Checked September 2026

Can you actually be an au pair in the Netherlands?

Nine conditions apply to everyone and a few more depend on your passport. Find your country below and read the whole list before you pay an agency anything — one of these conditions rules out more people than the rest put together.

Applies to everyone

  • You are at least 18 and no more than 25
  • You are unmarried and have no children
  • You have never held a Dutch residence permit
  • You have never worked for this host family
  • You are not related to the host family
  • The host family has at least two members
  • A recognised sponsor files the application
  • The work stays inside 30 hours a week
  • You have one year, and it cannot be extended

Then, your passport

Nationality-dependent steps
CountryResidence permitMVVTB test
the Philippines route suspendedYesYesYes
South AfricaYesYesYes
BrazilYesYesNo
ColombiaYesYesNo
MexicoYesYesNo
PeruYesYesYes
IndonesiaYesYesYes
UkraineYesYesNo
GeorgiaYesYesNo
the EU, EEA or SwitzerlandNoNoNo

Not your country? The shared conditions above still apply. Ask a recognised sponsor to confirm the MVV and TB test for your nationality — or join the waitlist and tell us your nationality, and we will write the checklist for it.