Au Pair Requirements & Eligibilty
If you love children, travel, and cultural exchange, you may be the perfect fit. Before you apply, check whether you meet the U.S. Department of State au pair requirements below — most people are surprised by how achievable the qualifications are.
Au Pair Requirements: Do You Qualify?
The following requirements are set by the U.S. Department of State and apply to all au pair program participants.
Age
Between the ages of 18–26 at the time your program begins, unmarried, and without dependent children
Education
Secondary school diploma or equivalent or about to complete your final year.
Experience
Over 300 hours of childcare experience with two separate references from non-family members. Babysitting, daycare work, nannying, camp counseling, and school assistant roles all qualify.
Driving
Valid driving license and genuine driving experience (or willing to obtain before your start date). Driving children to school and activities may be a regular part of au pair life.
English
Good conversational English. There's no formal test — AuPairCare assesses your English through a personal interview. Your English will improve significantly during the program.
Health
In good health and a non-smoker
Background
Good character and free from any criminal activity. All applicants undergo a background check.
Citizenship
Your country of citizenship must be eligible for the J-1 au pair visa. The program is open to applicants from many countries across Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa. U.S. citizens and permanent residents are not eligible.
An immersive childcare experience
You will have multiple roles: best friend, sibling, daughter or son, caregiver, and most importantly an extended family member. AuPairCare kids are like any others – they love learning and playing, and they thrive with the help of their au pairs.
Day in the life
Your typical day in the life as an au pair will include a mix of chores and personal time.
Morning Routine
Wake up children, brush their teeth, get them dressed and ready for the day. Prepare breakfast for the children.
Meal Preparation
Prepare meals and snacks for the children.
Drive
Pack up bags and drop off the children at school.
Gym & Yoga
With the children at school, head to the gym or take a yoga class on your break time.
Education Courses
Get your education credits while having fun with your English, photography, US culture or marketing class!
Laundry & Tidying
Clean up the children's bedrooms and play areas. Wash and fold laundry for the children.
Afternoon Activities
Play with the children. Help them with their homework. Take them to the park or drive them to their activities.
Dinner with Family
Have dinner with your host family. Share updates about your day. Assist with the younger children.
Bedtime Routine
Get the children ready for bed, brush their teeth, give them a bath. Read a book or sing a lullaby.
Your second family is waiting for you
Host families vary in size, background, and needs. All of them are looking for someone who becomes part of their family and will take care of their children while they are working. To find the right host family, start by creating a profile to highlight your experience, interests, and skills, and interact with potential host families who are interested to match with you.
Finding your match
Our high match success rate and reputation for customer service is a result of listening to your needs. The needs of our au pairs are just as important as those of our families.
We want to help you find a family that is a great fit for you. You will be able to meet with host families online, ask and answer questions, and decide together if you would like to match.
Your second home
Families all over the USA are looking for an au pair like you! Here are some of our popular destinations where our host families live.
FAQs
Here are a few of the most commonly asked questions. If you have any other questions please contact us so that we can get you the answers that you might need.
To qualify for the AuPairCare program you need to: be between 18–26 years old, hold a secondary school diploma, have at least 300 hours of verified childcare experience with two non-family references, hold a valid driver's license, speak conversational English, be in good health, be a non-smoker, have a clean criminal record, and be a citizen of an eligible country. You must also be unmarried with no dependent children and available to commit to the full 12-month program.
The U.S. Department of State requires a minimum of 300 hours of childcare experience, verified by two references who are not family members. Qualifying experience includes babysitting, daycare or nursery work, school or camp assistant roles, and professional nannying. Experience caring only for your own siblings does not count.
You must be at least 18 years old when your program starts and no older than 26. These age limits are set by the U.S. Department of State and apply to all accredited au pair agencies.
You need to be able to communicate confidently in everyday situations — with your host family, children, and local community. There is no minimum score on a formal English test. AuPairCare evaluates your English through a personal interview and short video as part of the application. Most au pairs report significant improvement in their English within the first few months of the program.
Yes — a valid driver's license and genuine driving experience are required, since driving the children may be a regular part of life as an au pair. Your home country license is accepted to start the program, though some U.S. states require you to obtain a local license after a few months. If you don't have a license yet, many applicants obtain one before applying.
If you can communicate well enough to read this page and hold a basic conversation, you're likely fine. Your English doesn't need to be perfect — AuPairCare's interview is designed to assess natural communication ability, not formal grammar. Most au pairs are pleasantly surprised by how quickly their English improves once they're living with a host family.
We recommend starting 3–12 months before your ideal start date. University students typically begin between June and September, so applying 6–9 months in advance is ideal to avoid exam conflicts and allow time for matching and visa processing.
Yes — the program is a minimum 12-month commitment per U.S. Department of State regulations. Most au pairs find the year goes by faster than expected, and many choose to extend for an additional 6, 9, or 12 months.
Yes. The AuPairCare program includes a comprehensive travel and accident insurance package covering the basics for your time in the U.S.
Expand your world with family and friendships from around the globe
We are passionate about making the world a smaller place by building cultural understanding and friendships across borders
