Au Pair programme
Cultural and language exchange program for young people aged 17 to 30, generally up to five hours of duties a day and one year extendable to two. If Spanish is your native language or your country's official language, the stay for Spanish classes is not for you. Other study-stay modalities don't depend on your language, but no regulation describes them as an au pair route: ask the consulate before paying anything.
💡 If you already speak Spanish, what is closed to you is one specific route: the study stay allows Spanish-language classes only "provided that it is not the mother tongue or the official language of the country of which the foreign national is a citizen" (art. 52.1.e).2.º RD 1155/2024). The European agreement defines the placement as hosting "young people from foreign countries" (art. 2), without distinguishing by nationality. The other modalities in art. 52.1 — higher education, upper secondary, pupil mobility, volunteering or conversation assistant, among others — do not depend on your language, but the regulation does not govern au pairs and no official source describes them as an au pair route. If you want to combine one of them with a placement with a family, ask the consulate and get written confirmation before paying any enrollment fee.
📋 This is not an employment relationship. The services consist of taking part in daily household tasks and "shall not generally exceed five hours a day" (art. 9 of the European agreement). The host family provides accommodation, meals and pocket money in the amount agreed in writing (art. 8).
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Step by step
The application is submitted at the Spanish consulate in the applicant's country of residence. It is processed as a study stay visa.
Mistakes that get applications refused
⚠️ Applying for a study stay for a Spanish course as a citizen of a Spanish-speaking country
Consecuencia: The application does not fit that route — art. 52.1.e).2.º allows it "provided that it is not the mother tongue or the official language of the country of which the foreign national is a citizen". It is not an automatic refusal for being Colombian or Mexican — it is that this particular door asks for something you do not meet.
Solución: Don't pay any enrollment fee without first asking the consulate whether they accept a study stay under another art. 52.1 modality combined with an au pair placement: the regulation does not govern au pairs and no official source describes that combination. And mind what is usually said about the student visa: work as an employee or self-employed is included automatically ONLY for higher education under letter a); the others need a work authorization, and "as a general rule" the work "may not exceed thirty hours a week", except for intensive vocational training (art. 57.2).
⚠️ Spending more time on the family's tasks than the agreement allows
Consecuencia: It goes against the European agreement: tasks "shall not generally exceed five hours a day" (art. 9). And if you also work with an authorization as a student, that work may not "as a general rule" exceed 30 hours a week, and going over it "will be grounds for termination" of the stay (art. 57.2 RD 1155/2024).
Solución: Put the hours in writing in the agreement with the family (art. 6.1). If they are not respected, the agreement can be ended under art. 11 of the European agreement.
⚠️ Failing to attend Spanish language classes
Consecuencia: Non-compliance with the program — may affect renewal
Solución: The language component is mandatory. Maintain your enrollment and attendance in the Spanish language course throughout your entire stay.
⚠️ The host family treating the au pair as a domestic employee
Consecuencia: Illegal situation — the au pair does not hold an employment contract
Solución: The Au Pair Program is NOT an employment relationship. It is a cultural exchange. If the host family is abusive, contact the agency or the relevant authorities.
Requirements
- Be between 17 and 30 — the European agreement sets those two limits and allows exceptions to the upper one where circumstances justify it (art. 4)
- If Spanish is your native language or your country's official language, the stay for Spanish classes is not for you (art. 52.1.e).2.º RD 1155/2024); the rule only excludes your language, so a course in Catalan, Basque or Galician at an official language school or accredited center is not excluded by it. Other study-stay modalities don't depend on your language, but if you want to combine them with an au pair placement, confirm it with the consulate first
- Basic knowledge of Spanish (A2 recommended — agency practice, not an agreement requirement)
- No children of your own (placement agencies ask for this; the European agreement does not)
- Have a registered Spanish host family
- Private health insurance
- Criminal record certificate
Conditions of the placement
Hours of duties: The agreement measures it PER DAY, not per week — time actually spent on services "shall not as a general rule exceed five hours per day" (art. 9). Those services are taking part in the family's daily household duties.
Duration: One year to start with, "but may be extended to a maximum period of two years" (art. 3). The 12 months agencies advertise are the opening stretch, not the ceiling.
Board and pocket money: The family provides board and lodging and, "where possible", a separate room (art. 8.1), plus a monthly sum as pocket money whose amount and intervals are set in the written agreement (art. 8.4) — the agreement itself names no figure.
Language classes: You must be left enough time to attend language courses and improve your cultural and professional education, and "every facility shall be granted as regards the arrangement of working hours" (art. 8.2).
Days off: At least one full free day per week, and "at least one free day per month shall be a Sunday", with facilities to take part in religious services (art. 8.3).
Who pays the insurance: Where sickness, maternity or accident benefits are not covered by social security or another official body, "the competent member of the receiving family shall take out private insurance, the cost of which shall be entirely borne by him" (art. 10.2). The family pays it, not you.
Ending the arrangement: If the agreement is open-ended, either side may end it on two weeks' notice; and in the case of serious misconduct by the other party, or other serious circumstances, it may be terminated immediately (art. 11).
Legal basis
European Agreement on Au Pair Placement (Strasbourg, 24 November 1969), ratified by Spain and in force since 12 September 1988 (BOE-A-1988-21042); Organic Law 4/2000 (LOEX), study stay regime
Checked against the consolidated text on 2026-10-07.
Official sources
Última actualización: 2026-09-01