Au pair in Belgium.

Who can become an au pair in Belgium?

Eligibility is regional. Flanders requires au pairs to be 18 and not yet 26 when the work permit is granted; the federal overview states 18–25. Wallonia explicitly allows ages 18–30, so check the region where the family lives rather than assuming a single nationwide age limit.

Federal and Flemish guidance also expects a qualification permitting higher education or proof of schooling until at least 17, and generally no previous Belgian work permit apart from an allowed au pair renewal. AuPairWorld lists 'unmarried and childless' among its criteria, but the official Belgian sources we reviewed do not include them — confirm current conditions with the regional authority for your case.

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals do not need a work permit, and AuPairWorld notes no entry visa is required, with municipal registration for stays over three months.

Au pair pay in Belgium in 2026

The monthly allowance floor depends on the region: €450 per month in Flanders and Brussels-Capital, €750 per month in Wallonia. These are fixed pocket-money floors, not hourly wages, and the agreed amount can be higher.

Payment is normally made monthly into the au pair's bank account. Wallonia permits temporary cash payments with signed receipts while banking arrangements are pending. Flanders and Brussels explicitly require the allowance to continue during periods of inactivity such as illness.

• Flanders and Brussels-Capital: €450 minimum per month
• Wallonia: €750 minimum per month
• Room and full board are provided on top of the allowance, never instead of it

Working hours, babysitting and time off

The cap is four hours a day and twenty hours a week, combining childcare, babysitting and light housework. Babysitting is not extra hours on top — official sources and AuPairWorld include it in the limits, so a family needing more care should plan additional help.

Au pairs must have at least one complete day off each week, and the working week is spread over no more than six days.

There is no statutory annual holiday entitlement. AuPairWorld recommends at least two weeks for a 12-month stay, with the allowance continuing during holidays; the official Brussels contract leaves holiday periods to agreement, so put dates and continued payment in the contract.

• Write down start and finish times, school runs and babysitting evenings
• Agree holiday dates and continued allowance in the contract
• Leave time for language classes and the cultural part of the stay

Visas, work permits and residence

The host family applies to the competent regional authority for employment authorisation and a work permit B, supported by evidence on education, insurance, the household and course arrangements. EU/EEA and Swiss nationals are exempt from the work-permit requirement.

For a stay over 90 days, non-EU au pairs apply for a national long-stay visa D at the Belgian consulate, with a passport valid for at least a year, a criminal-record certificate covering the previous five years, an approved-doctor medical certificate and the employment authorisation. Checklists change, so follow the consulate's current requirements.

On arrival, report to the municipality within eight days; after the residence check the au pair receives an A residence card. The stay is limited to twelve months in total — a shorter authorisation can be renewed once, so AuPairWorld's 'cannot be extended' wording is stricter than the official federal and Walloon rules.

What hosting an au pair costs in Belgium

The family's budget starts with the regional allowance floor and continues with board, a furnished private room and access to the home, supplementary insurance covering medical, pharmaceutical and hospital costs plus early repatriation, and language-course time.

The scheme requires at least one child under 13 in the household at the start, with separate daytime childcare arranged for children under six under federal and Flemish rules — the Brussels contract instead specifies daytime care for children under five, so confirm the rule that applies to your region.

Course obligations differ too: Flanders and the federal rules require courses at a recognised institution with attendance evidence each term, and intensive study on arrival if the au pair lacks basic knowledge of the family's language. Wallonia allows a course of the au pair's choice, including computing, when they already know the family's everyday language — attendance must still be proved.

• Regional allowance: €450 Flanders/Brussels, €750 Wallonia
• Host-arranged insurance covering illness, accident and repatriation
• Course fees and timing agreed in the regional contract

How to find a match

On The Pair Network, families and au pairs can create a profile, browse members after signing in and talk directly. State that the placement is in Belgium, name the region and town, and include the start date, children's ages, language expectations and the planned weekly routine.

Discuss the 20-hour cap, the regional allowance, course rules and paperwork in a video call before committing. Check references and sign the regional contract; an online match does not establish visa eligibility or replace those checks.