Au pair

You want to be an au pair in a Danish family

Normal processing time
3 months

Processing fee
DKK 4,740,-

What do you want to print?

What is the au pair scheme?

If you are a young foreign national wishing to learn about Danish language and culture, you can apply for a residence permit in Denmark as an au pair.

 You must have made an agreement to live with a Danish host family. By taking part in the daily life of the family on the same terms as the other family members, you can gain the desired insight into Danish culture.

The host family will give you food, accommodation and a monthly allowance (pocket money). In return you must take part in ordinary domestic chores.

If you are a citizen of a country outside of the EU/EEA, you must submit an application for a residence permit to SIRI – use this webpage to apply.

If you are a citizen of a EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you do not need to apply for a residence permit, but must instead apply for a EU residence document.

Read more about EU residence here

What do you want to print?

What conditions do I have to meet as an au pair?

You must contact and make an agreement with a Danish family about being an au pair with them.

Moreover, there are a number of conditions to meet before you can obtain a permit as an au pair:

The agreement between you and the host family must be set by a binding au pair contract which establishes the framework for your stay as an au pair with the family.

When SIRI assesses whether your stay as an au pair is in accordance with your life story, or whether there is a reason to assume that your purpose for applying differs from the intention behind the scheme, SIRI will look at the following:

  • Whether you have completed a youth study programme equivalent to the Danish 9th grade.
  • Whether you are able to communicate with your host family and manage yourself in Denmark. Thus, you must be able to speak and understand either Danish, Swedish, Norwegian, English or German on a moderate level.
  • Your reason for applying to stay as an au pair in Denmark.
  • Any previous residence permits or applications for residence permits in Denmark.
  • Any previous stays as an au pair in other western countries.
  • Any previous stays with host families in Denmark.
  • Whether you are related to your host family, or whether you are of the same nationality as one or more of the family members.
  • Your education and any vocational experience, including whether a stay as an au pair has a natural connection to your life, career and development so far.

When you apply, you must meet the following requirements in order to be granted a residence permit as an au pair:

You must be at least 18 years old, but you must not have turned 30 at the time of the submission of the application.

If you are changing your host family and apply for a new residence permit, you are allowed to have turned 30 at the time of the submission of the application.

You must not have started a family:

  • You must not be or have been married, be or have been in a stable cohabitating relationship or be or have been in a civil partnership. 
  • You must not have children.
  • You must not be expecting a child unless you are already staying in Denmark as an au pair and wishes to change your host family.

What do you want to print?

What conditions do my host family have to meet?

Your host family must consist of at least one adult and a child under the age of 18, and they must be registered at the same address.

If the parents do not live together, they can agree to have you living with them in turns.  Both parents must sign a contract with you, and both parents must meet the conditions for being a host family. 

A family cannot host au pairs if there are no children under the age of 18 registered at their address. 

In addition, the host family must meet the following requirements:

The host family’s household must consist of at least one parent and at least one child under the age of 18 who still lives at home. The child must be registered in the CPR registry as living at the host family’s address. 

An au pair cannot be granted a residence permit after the youngest child in the host family has turned 18 years of age. 

Single, separated and divorced parents

Single parents can be host families, provided that at least one child under the age of 18 is registered as living at the residence. 

Joint custody (shared parenting)

If the parents in the host family do not live together, and it is agreed that the au pair takes turns living with each parent (in order to accompany the children), it is a requirement that both parents in the host family sign an au pair contract with the au pair in question. It is also a requirement that both parents in the host family meet the conditions that are required in order to become a host family.

At least one of the parents in the host family must have a thorough knowledge of Danish culture and be able to communicate that knowledge to you.

Therefore, it is required that at least one of the parents is a Danish citizen, a EU citizen or has been living in Denmark for a extended period of time and is significantly attached to Denmark. 

Non-EU citizens with diplomatic status in Denmark cannot be a host family regardless of how long time the family has been living in Denmark.

In addition, the host family must not be related to you or be of the same nationality as you.

The host family is only allowed to have one au pair at a time. An overlap of maximum 14 days between a former and a new au pair is permitted, provided that the former au pair will pass on knowledge to the new au pair.

During the entire stay, the au pair must have access to free accommodation in the form of their own room at the host family’s residence.

Besides the room for the au pair, the host family’s residence must also contain at least one living room, as well as one bedroom for every two people living at the residence.

For instance, a host family that consists of two parents and two children must have a residence that contains at least four rooms which must be approved for residence.

An au pair is allowed to have access to use several rooms.

If the host family’s residence accommodates several families, there will be calculated with only two people from the same family within the same bedroom.

All bedrooms and living rooms must be approved for residence. This approval must appear in the Buildings and Housing Registry (BBR).

None of the members of the host family can be supported by public benefits under the terms of the Active Social Policy Act.

In the application form, the family must declare not to be receiving public benefits at the time when the application is submitted. It is, however, allowed to receive minor occasional benefits that do not replace an actual income.

If a host family previously has been abusing the au pair scheme, the family can be excluded from using the scheme for a period of time – and you will not be able to stay as an au pair with the family.

The penalty period of the family from the au pair scheme varies in duration:

  • 10 years in cases of a violation of the criminal law due to violence, threats etc. against a former au pair.
  • 5 years if an au pair has been working illegally for the host family or for others.
  • 2 years if the au pair contract has not been followed, e.g. if a former au pair has been given less pocket money than the minimum amount, has not been given an arrival or return ticket when required, or if the family has not taken out the necessary insurances.

On the application form, the family must sign a statement declaring that they are not excluded from hosting an au pair.

When all other conditions for a residence permit as an au pair has been met, SIRI will request that the host family pays a one-off payment of DKK 19,305 (2024 level). The fee will cover the state’s expenses of offering Danish lessons.

The payment of the fee is a condition for you to be granted a residence permit.

The payment is only required if it is the first time you apply for a residence permit as an au pair. If you change your host family, the new host family will not be requested to pay for Danish lessons. 

It does not make any difference if you take Danish lessons or not and will not be refunded if you do not come to Denmark, nor if the au pair contract is terminated.

When all other conditions for a residence permit as an au pair have been met, SIRI requests your host family to document that they have taken out the following insurance policies on behalf of you as their future au pair:

  • insurance against work-related injuries
  • insurance covering leisure time and accidents
  • insurance covering transportation to your home country in the case of your death, serious illness or injury

The insurance policies must be valid for the duration of your au pair contract.

SIRI can only grant the final residence permit when it has been documented that your host family has taken out the statutory insurance policies for you.

What do you want to print?

What are the terms of the au pair contract?

You and your host family must enter into a contract which you and both of the parents in the family must sign. 

The contract is a part of the application form and imposes the following terms:

You must have your own separate room and eat for free with the host family.

The host family must pay you at least DKK 4,850 (2024 level) pr. month as pocket money. The money must be paid to your Danish bank account no later than the last banking day of each month.

You must still be given pocket money, even if you are ill.

You must pay taxes of your pocket money. Therefore, you must apply for a tax card at your local tax centre.

If you wish to make changes to the contract, you must be aware of 2 things:

  1. Changes can only be made in mutual agreement. This means that the au pair and the host family must agree to the changes -  and a new contract must be made.
  2. The rules on au pair stays imply that the contract cannot be changed freely as there are specific minimum requirements which must always be met.

The pocket money amount must therefore not be lower than the amount set by the immigration authorities.

The host family must always pay for your return fare when obligated to do so by the rules.

You must do between 18 and 30 hours of domestic chores weekly. Thus, you must not work less than 3 hours per day or more than 5 hours per day.

You must always have at least 1½ day off each week.

You must always have the day off on official Danish public holidays.

You must always have at least one room approved for habitation put at your disposal. 

You must always be provided with free food and accommodation.

You must have your own room.

Aside from your room, the host family’s home must contain at least one common room and one bedroom for each two inhabitants. All these common rooms and bedrooms must be approved for habitation and be registered in the Buildings and Housing Registry (BBR). 

You must also have your own room if you are ill.

You may have access to use more than one room.

The host family must pay your fare to Denmark if you are travelling from a country outside of the EU/EEA or Switzerland.

The host family must pay your return fare if you are returning to a country outside of the EU/EEA or Switzerland.

The host family must also pay your return fare if you are in Denmark at the time of application and your application for a residence permit is refused. 

If your host family pays your fare, the time and itinerary of your trip must not be too much of an inconvenience to you.

You lose your right to paid return fare if you do not keep within the following deadlines:

  • No later than 1 month before your residence permit expires, you must inform your host family in writing about your wish to travel to a country outside of the EU/EEA or Switzerland.
  • If SIRI revokes your residence permit, you must inform your host family in writing about your wish to travel to a country outside of the EU/EEA or Switzerland. This must happen no later than 1 week after the revocation of your residence permit.
  • If you choose to end your stay for any other reason, you must inform your host family in writing about your wish to travel to a country outside of the EU/EEA or Switzerland. This must happen no later than 1 week after choosing to end your stay.

If you change your host family, the new host family will be paying your return fare.

You earn paid holiday which you can use from the beginning of your au pair stay.

You earn 2,5 days per month if you work 6 days per week or 2,08 days if you work 5 days per week.

You must enter into a written agreement with your host family about when you will be taking holiday.

When your au pair stay ends, your host family must pay you for any holiday days earned but not used.

You must participate in the domestic duties that are normal in a family, i.e. simple house work and childcare. It must be stated in a weekly schedule when you are supposed to do the different tasks.

You are allowed to work 3-5 hours per day for a maximum of 6 days per week, i.e. between 18 and 30 hours per week.

You are entitled to at least 1½ day off per week. On a half day off, you can only do duties for the host family either before or after 14:00. In addition, you are entitled to take the day off on official Danish public holidays.

An au pair contract must be terminated in writing.

You can terminate an au pair contract at 2 weeks’ notice. 

The host family can terminate the contract at 1 month’s notice.

Unless otherwise agreed upon, you must continue as an au pair for the host family during the notice period, and the host family must still provide you with food, accommodation and pocket money.

If you agree upon moving away from the host family after terminating the contract, the family only has to pay you pocket money during the notice period.

In cases of grave contract violations or other serious circumstances, both parties can terminate the contract with immediate effect.

Examples of grave violations:

  • If the host family has not been giving you pocket money. In these cases the obligation of the au pair to do domestic chores lapses from the day of contract termination.
  • If the au pair moves away from the host family home without notice. In these cases the right to pocket money lapses from the day of contract termination.

What do you want to print?

Red Ribbon – if your are a Philippine citizen

Philippine citizens travelling as au pairs must have an exit permit from the Philippine authorities – a so-called “Red Ribbon”.

Your host family must have certain documents authenticated by the Philippine Embassy in Copenhagen. Afterwards, the documents must be sent to the au pair person. For further information, see the website of the Embassy.

If your host family need to present a copy of your application for "Red Ribbon" they will need a power of attorney from you. Without a power of attorney from you the host family can only gain access to the au pair contract but not the complete application.

The Philippine authorities decide whether you can be granted an exit permit. 

Neither the Danish embassy in Manila nor SIRI can help you if you are not granted a Red Ribbon permitting you to leave the Philippines.

What do you want to print?

What are my rights, if I am granted a permit?

What are you allowed to do with a Danish residence permit as an au pair – and what are you not allowed to do?

The purpose of your stay in Denmark must be to engage in cultural exchange. You must help your host family with their daily chores. In return, they will give you an idea of the everyday life of a Danish family.

You must not begin taking part in doing daily chores before you have been granted a permit. 

When you have been granted a permit, you must not do daily chores for more hours than permitted – not even if you are paid for your extra work.

The residence permit does not allow you to take paid employment. Therefore, you are not allowed to work outside of host family’s home – unless you undertake voluntary unpaid work in an organisation or an association.

The work must be connected to the key tasks of the organisation or association. The work should be of benefit to persons that neither you, nor your host family is related to. 

You are entitled to leisure time in order for you to follow language courses or engage in cultural, religious or professional interests.

A residence permit allows you to stay in Denmark as an au pair for the period of time your permit is valid. 

You must stay with your host family for the full period of your stay.

Moreover, a permit allows you to stay in the Schengen area for up to 90 days within a 180 days period. However, the permit does not allow you to work in other Schengen countries.

You must not give up your Danish address or stay abroad for longer than 6 successive months. A violation will result in the lapse of your permit. This means that you will lose your right to stay in Denmark.

If you need to stay abroad for a longer period of time, you can apply for dispensation to prevent your permit from lapsing.

You can read more about permit lapse and dispensation options here.

With a residence permit in Denmark, you are entitled to free Danish lessons. However, you must have turned 18 years and have your Danish address registered in the Danish National Register.

If you have a Danish residence permit issued by SIRI you would normally have to pay a deposit before you can start receiving lessons.

If you have a residence permit as an au pair you do not have to pay the deposit. This is because your host family has already paid for the state’s expenses related to your Danish lessons.

Your municipality of residence is obliged to offer you Danish lessons and refer you to a language centre. If you have not been offered Danish lessons within a month after registering your address in Denmark, you can contact your municipality.

You will (typically) be taught together with other foreign nationals who have arrived in Denmark recently.

What do you want to print?

How long can I stay in Denmark?

As an au pair, you can be granted a residence permit valid for a maximum of 2 years. In addition, the residence permit is limited to the validity period of the au pair contract or to the day when the youngest child in the family turns 18.

If you change your host family, you will not be granted an 2 additional years. You can be permitted to stay in Denmark for a total period of 2 years, which is the maximum for an au pair.

A residence permit can only be valid until 3 months before the expiry date of your passport.

If your passport has a shorter validity than the otherwise possible period of stay, your residence permit will be shortened. This means that the validity of your residence permit will be shorter than it could be. When you have renewed your passport, you can apply for an extension of your residence permit – however, this can only be done 3 months before your permit expires at the earliest. 

Read more about the passport requirements.

What do you want to print?

Can I change my host family?

If you wish to change your host family, you must terminate the au pair contract in writing at 2 weeks’ notice. After terminating the contract, you have one month to find a new family and submit a new application for a residence permit. 

You must not begin working for the new host family before you have been granted a residence permit. You are allowed to stay with the new host family as a guest.

Your return fare must be paid by the new host family, provided that you have entered into a contract.

What do you want to print?

Penalty risk - If I am already residing in Denmark on a visiting visa

If you have already entered Denmark and reside here on a visiting visa when you submit your application, you have to be aware of the risk of a penalty period.

If you submit your application for a residence permit as an au pair while you are residing in Denmark on a visiting visa, it can have a consequence that for a period of 5 years you will not be able to receive further visiting visas to Denmark. This will have consequences for you if your application for a residence permit as an au pair is refused, and you after your return to your home country again wish to visit Denmark.

You can read more about risk of visa penalty period here

What do you want to print?

What more do I need to know before I apply?

An application for a residence permit as an au pair is processed by the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI). If you are in Denmark when submitting the application, you must be here legally. More about legal submission here.

Before submitting your application, you must create a case order ID for your application and pay a fee to cover SIRI’s case processing expenses. You can do this on the “How to apply” tab to the right. Here you also find the relevant application form, AU1. You can choose between an online form and a paper form. 

Your host family must fill in the first two parts of the form, and you must fill in the third part. 

If you use the online form, your host family must first complete their part. When they have completed their part, they will receive a reference number and a password for your part of the form. The host family will pass on this information in order for you to be able to open the application and complete your part. 

If you have granted another person to handle the application on your behalf you have to use a power of attorney. 

Your host family is not a party to your case. If you want to give your host family permission to contact SIRI and obtain information regarding your case, you must fill out and sign a power of attorney. 

You can find an approved power of attorney here

Please note that, as a rule, SIRI will refuse your application for a residence permit on new grounds, if the application is submitted prematurely in relation to the wished for start date for your stay in Denmark.

If you submit such an application earlier than 6 months before your stay in Denmark will begin, you can expect a refusal to your application. If you have paid SIRI's case processing fee, you will not receive a refund of the fee.

SIRI will contact you if we need further information to process your case.

You are only allowed to wait for the decision on your case in Denmark if you have submitted your application for a residence permit while being here legally.

More about legal entry and application submission here.

More about staying in Denmark after legal submission here.

If you have submitted your application abroad and subsequently travelled to Denmark, you must not stay here to wait for a longer time than your visa, your residence permit in another country or your visa exempt period permits. When this period expires, you must leave Denmark and wait for the decision in your home country.   

What do you want to print?

Below you will find a step-by-step guide to submitting an application to the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration (SIRI).

It is important that you have carefully read the conditions for being granted a residence permit before you begin step 1. You can do this on the tab “Need to know” on the left.

It is a good idea to gather the necessary documents before you start to complete the application form. You can use the check list below.

If you submit documents not written in English, German, Norwegian, Swedish or Danish, you must also submit certified translations into Danish or English.

You must submit:

Expect to use

40 minutes

per person to complete the application

3 persons

You and your host family are each required to complete the form. Both your host parents must sign

In this step you and your host family have access to the relevant application forms. You can choose between an online form and a print form.

Make sure that you have completed all the preceeding steps before you begin.

All our application forms contain careful instructions on how to complete the form and what kind of documents you must submit along with the form.

You can read more about how we process your personal data here.

 

Online application

If you apply online, you must use the application form AU1 online:

If there are two adults in the host family, both must sign the application form using their NemID.

The first person in the host family to fill out the application form will receive a reference number and password after signing the application form. This reference number and password must be used by the second person in the host family (spouse or cohabiting partner) to log on the application form and sign it with his or her NemID.

When part 1 of the application form is signed by both persons in the host family, a new reference number and password will be received that must be used by you (the au pair).

When you have received the reference number and password from the host family, you must log in and sign your part of the application form and submit the whole application form. Please, remember to print and sign both parts of the application form.

The application is not received at SIRI before you have filled in and signed part 2 of the application form.

 

If you wish to use a power of attorney you can find an approved template here

Make sure you have all documents ready in digital form, in order to attach them as you complete the application form.

Use the online form AU1

 

Printable application forms

In the printable application form AU1 your host family must complete parts 2 and 3 of the form. When your host family has completed their part, you must complete your part. Once all parts have been completed, they must be submitted together – read more in the next step.

You must submit the necessary documents with the application.

The printable application form in Word format can be completed on screen before you print. The application form in pdf format must be printed first and then completed by hand.

Download the printable form AU1 (Word format) 

Download the printable form AU1 (Pdf format)

You have applied online

If you have applied online, your application has already been submitted. Read more about having your biometrics recorded in the next step.

If you have granted power of attorney to your host family or a third party to submit the application on your behalf, you can continue to the next step concerning biometrics.

You are submitting the application abroad

The application can be submitted to a Danish diplomatic mission or an application centre in the country where you are residing.

See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ list of diplomatic missions or application centres where you can hand in your application (opens in a new window)

In certain countries Denmark does not have a diplomatic mission or application centre. In these instances the list will refer you to one of the Norwegian missions with which Denmark has made an agreement or to the nearest Danish diplomatic mission or application centre in the region.

We recommend that you visit the local diplomatic mission’s webpage to get more information before you submit the application. The individual diplomatic mission can have additional requirements regarding payment of additional fees, submission of additional passport photos or additional copies of the application.

You are submitting the application in Denmark

If you are residing legally in Denmark, you are normally able to submit the application in Denmark. This is the case, if you:

  • hold a valid visa
  • are exempt from the visa requirement or
  • already hold a valid residence permit.

Read more about the legal residence requirement and submission of your application in Denmark. 

You can submit the applicaton in one of SIRI’s branch offices.

If you plan to submit your application in one of SIRI’s branch offices, you must remember to book an appointment. 

You can also send the application to SIRI.

 

When you apply for a residence permit, you must have your biometric features recorded. This means that you must have a facial photo taken and your fingerprints recorded. The facial photo and your fingerprints will be stored on a microchip embedded in the residence card, which will be issued to you if you are granted a permit.

If you do not agree to have your biometric features recorded, your application will be rejected. This means that your application will not be processed.

Read more about biometrics here

You must have your biometric features recorded no later than 14 days after you submitted your application.

If you are unable to have your biometric features recorded within the time limit of 14 days, because you are unable to book an appointment at a Danish diplomatic mission, you can inform us of the appointed time you will have your biometrics recorded. This way you can avoid having your application rejected.

You are abroad

You can have your biometric features recorded at a Danish diplomatic mission or an application centre in the country where you reside.

See the Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ list of diplomatic missions or application centres where you can have your biometric features recorded (opens in new window)

In certain countries Denmark does not have a diplomatic mission or application centre. In these instances the list will refer you to one of the Norwegian missions with which Denmark has made an agreement or to the nearest Danish diplomatic mission or application centre in the region.

If you submit your application to a Norwegian diplomatic mission, you must also submit one passport photo. If you are later granted a residence permit based on your application, you must within a specific time frame after your entry to Denmark have your biometric features recorded.

We recommend that you visit the local diplomatic mission’s webpage to get more information before you submit the application. The individual diplomatic mission can have additional requirements regarding payment of additional fees, submission of additional passport photos or additional copies of the application.

You are in Denmark

If you are residing legally in Denmark, you are normally able to have your biometric features recorded in Denmark. This is the case, if you:

  • hold a valid visa

  • are exempt from the visa requirement or

  • already hold a valid residence permit.

Read more about the legal residence requirement and submission of your application in Denmark. 

You can have your biometric features recorded in one of SIRI’s branch offices.

If you plan to have your biometrics recorded in one of SIRI’s branch offices, you must remember to book an appointment.

If you are a commuter and does not reside in Denmark and for this reason will only apply for a work permit, you do not need to have your biometrics recorded. Read more about commuters here

You have submitted your application succesfully if you have:

  • created a case order ID
  • paid the fee
  • submitted the application
  • had your biometric features recorded

You can see the normal case processing time to the right on this page. When we make a decision in your case, you will receive an answer.

SIRI will contact you or your employer if we need further information to process your case.

Read more about what you can expect while you are waiting for an answer.

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Last updated 13-06-2024 - Published by: SIRI