has been refused.⁶

Opening a bank account as an Au Pair

You can open a bank account in France as a non-resident, sometimes even while you’re still in the UK. In other cases, you’ll need to wait until you’ve settled in France so you can provide proof of address and your residence status.⁷

As an alternative to traditional banks, you could open a Wise account and hold 8+ currencies, including euros and pounds. You’ll pay low, transparent fees and get the mid-market exchange rate for foreign currency conversion. Wise can be a way for you to pay and manage your finances while waiting for a French bank account.

Travelling to other countries during your stay

Within three months of arriving in France, you’ll need to validate your visa. Once your visa has been validated, you’ll be able to freely travel to other countries across the Schengen area.²

Finding the right host family in France

Choosing the right family is one of the most important parts of becoming an au pair. Make sure to visit reputable websites and take the time to carefully read through family profiles. Using a placement agency is another option, as they can handle this part for you.

Reputable platforms and agencies for Au Pair placements in France

Some of the most well-known websites for finding a host family are aupair.com and aupairworld.com.

Going through an au pair agency involves a fee, but it’s often easier and helps ensure your safety. The French Union of Au Pair Agencies or Union française des Agences Au Pair (UFAAP) is an official union specialising in au pair placements. You can find the list of approved agencies on their website.⁸

Tips for a successful au pair interview and placement

In order to leave a good impression and get a clear idea of whether you’d be a good match with the host family, it’s important to think carefully about your video interview.

The questions that you ask and how well you prepare are essential, so here are some tips you might find useful:

1. Carefully read the host’s profile

Take time to get to know the family by studying everything they’ve included in their profile. Occasionally, scammers create fake profiles on au pair websites, so this is your first step in identifying any potential red flags.

2. Write down questions

Before you schedule an interview, think of some questions you’d like to ask the host family. These might include their expectations, the children’s routines and any house rules. This is also a good opportunity to clear up any doubts and show enthusiasm for the role.

3. Keep the time difference in mind

There’s a one hour time difference between the UK and France, so make sure you arrange the interview accordingly.

4. Call from a quiet environment

Your surroundings will contribute to the first impression you give the family. Make sure you’re in a quiet, clean space and that all your equipment is working properly. Since this is a job interview, dress appropriately and look put together.

5. Pay attention to the children

Don’t focus only on the parents during the conversation. If the children are present, try to engage with them and show interest in what they have to say.

6. Discuss your contract

The sooner you talk about your contract, the better. Make sure you agree on working hours, days off, pocket money and any other important details.

7. Do a follow up call

One call is unlikely to cover everything, so try to arrange at least one follow up. This will give you the chance to see your room and clear up anything you’re unsure about.

What happens if you change host families? Visa implications

If you want to leave your host family at some point, you have the right to do that. It’s important to respect the notice period, which is usually two weeks.⁹

In the meantime, you can search for a new host family. Since you’re already in the country, you might be able to find a new match in person, but au pair websites and agencies can be of help. However, make sure you contact the UK embassy to get the most up-to-date information on your visa status first.

Your French Au Pair adventure awaits

Working as an au pair in France gives you the chance to experience French culture and immerse yourself in everyday local life. You’ll leave with a stronger knowledge of French and valuable skills gained from living independently in a completely different environment.

To make the most of your experience as an au pair, you should find a way to manage your finances efficiently. With a Wise account, you can hold and exchange between 8+ currencies and send money between the UK and France for low, transparent fees*.

You can also get a Wise card for a one-time cost of @en-gb-claim-card-order-fee} and use it in 150+ countries, including France. Each time you spend, your money is converted to the right currency, with only a small conversion fee*, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Open your Wise account 🌍

Sources used:

1. France-visas.gouv.fr - Young au pair visa
2. Service-public.fr - Caregiver Trainee and Young au pair
3. Total Law - France au pair visa
4. France-visas.gouv.fr - United Kingdom
5. France-visas.gouv.fr - visa fees
6. Service-public.fr - temporary residence permit
7. Expatica - banking in France
8. UFAAP - French Union of Au Pair Agencies
9. Aupairworld.com - general conditions

Sources last checked on date: 15-Sep-2025