First days
- Register with the local municipality. The host family supplies a confirmation of accommodation. Keep a copy of the registration certificate for later administrative steps.
- Arrange a German SIM card. Avoid committing to a 24-month contract when the stay and future plans are uncertain.
- Find a German course and the necessary books. Check your local Volkshochschule first; an online course can bridge the wait for a suitable local class.
- Arrange public-transport tickets if needed and explain the route map.
- Discuss household rules and agree on a weekly work schedule.
Driving and familiar routes
If your au pair will drive, consider lessons to practise local traffic rules such as priority from the right. The source discusses the usual six-month validity of certain foreign licences and an extension request for a temporary 12-month au pair stay. Requirements depend on the issuing country; clarify the position with the driving-licence authority and whether a translation is needed. The ADAC provides translation and classification services.
- Practise the route to school or kindergarten.
- Show the way to friends and relatives.
- Explain the route to the supermarket.
Weeks two to five
- Arrange an immigration-office appointment if the visa needs extending.
- After the tax identification number arrives, open a bank account and bring the registration certificate.
- Have a short feedback conversation: what is working well, and what needs adjusting?