Au pair in Denmark? Start here.
Table of Contents
What is the au pair program?
The au pair program is an international cultural exchange program that gives young people an opportunity to travel abroad and live with a host family while helping with light household duties and childcare. The minimum au-pair allowance (salary/pocket money) is DKK 4600,- per month (2022 level). The host family must also provide food and lodging (a private room).
Who is an au pair?
An au pair is a young person between 18 and 29 years who, under the au pair program in Denmark, should work for a maximum of thirty hours per week. Au Pair is a French word meaning on equal terms. This is to say that an au pair is to be considered as part of their host family and, therefore, not a full-time nanny or cleaning lady/man.
In your home country:
Documents you need:
International Passport (valid for at least 30 months)
Birth Certificate (original, translated into English)
School papers/certificates (originals, legalized, and translated into English)
Good Conduct from the police (only needed if you need a visa to enter Denmark)
If you need to obtain a visa, gain some basic knowledge about Denmark and answers to why you want to be an au pair in Denmark since you might be asked such questions during a VISA application interview at the Danish Embassy/representation in your country.
What is a host family?
A host family is a family willing to host an au pair under the au pair program in Denmark. A host family must meet specific requirements. Among them, a private room for the au pair, monthly pocket money, and at least one of the children in the house must be under 18 years.
Please note that if you are of a different nationality, the rules do not permit you to host an au pair from the same country, as this goes against the au pair program.
Case Order ID
Before your arrival, the host family must create a Case Order ID (sagsbehandlings-id) that both parties need to refer to while filling in the AU1 application form.When you have gotten the Case Order ID, you should contact the Danish Embassy in your country to start the process of getting a Short Term VISA (if your country is not exempted from a VISA requirement), that will allow you to enter and stay in Denmark, until you can receive your residence card under the au pair program.
The embassy will ask you to come in for an interview to which you will provide the necessary documents alongside the Case Order ID.
Notice that you will have to pay a non-refundable VISA application fee to the embassy/VISA Center in your country.
Danish language school fee
The Host family must pay a fee for Danish Language School (even if you will not be attending language classes). The fee is a one-time off payment of DKK 18,215 (2022 Level).
Note that the fee is only required if it is the first time you apply for a residence permit as an au pair. If you wish to change from your current host family in Denmark, to a new one, then your new host family is exempted from paying the language school fee.
Insurance
In addition, the family is also required to buy an Au-pair Insurance for you, and it must be effective from the day you arrive in Denmark. The insurance can be found at prices DKK 6.000,- depending on which au pair insurance the host family chooses. The insurance covers a period of 24 months.
Click below to find examples of Au-pair Insurances:
After you have received your visa(typically valid for 90 days):
Flight Ticket, who pays for it?
The host family is responsible for your travel expenses. The family must buy the flight ticket to and from Denmark if you are traveling from outside EU).
Find tickets and more information about Airports & Flights here.
Are you arriving between October and April?
Then pack warm clothes!
Temperatures in the Danish winter period can be anywhere between -20 and +10 degrees Celsius (-4 to 50 degrees Fahrenheit)
Click below if you have not dressed for such outdoor temperatures before:
After arriving at your host family in Denmark:
Legal Documents
Keep your passport in your possession at all times! Only hand over your passport to Police, Immigration Authorities, and Embassies if requested – it is NOT for your host family or anyone else to keep.
Legal obligations once in Denmark:
- Register at the CPR Registry in your local Danish Municipality (kommune/hjemkommune) NO LATER THAN 5 DAYS AFTER ARRIVING.
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As part of the CPR registration, you will also register for the National Health Insurance, where you choose an available local General Practitioner (GP – your personal doctor).
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Choose a bank and signup for a Bank Account with Online Banking – including MitID.
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Suppose you did not provide your Bio-metric Features (fingerprint) in your country (as part of the application process). In that case, you are required to do so within two weeks – either at the Citizen Centre located at the Danish Agency for International Recruitment and Integration or at a Danish police station capable of recording biometric features.
Are you traveling for the first time?
It may be overwhelming and confusing for someone traveling abroad for the first time. Do not hesitate to ask your host family for assistance. Consider taking point-form notes to help you stay afloat during your first days in the country as you settle in. Knowledge is power 🙂
Here are a few social network platforms related to au pairs in Denmark that will help you navigate your new world, stay informed and be up to date with the au pair program and how you can integrate into the Danish culture. And who knows, maybe gain a friend/friends.
