Au Pair in Spain as a Latin American: the route that is closed to you and the ones that remain open

If you're from Colombia, Mexico, Argentina, Peru or any country where Spanish is the official language, you've probably read that you can't be an au pair in Spain. That's not accurate. What's closed to you is one of the ways in: the study stay based on a Spanish course. The basic rules of the au pair program are set by the European Agreement on "Au Pair" Placement (Strasbourg, 1969), in force in Spain since September 12, 1988, which defines au pair placement as hosting "jóvenes de países extranjeros" (young people from foreign countries; art. 2), without distinguishing by nationality; the specific rights and obligations are agreed in writing with the family (art. 6.1).

What exactly is closed to you

The current regulation doesn't treat au pairs as a category of their own or give them a visa: to live in Spain as an au pair you need a long-term study stay under one of the modalities of art. 52.1 of the Immigration Regulation, Royal Decree 1155/2024. One of its modalities is in-person study of Spanish or Spain's co-official languages at official language schools or centers accredited by the Instituto Cervantes or the equivalent public body for the co-official language, and the regulation only accepts it "siempre que no se trate de la lengua materna o la lengua oficial del país del que sea nacional la persona extranjera" (as long as it is not the native language or the official language of the foreign national's country; art. 52.1.e).2.º). If your language is Spanish, that particular door doesn't work for you: you can't apply for the stay for a Spanish course. Note: the rule only excludes your native or official language, so a course in Catalan, Basque or Galician at an official language school or an accredited center is not excluded by it (art. 52.1.e).2.º). If you want to combine it with a placement with a family, confirm that with the consulate too.

The routes that remain open

The other modalities in the same art. 52.1 don't depend on your language: higher education (letter a), upper secondary education (letter b), student mobility (letter c), volunteering (letter d) and, within letter e), working as a language assistant, preparatory courses for specialized health training, training for a technical aptitude certification or professional qualification, and full training leading to grade C professional certificates, at levels 2 and 3. They are study stays with their own requirements: for studies, having been admitted by the school and having paid the enrollment fee it requires (always, in higher education); for volunteering, having been admitted to a program under an agreement (art. 53.1).

• Working: it's only included for higher education under letter a); for the other modalities you need authorization, and "con carácter general" (as a general rule) work "no podrá ser superior a las treinta horas semanales" (may not exceed thirty hours a week), except for intensive vocational training, where "se estará a lo que determine la legislación sectorial" (sector legislation applies). Going over that limit is grounds for the authorization to end (art. 57.2).
• In-person attendance: university studies can be in person or hybrid according to their study plan; other higher education, also in person or hybrid, "siempre que, al menos, el 50 por ciento de la programación impartida sea presencial" (as long as at least 50 percent of the program is taught in person; art. 52.1.a).
• In every modality: you must not pose a threat to public order, security or health, which is checked through the absence of a criminal record in Spain and the police report (art. 53.2), and you must have paid the processing fee (art. 53.3).

What the European Agreement says

• Age: the person placed as an au pair "no tendrá una edad inferior a los diecisiete años ni superior a los treinta años" (shall be no younger than seventeen and no older than thirty), with exceptions to the upper limit when circumstances justify it (art. 4).
• Hours: time "de modo efectivo" (actually) spent on household duties "no excederá en general de cinco horas diarias" (shall not generally exceed five hours a day; art. 9).
• In return: board and lodging and, "where possible," a separate room (art. 8.1); time to attend language and training courses (art. 8.2); and pocket money in the amount set in the written agreement (art. 8.4). The Agreement doesn't set a figure.
• Paperwork: a medical certificate issued no more than three months before the placement (art. 5) and a written agreement with the family.

Your next step

1. Before paying anything, ask the consulate whether they accept a study stay under another modality combined with a placement with a family.
2. If they confirm it in writing, choose the art. 52.1 modality that fits you (for example, a vocational training program or a degree).
3. Get admitted by the school and look for a family.

Full guide to the program, with requirements and documents: Au pair in Spain.

Sources

• Royal Decree 1155/2024, Regulation of Organic Law 4/2000: arts. 52.1, 53.1 and 57.2.
• European Agreement on "Au Pair" Placement (Strasbourg, November 24, 1969; BOE-A-1988-21042): arts. 2, 4, 5, 6.1, 8 and 9.