Host Families · Austria
Hosting an au pair means flexible support in everyday family life – within clearly regulated legal conditions in Austria. On this page you will find the most important requirements, obligations, and key conditions for host families, summarized clearly and understandably. In short: Host families provide accommodation and meals, support the language course and the required organizational steps, while au pairs support childcare and light household tasks within the agreed hours.
As a host family in Austria, you welcome an au pair as a temporary member of your family. An au pair is not professional childcare or a cleaning service, but provides support within the agreed hours with childcare and light household tasks – and in return learns the language, culture, and everyday life in Austria.
The core of the au pair program is cultural exchange. The au pair lives with you, speaks with the family, experiences Austria – and improves seine Deutschkenntnisse. Ein respektvoller, klar strukturierter Familienalltag ist die beste Grundlage.
Au pairs support you reliably within defined time windows. For this to work well, clear agreements are needed: tasks, weekly schedule, free time, household rules, and genuine involvement in family life.
Hosting an au pair comes with certain requirements that host families in Austria must meet. The following points provide an overview of the most important requirements and organizational conditions.
Tip: The more clearly you define roles, tasks, and personal space, the more stable the au pair year will be. A weekly plan, “house rules”, and fixed communication times are helpful.
In Austria, the weekly working hours for au pairs are clearly limited and include childcare as well as moderate help in the household. Important: The au pair is not responsible for “running the household”, but supports with light tasks.
In Austria, the au pair arrangement is clearly regulated and tied to employment conditions. For host families, this means transparent standards for compensation, registration, and supporting the language course. Specific amounts and details may change and are set according to current regulations.
Details on costs and obligations: Costs · Information Pack
Why My Family Au Pair?
A successful au pair year is built on clear expectations, suitable profiles, and support that remains accessible in everyday life. This is exactly what My Family Au Pair specializes in.
You always know where you stand: profile, selection, getting to know each other, preparation, start. No vague promises, but clear, traceable steps. Our processes are designed digitally – low-paper, structured, and family-friendly, so you spend less time organizing and more time living everyday life.
As an au pair agency with many years of experience, we work with an established network of international partner agencies. This gives us access to a wide selection of suitable candidates – including au pairs who are already in Europe and want to continue their cultural exchange.
Questions, misunderstandings, or conflicts can often be resolved quickly – if addressed early and moderated clearly. We remain reachable, help with structure, communication, and solutions, and make sure expectations align again.
An au pair’s working time is limited and includes childcare as well as light household tasks. It is a maximum of 16.5 hours per week for contracts concluded from 01/01/2026 onwards. The specific schedule is defined in the contract.
Light tasks include, for example, tidying up after meals, keeping shared areas in order, vacuuming/mopping in the kitchen/living area, as well as tasks related to the children. No professional cleaning and no full household management.
Host families enable participation in a German course and cover half of the course costs. The exact arrangement is defined in the contract and coordinated with the weekly schedule.
Yes, within the agreed hours and tasks. Clear agreements, age-appropriate responsibility, and a safe framework are important. Permanent sole responsibility overnight or during longer absences of the parents should be avoided.
My Family Au Pair supports you in case of misunderstandings or conflicts and helps with clarification talks, structuring everyday life and—if necessary—with a change within the framework of fair solutions.
We carefully review your requirements and support you throughout the entire au pair stay – clearly, accessibly, and in a structured way.
