Picture this: mornings that start with a warm baguette, afternoons strolling by the Seine, and weekends exploring castles or lavender fields in Provence 💐🍷.
If that sounds like your dream, then au pairing in France might be the adventure you’ve been waiting for! 🇫🇷❤️
Let’s walk you through everything you need to know about becoming an au pair in France, from visa rules and requirements to what life is really like with a French host family.
No Eiffel Tower Without the Basics 🗼
Before you start packing your suitcase, make sure you meet the main requirements for becoming an au pair in France:
✅ Age: 18–30 years old (from 17 for EU citizens)
✅ Nationality: You must not be French (the goal is cultural exchange!)
✅ Family status: Single and without children
✅ Language: At least a basic knowledge of French
✅ Education: You’re studying or have completed secondary school (for EU citizens, this rule is flexible)
✅ Duration: Minimum stay of 3 months, up to 1 year (and can often be extended to 2 years)
✅ Purpose: Willing to attend French language classes during your stay
👉 Translation: you’re there to learn, explore, and experience life like a local, not just to work as a nanny.
Visa & Paperwork 🛂
Here’s where it gets a little different depending on where you’re from:
🇪🇺 EU / EFTA Citizens
Good news! If you’re from the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you don’t need a visa to au pair in France! 🙌
You’ll simply:
✅ Travel to France with your passport
✅ Register with local authorities once you arrive
✅ Sign an au pair placement agreement (convention) with your host family
🌍 Non-EU Citizens
If you’re from outside the EU, you’ll need to apply for a long-stay “au pair” visa (visa long séjour – jeune au pair).
You’ll need to provide:
📝 A signed placement agreement (between you and your host family)
📚 Proof you’re enrolled in or plan to attend a French language course
💬 Proof of your basic French skills
🎓 Your secondary school certificate
💸 Proof you can cover your travel costs
Once approved, your visa doubles as a residence permit valid for one year, also extendable to two years total.
Requirements for Host Families 👨👩👧👦
Thinking of hosting an au pair in France? Here’s what families need to know:
✅ There must be at least one child under 18 living at home 👶
✅ The family should speak French in daily life (so the au pair can learn the language)
✅ The au pair must have their own private, furnished bedroom 🛏️
✅ Meals and board are included, the au pair lives as part of the household 🥖
✅ Working hours are typically 25-30 hours per week
✅ Duties include childcare and light household chores
✅ The au pair must have enough free time for French classes 🎓
✅ A formal placement agreement (convention) must be signed and, for non-EU au pairs, filed with authorities
✅ The host family must register with social security (URSSAF) and cover contributions for non-EU au pairs
👉 All of this ensures the role stays true to what it’s meant to be: a cultural exchange, not full-time employment.
Life as an Au Pair in France 🇫🇷✨
You’ll live with your host family, share meals, and experience true French daily life — from breakfast tartines to Sunday markets.
Your typical schedule might look like this:
🕒 25-30 hours per week helping with children and light housework
🧺 Tidying kids’ rooms, school drop-offs, playtime, and meals
🗓️ At least one full day off per week
🎓 Free time to attend French classes or explore your city
Your host family provides room, board, and pocket money, usually around €70-100 per week depending on your arrangement.
Pocket Money, Costs & Benefits 💶
Here’s the breakdown of what to expect financially:
💰 Pocket money: around €80/week (varies by family)
🏠 Housing & meals: included, you live with your host family
🎓 Language courses: often at your own expense, but some families contribute
🩺 Insurance: Non-EU au pairs are covered under French social security (paid by host family); EU au pairs can use their European Health Insurance Card
✈️ Flights: usually paid by the au pair (sometimes families help!)
👉 Once you’re in France, your living costs are minimal, so most of your allowance can go toward travel, pastries, and French adventures! 🥐🎨
The Au Pair Agreement 📄
France takes the au pair arrangement seriously, it’s official and structured, but not complicated.
Both you and your host family must sign a “convention d’accueil” (placement agreement) that covers:
✅ Working hours and duties
✅ Pocket money amount
✅ Language course attendance
✅ Room and board details
✅ Insurance and registration info
For non-EU au pairs, this agreement is required for the visa application and must often be filed with local authorities or URSSAF.
Why Au Pair in France? 🇫🇷💋
France is more than croissants and the Eiffel Tower (though we love both 😍). Here’s why it’s a dream destination for au pairs:
🌻 Learn or improve your French in real life
🥖 Immerse yourself in French family culture
🎨 Explore world-famous art, food, and landscapes
🚄 Travel easily across Europe (Paris to Barcelona in 6 hours!)
💛 Live affordably while gaining international experience
It’s the perfect mix of language learning, cultural discovery, and everyday French life.
🕐 Timeline
Here’s how quickly your French adventure can come to life:
1️⃣ Match with a French host family 🇫🇷
2️⃣ (If non-EU) Apply for your au pair visa
3️⃣ Sign your placement agreement
4️⃣ Book your French class & flight ✈️
5️⃣ Arrive and register locally
6️⃣ Enjoy your year of café au lait, language lessons, and new friendships ☕💬
Ready to Start Your French Adventure? 🇫🇷✨
Whether you dream of Parisian cafés, mountain hikes, or coastal sunsets in Nice, au pairing in France is your chance to live like a local, learn French, and become part of a real family abroad.
At Nina.care, we’ll help you match with a welcoming host family and make your au pair year in France simple, fun, and unforgettable. 💕
👉 Ready to say bonjour to your next adventure? Let’s make it happen! 🌍