Au pair in Denmark

Citizens from Nordic countries are not required to obtain a residence permit, and may freely travel to and work in Denmark.

Citizens of other EU/EEC countries who would like to be an au pair, should apply for a residence certificate from the local authority "statsamt".

Citizens of the eight new eastern European members of the EU (the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, and Slovenia) must apply to the Immigration service for an au pair residence permit.


Conditions for the au pair and the host family

In order to obtain a residence permit as an au pair, it is mandatory for the applicant to meet certain mandatory language and cultural standards in order to reap full benefits from an au pair stay in Denmark.
This means that the applicant should be able to speak and understand a reasonable level of Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German. In addition, the following conditions must be fulfilled:

1. The au pair must be between 17 and 29 years of age.

2. A written contract must be drafted between the host family and the au pair (and the au pair's parents, if the applicant is under 18). The Danish Immigration Service has drafted a standard contract which must be used.

Click here for the au pair contract.

3. The au pair must receive at least DKK 2900 per month in pocket money from the host family.

4. The au pair must receive free room and board. The au pair's must have his/her own room and it must be located in the host family's residence.

5. The au pair must perform 3-5 hours worth of household chores daily (18 – 30 hours per week) and receive at least one day off per week.

6. Au pair may not be married or be accompanied by minor children.

7. There must be one or more minor children living at home with the host family, and the au pair must assume a role as a member of the family.

8. At least one of the parents in the host family must be a Danish citizen.

9. The host family may not receive public funds as their primary means of support under the Active Social Policy Act. The host family must swear to the Immigration Service that the family does not receive public funds as their primary means of income. The Immigration Service has drawn up a preprinted statement that is to be used.

10. A condition for the issuance of a residence permit is that the applicant has not previously held a Danish residence permit. See below for further information regarding extension of an au pair residence permit.


Special information about the residence permit

An au pair receives a residence permit but not a work permit, as the tasks undertaken by the au pair for the host family are not considered as work. An au pair may have neither paid nor unpaid work in addition to his/her duties as an au pair.

Despite this fact, the relationship between the au pair and the host family is regarded as an employee/employer relationship, and is thus subject to Danish laws regarding vacation and taxation. The tax authority in the municipality where the host family lives can answer questions regarding taxation. Questions regarding vacation regulations should be directed to Feriekontoret, Finsensvej 78, 2000 Frederiksberg C; tlf.: 38 14 84 84 (telephone consultation: Mon. - Thurs. 12 - 15, Fri. 12 - 14).


Residence permit- How long can I stay in Denmark as an au pair?

An au pair is granted a residence permit for one year, but not for longer than the length of the au pair contract. A six-month extension can be granted. In exceptional cases, the residence permit can be extended to allow the au pair residence for combined maximum total of two years.

If an au pair applies for an extension of his/her residence permit, he/she may continue to work as an au pair while the Immigration Service processes the application, but only if he/she continues as an au pair for the same family and under the conditions of the original contract. The contract between the au pair and the host family must also be extended and sent in together with the application. An au pair may not begin with a new host family until the service has granted permission to do so.