12 Best Countries to Au Pair In (Real Advice from a 3x Au Pair)

Most “best au pair countries” lists are written for EU citizens who can move freely between member states which is great! Unless you’re not an EU citizen but also want to be an au pair… According to my Google Analytics, most of my readers come from the US and UK. I myself am Brazilian so I know first hand what it’s like to apply for visas (in the US, UK, Germany, Canada, Australia…).

All 12 countries below have official au pair visa routes for non-EU applicants. Here’s how they actually compare and which ones I’d recommend based on my experience and of many au pairs I’ve chatted to on my au pair podcast.

At a Glance: Comparison Table*

*This information is always subject to change. Always consult your local Consulate or Embassy of the country you want to be an au pair in. In some of these countries au pairs also have to pay tax on the pocket money.

Germany

Germany is a comfortable, well-trodden starting point if you want a truly regulated au pair experience. The visa process is clear, the programme is well-established and you’ll come out with at least basic German.

Germany was my second au pair experience, first in Europe. It’s been many years and I’m still in touch with my host family. My host kids are full grown adults now! I had the absolute BEST time! It wasn’t always easy, there were many tears and many times I wanted to give up but, overall, it changed my life for the better. Besides, Germany is a wonderful country! It’s not perfect but it’s so beautiful, it’s got such a rich history (if at times sad) and it’s really easy and comparatively cheap to travel around.

It’s also a great country if you want to stay in Europe! I actually stayed as a student for a few months after my au pair year but ended up moving to London shortly after for many reasons… Germany offers all kinds of visas that are not complicated or hard to get if you want to stay as a student, an apprentice, a volunteer, etc.

I’ve been meaning to get started on my Substack for MONTHS to write more personal travel accounts and about my life abroad. Make sure to subscribe as I’ll write about my au pair experiences in more detail on there.

Best for: a straightforward first au pair experience with a clear visa process

For more, see my au pair requirements in Germany post and my post about the best cities to visit in Germany to get a feel for the country. I visited many of these during my au pair year!

France

France is another great pick if you want to stay in Europe long-term and build French fluency, with an established visa route and strong support infrastructure for au pairs. It’s one of the very few countries where you can be an au pair for up to TWO YEARS and they also offer various visas so you can stay in the country after your exchange programme. Many au pairs stay as students, especially for their alternance programme where you study and work in your field at the same time.

Best for: staying in Europe and building French fluency

See my dedicated au pair in France guide for the full breakdown.

Iceland

Iceland is the pick if you want to travel cheaply in one of the world’s most expensive countries. Being paid, housed and fed while you’re there flips the usual cost equation on its head. And Iceland is not a place many people can afford to explore slowly otherwise. Honestly, if I could go back in time I probably would’ve chosen to be an au pair there. I love Iceland SO MUCH! It’s such a gorgeous, magical country! If I could live there temporarily I would’ve definitely done it and explore the whole thing.

Best for: exploring an expensive country without paying for accommodation or food

Finland

Finland gives you a different au pair experience to the France/Germany default and it’s consistently ranked one of the happiest countries in the world for the better part of a decade. Probably worth experiencing from the inside rather than as a tourist passing through.

I interviewed a Brazilian woman who was an au pair in Finland and she had THE best time and the best stories! She loved walking around the forests and embracing sauna culture.

Best for: a different pace of life in one of the happiest countries in the world

Luxembourg

Luxembourg is tiny, but packs in a lot! Multiple languages and nationalities packed into a small country, with free public transport making it easy to get around without a car. I’ve also interviewed people who were au pairs in Luxembourg and they all had a great time! It’s so multicultural, easy to get around. The whole country looks like a fairytale. The government organises many au pair events too so it’s great to meet others in the area!

Best for: a multilingual, multicultural experience in a small, easy-to-navigate country

See my Luxembourg travel guide for more on the country itself.

Austria

Austria has the best money-to-hours ratio of the 12: around 550€ a month for as little as 18 hours a week, the lowest weekly cap on this list. You can also travel to Austria as a tourist and apply for the au pair visa there (check with your local Austrian Consulate/Embassy though!). Austria is also a gorgeous country with amazing landscape! Turquoise lakes, mountains…and it’s rich in culture and history.

Best for: the best pocket money relative to hours worked

Switzerland

Switzerland is also gorgeous and multilingual, but it’s also the hardest to actually get into as a non-EU applicant. Only certain cantons take on non-EU au pairs and there’s a quota system that’s notoriously difficult to get clear information on, even from au pair agencies. If you’re set on Switzerland, go in expecting a longer, murkier process than the other 11 countries on this list and confirm everything directly with the specific canton and a current agency rather than relying on general guides (including this one).

Best for: one of the highest pocket moneys, if you’re prepared for a harder visa process

Belgium

Belgium’s appeal for an au pair isn’t really Belgium alone, it’s the location. With three official languages already in play domestically and Paris, Amsterdam, London and Cologne all within a few hours, it’s one of the easiest countries on this list to turn a year abroad into a base for constant weekend travel. Not to mention some of the cutest cities in Europe at your doorstep such as Ghent, Brugge and Dinant!

Best for: weekend travel, with three major capitals within easy reach

Denmark

Denmark sits inside the Scandinavian au pair cluster alongside Sweden and Finland and English is widely and confidently spoken as a practical second language, which makes day-to-day life easier than the “Danish only” assumption a lot of people start with. It also allows you to stay for up to TWO years as an au pair. It’s important to know, though, that in Denmark many au pairs report that there’s very little childcare and their work is mostly cleaning and looking after the house. Adjust your expectations!

Best for: an English-friendly introduction to Scandinavian life

Liechtenstein

Liechtenstein is one of the smallest and least-covered countries on this list. Properly under-the-radar as an au pair destination, with far less competition for placements than the bigger, more obvious choices. Although it’s so small it’s actually a bit more difficult to find host families… it pays the most but it’s also the most expensive. It’s the richest country in the world (by GDP per capita). It’s GORGEOUS and you can literally walk to Switzerland from the capital Vaduz (I’ve done it!). Want to hear something fun? The Prince opens his castle once a year for a party inviting the whole country! (the whole country = about 40k people…)

Best for: a different experience in a country many people don’t even know exists!

For more on the country itself, see my Liechtenstein guide.

Netherlands

The Netherlands runs a slightly different visa process to some of the others on this list. Non-EU au pairs need to apply through a recognised sponsor agency rather than applying directly, which adds a step but also means potentially more built-in support during the process. This agency intermediary typically costs the au pair only 34€ though! Their outdoor, biking lifestyle is lovely, especially in the warmer months and it’s also nicely-located for exploring neighbouring countries.

Best for: extra support through a recognised sponsor agency

Sweden

Sweden rounds out the Scandinavian cluster alongside Denmark and Finland, with the same widely spoken English and a strong reputation for work-life balance that tends to carry over into how host families treat au pairs. Like any other country though, it’ll depend on the family. I’ve met many au pairs in Sweden and some had the best experience, others had to change families but that can happen in any country. Sweden is a gorgeous country! I’ve wanted to live there myself (tbh I’ve wanted to live in a bunch of countries!). Some of my favourite bands are from Sweden and my favourite author, Fredrik Backman – I never call anyone a genius but I think he might be! His Beartown trilogy is exquisite!

Best for: the Scandinavian work-life balance reputation, backed by widely spoken English

What About Spain, Italy or Ireland?

These three come up constantly in au pair searches, but they don’t belong on the list above for different reasons.

Spain and Italy are hugely popular with au pairs, but neither runs an official, regulated au pair visa programme for non-EU citizens the way the 12 above do — arrangements tend to be informal, which means less legal protection if something goes wrong with your host family.

Ireland doesn’t have an au pair visa at all, because au pair work there is classified and regulated as a domestic job instead. For an English-speaking non-EU reader who wants more legal protection than the informal Spain/Italy route offers, that’s actually worth knowing about, even though it’s a different visa route entirely from the other 12.

And if you’re wondering why Norway is not on the list, they’ve closed down their au pair programme, sadly…

Best For: A Quick Comparison

• Best for pocket money relative to hours: Austria
• Best for travel while earning: Iceland
• Best for a different pace of life: Finland
• Best for multilingual living: Luxembourg
• Best pocket money overall, if you can get in: Liechtenstein (but the country is expensive!)
• Best for a straightforward, well-trodden process: Germany
• Best for post-au pair opportunities: France and Germany

FAQ: Best Countries to Au Pair In

Final Thoughts

If you’re American or British, most “best au pair countries” advice online isn’t written with you in mind. These 12 are the ones actually open to you. If I had to pick just one…I’m not sure I could. I’d probably start with Finland, then Iceland followed by maybe Germany and France. (I actually do know someone who’s been an au pair in FIVE countries! She’s in her 5th now, France).

For more, check my guides on how to become an au pair in Europe, important questions to ask your potential host family and the au pair age limit.