Country guide · 1,240 families hosting
Au pair in Spain.
Sunshine, siestas, fast Spanish. Here is what the exchange typically looks like there — money, hours, paperwork and pace of life.
- Typical pocket money
- €80–€110 / week
- Hours
- Max 30 hours / week
- Time off
- 1.5 days off weekly
- Typical stay
- 2–9 months typical
- Language
- Spanish
The visa, in plain language
EU citizens simply register locally. For most non-EU au pairs the route is a student visa attached to an accredited Spanish course of enough hours, which allows limited part-time activity — enrol in the course first, then apply.
- 01
Sign the au pair agreement with your family
- 02
Enrol in an accredited Spanish language course (15+ hours a week)
- 03
Apply for the student visa at the Spanish consulate for your country
- 04
Register with local police or town hall within 30 days of arrival
Typical current practice, January 2026 — not legal advice. Always check the country's official immigration guidance before applying.
What makes Spain different
- Warm, family-centred culture — children are welcome almost everywhere
- Late dinner culture and long weekend lunches with the family
- Living costs well below northern Europe
- Fast progress in one of the world's most spoken languages
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