Residence permit au pair
Requirements
These are the requirements that apply to you and the host family.
- You are going to live in the Netherlands temporarily on an exchange programme as an au pair through a recognised au pair agency (recognised sponsor).
- You meet the general requirements that apply to everyone.
- You are at least 18 and no more than 25 years old at the time of the application.
- You are unmarried.
- You do not have any (foster) children.
- You have not had a residence permit for exchange in the Netherlands before.
- You are going to live with a host family which is registered in the Personal Records Database (BRP). You will also be registered at that address.
- Your host family has 2 or more members. They have Dutch nationality or a valid residence permit for the Netherlands.
- Your host family meets the income requirements.
- You have not worked for the host family before, in the Netherlands or abroad.
- You are not related as a family member to the host family. Related means: parents, children, brothers and sisters, grandfathers and grandmothers, grandchildren, uncles and aunts, cousins, nieces and nephews, great grandparents and great grandchildren.
- You will carry out light housekeeping tasks for the host family. You do this no more than 8 hours a day and for a maximum of 30 hours a week. You have at least 2 days off each week.
- You will not carry out tasks for people who need more specialised care, for which you need to have a specific skill, such as nursing.
- You and the host family will make a schedule for all 7 days of the week. You and the family sign this schedule daily. The schedule must at least include:
- how many of hours of light housekeeping tasks the au pair is going to do;
- which 2 days of the week the au pair is off;
- who does light housekeeping tasks besides the au pair: this person’s name must be given.
- You have not signed a contract with a host family, intermediary agency (Dutch or foreign), or au pair agency stating that you must pay a fine if you do not fulfil the contract.
- You have not paid any fees to an intermediary agency (Dutch or foreign) or au pair agency.
- You have not paid more than €34 in costs to prepare for your stay in the Netherlands. For example, for registration and intermediary services by an intermediary agency or to take a course about staying in the Netherlands.
Process and costs
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1. Check requirements open minusA valid provisional residence permit (MVV) is needed for this application
Make sure you meet the requirements.
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1. Check requirements open minusMake sure you meet the requirements.
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2. Collect documents open minusOnly an au pair agency recognised by the IND can apply for a residence permit for au pair. The au pair agency will let you know which documents you and your host family need.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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2. Collect documents open minusOnly an au pair agency recognised by the IND can apply for a residence permit for au pair. The au pair agency will let you know which documents you and your host family need.
Have official foreign documents legalised and translated into Dutch, English, French or German.
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3. Apply open minusThe au pair agency applies for the MVV and the residence permit at the same time. This application can be submitted online or in writing by post.
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3. Apply open minusThe au pair agency can submit the application online or in writing by post.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 405,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our web page Fees: costs of an application.
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4. Pay for application open minusThe application costs € 405,00. For all fees and exceptions, visit our webpage Fees: costs of an application.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period. We try to decide on the application within 2 weeks.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer time to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. The au pair agency will receive a letter.
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5. Wait for decision on application open minusThe IND must take a decision within 90 days. This is called the decision period. We try to decide on the application within 2 weeks.
We can extend the decision period if it takes longer time to decide. For example, because the application is not complete. The au pair agency will receive a letter.
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6. Decision on application open minusYou will receive the decision in a letter to the au pair agency. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get an MVV and a residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not get an MVV or a residence permit. You can object against this decision.
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6. Decision on application open minusYou will receive the decision in a letter to the au pair agency. The decision will be positive or negative.
- Positive decision: you will get a residence permit.
- Negative decision: you will not get a residence permit. You can object against this decision.
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7. Make appointment for MVV visa sticker and travel to the Netherlands open minusYour can travel to the Netherlands with the MVV.
Make appointment within 3 months of decision
You will have to make an appointment at the Dutch representation. This is the embassy or consulate that you filled in on the application form. You have to make the appointment within 3 months after the IND has taken a decision on your application.
Biometrics
You must provide biometric data during the appointment at the Dutch representation. You will put a signature and the Dutch representation will take fingerprints. You also needs to bring 1 new passport photo. Go to netherlandsworldwide.nl for information on requirements for ID photos.
Valid passport required
Your passport must be valid for at least another 6 months when the Dutch representation places the MVV visa sticker in the passport. The MVV is valid for 90 days.
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7. Collect residence permit open minusWhen the residence permit is ready at the IND desk, the au pair agency will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect your residence document.
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8. Collect residence permit open minusWhen the residence permit is ready at the IND desk, the au pair agency will receive a letter. You must make an appointment to collect it. Make an appointment to collect your residence document.
Application forms
The au pair agency can submit this application online.
More information on access to and the possibilities in Business Portal
Written application forms
More information on access to and the possibilities in Business Portal
Written application forms
The residence permit
What else you need to know about the residence permit.
TB test
Did you indicate at the time of the application that you will take a TB (tuberculosis) test? Then make an appointment with the public health service (in Dutch: Gemeenschappelijke Gezondheidsdienst or GGD). Do this within 3 months after you have received the residence permit. Take the
with you to the appointment.Working with the residence permit
As an au pair, you may only perform light housekeeping tasks. This is only allowed for the host family and at the address of the host family. In all cases you are only allowed to carry out the tasks from the day that you receive the residence permit. A work permit (in Dutch: tewerkstellingsvergunning or TWV) is not needed. You are not allowed to work for a second host family or an employer.
It says on the back of your residence permit in Dutch: work permit not required for specific work, other work not permitted (in Dutch: TWV niet vereist voor specifieke arbeid, andere arbeid niet toegestaan).
The Netherlands Labour Authority checks whether the au pair and the host family comply with the Foreign Nationals (Employment) Act (in Dutch: Wet arbeid vreemdeling or WAV).
Legal obligations
As a recognised sponsor, your au pair agency has an obligation to provide information, an obligation to keep and retain records and a duty of care. You only have an obligation to provide information.
Read more about the legal obligations as a recognised sponsor and the foreign national’s obligation to provide information.
The IND checks whether you meet your obligations. What if you do not? Then you can get an administrative fine.
Complaints about the host family
Are there any problems with the host family? Please contact the au pair agency to see how problems can be solved. For example, if you have to do more or different tasks than previously agreed upon.
For advice you can call the IND Au Pairs Reporting Point on telephone number 06-10823594. In serious cases of abuse or exploitation, go to the police. It is also important that you report to the IND using the Fraud form on our website.
Validity period of the residence permit
The au pair residence permit is valid for a maximum of 1 year.
You must meet the requirements throughout this time. You may switch to a different host family or a different au pair agency. The au pair agency must, however, notify the IND of this.
Type of residence permit
The residence permit is type I, temporary regular residence permit.
Other applications
You cannot extend the residence permit for an au pair. Has your residence permit been damaged, lost or stolen? Then have the residence permit replaced. Visit the web page about Residence permit damaged or change of personal details or Residence permit lost or stolen.