In order for an au pair to work in Belgium the host family wishing to put to work a foreign au-pair must apply for employment authorisation and a work permit B to the immigration service. The application forms must contain a medical certificate and an employment agreement. After approval by the immigration services the work permit is issued to the host family and is passed onto the au pair.

In order for the immigration services to agree to issue the work permit, the au pair and family need to respect various conditions, outlined below.

Conditions for au pair

Au pair must be aged between 18 and 26
The au pair must agree not to take any other work in Belgium whilst working as an au pair
Au pair must have a certificate or proof that he/she has completed secondary school or that he/she has followed courses until the age of 17 at least
Au pair must have a basic knowledge of one of the national languages, being French, Dutch or German. The language of which they have basic knowledge must also be the language they come to Belgium to improve and the language of the host family
Au pair must attend language courses and the school he/she attends must produce a certificate every 3 months, proving the au pairs regular attendance
Au pair must not have obtained a work permit for Belgium before
Au pair can only start in July, August or September

Conditions for host family

Family must provide au pair with a private, well-accommodated bedroom
Family must take out insurance for the au pair covering he/she for illness, hospitalisation and accidents, for the entire duration of the au pairs stay
The au pair must be given at least one day off a week and one full weekend off per month
Family must give their au pair an allowance of 450€ a month which must be deposited in to a bank account specifically for the au pair
Family must speak the language the au pair wishes to learn

Information on visas in:
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