How to Work as an Au-Pair in France
France is one of the most popular places to work as a au pair in Europe. If you would like to work as an au-pair or nanny in France you can find jobs and apply through our website securing a role before departing.
We do not recommend just turning up in France and seeking au-pair jobs, this can be tough especially if you do not have a good grasp of the French language. Also you will need to give yourself the advantage over other people who also seek the same position you do so spend a lot of time preparing your application and CV. You will live with a host family which is great as you will get to save money and possibly use this for travels.
Au pair agencies in France hire lots of international staff which are key to a successful environment for children to learn and grow up - you will be part of a family who you will hopefully bond with and be there to support you for the duration of your stay. There are lots of nanny agencies in cities like Paris and throughout the country who can place you with families all over the country.
View our guide which includes information on how to become an au pair in France, search positions and read experiences and reviews .
Popular Places to Work as an Au-Pair in France
- Paris
- Lille
- Nantes
- Lyon
- Bordeaux
- Toulouse
- Montpellier
- Aix-en-Provence
- Nice
Best Time to Apply
You can apply and start working all year round, summer is a really popular period and so get your application in early for this time. Some agencies will require you to commit to a minimum of one year but there are summer and shorter terms available. Most employers and families like a long term commitment of at least 3 months+ so try to be flexible when it comes to this as you will improve your chances of finding a placement.
Requirements
You do not need any previous formal qualifications to apply although experience working with children is beneficial.
Are you wondering do I need to Speak French to work as an au-pair in France? No, although knowing the basics will really improve your chances of gaining emploment. It is recommended you book a French language course in France to enhance your chances of getting employment and to make the whole experience more enjoyable. Most families looking to employee nannies and au pairs in France will be French so it is important and also give you an advantage if you speak at least the basics of the language.
- If you are from the UK or an EU or EEA country then no visa is needed.
- If you are from a non-EU country you will need to apply for a French work visa. To be eligible you will need to be aged 18-30, have a valid passport and sometimes you might be asked to see if you have a return ticket and proof of funds. You can find out more information by visiting the official French Immigration and Integration Office Site.
Salary for Working as an Au-Pair in France
It really depends on the employer but don't expect to get paid a huge amount, this position is more about the experience of living in France. You can usually expect wages to be paid anywhere from 250 - 600 euros per month but remember you will get free food and accommodation which can save you a lot especially if you are based in a city like Paris.
Recommended Au-Pair Agencies in France
What are French Families like
Expect your host family to be friendly and welcoming, they will usually be there to help with any questions or any help you need/ Expect to throw yourself into this cultural experience, you will learn a lot about French people and culture living here. Important things you will need to consider is try to see things from the families perspective, their prime objective is to hire someone who cares and will be trustworthy about the well-being of their children so bare this in mind when applying or having interviews.
Help / Advice
If you need any help getting a job in France please get in touch, you might also like to view all of our seasonal-jobs-working-holidays in France.
Advertise Here
If you offer au-pair jobs in France and would like to be featured here please contact us.
France Au Pair Reviews & Experiences
If you have ever been to work in France and would like to add a review, write about your experience or share any recommendations please contact us. Below you can read past testimonials and advice from past au pairs.
5 Tips to Be a Successful Au Pair in France
At the beginning of 2014, Becky Wood embarked on a five month stint as an au pair in France. She wasn't sure what to expect but here she shares her experiences and top recommendations...
Why I Applied
I’m not a big fan of children and I’m not an even bigger fan of keeping children under control, but I heard that being an au pair was a great way to learn a language as it allows you to live in a country for free and be fully immersed in a different culture and speech. So I hopped over to France to learn a certain je ne sais quoi.
Tip 1 – Search for a family
A few months before I intended to go to France I signed myself up to Au Pair World and I began my search. The site is free to use for au pairs and you can search for a million and one things such as, the age of the children, the language they speak, whether you get your own car, if the family have had au pairs before, therefore allowing you to pick that perfect family.
What seemed like a million and one searches later I found my family. I was quite particular in what I wanted so my search took some time. I knew I didn't want young babies or toddlers, I didn't want a family who spoke English in the house, I didn't want to be out of pocket and I wanted a place to meet plenty of people my age.
Tip 2 – Skype your family
You can message a family for hours and feel that they are the perfect fit, but without a short skype call, you might not really know who they are. I skyped a number of families and I knew straight away when I found my match! I did have to slightly settle in the end as it was too difficult to find a fully French speaking family, as so many families want their au pair to speak English to their children, or even everyone in the household. So, I got a French family, but with bilingual kids whom I had to speak English to.
Tip 3 – Find out your duties, maybe even sign a contract?
Au Pair World recommend using their contract to secure your place and your rights with the family. I made sure my family stated what they agreed to pay me (€100 per week) plus the fact that they said they would pay for my French lessons. I wish I had asked that I was guaranteed a car, because halfway through my stay they took my car off me and I was stuck in the middle of a French village with no opportunity to see my friends.
Tip 4 – Lay down the laws!
The youngest girl I took care of was quite the nightmare, with screaming, crying and generally enough to make me want to throw her in the Seine. The parents were by no means pushovers, and they didn't let her get away with murder, but with the amount of au pairs these kids had had there was quite an uneven discipline system, which meant this girl thought she could run riot around anyone that wasn't her parent.
The main reason I'm writing how bad this kid was is a hope that other future au pairs can read this and know that they have to lay the law down on their first day! This is really tough as you don't know how much authority you have, and even if the parents want you to discipline their kids. My advice here is to go all out! It's better to lay your laws down and have the parents say, "take it down a notch" than for your kids to play hell. If anything, the parents will feel embarrassed that you're the one disciplining their brats, and not them, so they'll probably back you up.
Tip 5 – Enjoy yourself!
There are a number of mixed experiences when it comes to au pairing, which come from myself but also other au pairs I met during my stay. There are some crap times, there are some times where you swear never to have your own children but overall au pairing gives you the opportunity to live in a place for a few hours of work a day, whilst learning a language. My free time was extensive and I often complained I had too many hours in the day, but once I made some friends (French people and other au pairs), I spent my days strolling around Paris and picking up French without even noticing it. Overall, I would do it again and I would recommend au pairing to other people my age, but just do your research before you make the big step and remember you’re not the one looking after these kids forever!
By Becky Wood
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