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Pathway

Netherlands Au Pair Residence Permit

Netherlands Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

This is a temporary cultural-exchange route through a recognized au pair agency.

Age
18 to 25
Sponsor
Recognized au pair agency
Purpose
Cultural exchange with a host family

Summary

The Netherlands’ au-pair residence category supports a host-family cultural exchange arranged through a recognized au-pair agency. Household duties must stay within the permitted light tasks, rather than becoming ordinary domestic employment. The au pair permit lasts no more than one year and cannot be extended in that category.

The recognized agency applies for the cultural-exchange permit
  1. Check personal eligibility and the agency Confirm the age, prior-participation, family-status, and sponsor requirements.
  2. Review the host arrangement and fees The placement must remain cultural exchange with limited permitted household tasks.
  3. Agency submits the residence and any MVV application Use an IND-recognized sponsor rather than an independent host-family filing.

This is a temporary au pair arrangement, not ordinary domestic employment or an extendable work permit.

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Eligibility

EEA means the EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.

The applicant must:

The host family must have at least 2 members, be registered in the Dutch population register (BRP), have Dutch nationality or valid Dutch residence, and meet the current host-family income requirement.

The au pair and host family must sign a weekly schedule. Light household tasks are limited to 8 hours a day and 30 hours a week, with at least 2 days off each week. The au pair cannot provide specialized care requiring professional skills. A contract also cannot impose a fine for failing to complete the placement.

What This Route Allows

The permit allows the au pair to live with the approved host family and take part in the cultural-exchange placement for up to 1 year. The agreed light household tasks are allowed within the daily and weekly limits.

It is possible to change host families or agencies during the permit period, but the recognized agency must notify IND and the new arrangement must continue to meet every requirement.

What This Route Is Not

This is not a nanny, care-worker, cleaning, or general employment permit. It does not allow unrestricted paid work, self-employment, more than 30 hours of household tasks a week, or specialized nursing or care duties.

It is also not renewable as another au pair year and does not by itself guarantee a later work permit, permanent residence, or Dutch citizenship. Someone who is an EU, EEA, or Swiss citizen normally relies on free movement instead of this residence permit.

Next Steps

  1. Confirm that the applicant meets the age, marriage, child, and prior-exchange rules.
  2. Check prospective agencies in the current IND recognized-sponsor register before paying or signing anything.
  3. Have the agency check the host family, income, relationship, prior-work, insurance, and schedule requirements.
  4. Review any proposed fees or penalty clauses carefully. The official rules sharply restrict what an au pair may be charged.
  5. Let the recognized agency submit the residence-permit application and, where required, the provisional residence permit (MVV) application.

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Sources