Temporary Residence Card - Au pair

Verified 01 May 2026 - Public Service / Directorate of Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

Additional cases ?

For a European

If you are a foreigner no European and that you are temporarily welcomed into a family in France in exchange for small housework and childcare, you can apply for the temporary residence card au pair after obtaining the corresponding long-stay visa. You must meet certain conditions and sign an agreement with your host family. We present you the information to know.

You must be Non-European foreigner and fill the whole the following conditions:

  • Be between 18 and 30 years old
  • To be temporarily welcomed into a family of a different nationality and with whom you have no kinship ties, with the aim of improving your language skills and your knowledge of France in exchange for small housework and childcare
  • Have an agreement with this family
  • Have a basic knowledge of the French language or have a secondary education or professional qualifications.

Warning  

You must have obtained a long-stay visa to apply for the au pair youth residence card.

You must conclude an agreement with your host family defining the rights and obligations of the two parties.

A cerfa form must be completed:

Agreement between the au pair and the host family

The Convention specifies in particular the following points:

  • Amount of your pocket money (minimum €320)
  • Activities and tasks performed for the family and their duration (maximum 25 hours per week)
  • Accommodation conditions (minimum living space of the room of 9 m2 with at least one window) and food
  • Weekly rest (at least 1 rest day per week).

It must be concluded before your departure for France, as it is necessary to obtain your visa.

The initial duration of the agreement may not exceed 1 year.

In case of extension of the stay beyond 1 year, a new agreement of a maximum duration of 1 year can be concluded (thus allowing a stay of a maximum total duration of 2 years in France).

Please note

You are not not authorized to work on an ancillary basis outside the tasks provided for within the host family.

You must submit your application for a card to the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your residence within 2 months before the end date of your long-stay visa as a residence permit. Find out more on the prefecture's website.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.

Documents to be provided

  • Long-stay visa
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
    • Or consular certificate with photo
    • Or photo ID
    • Or consular card with photo
    • Or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
  • Proof of address less than 6 months old
  • 3 photos
    • If the request is made on the internet: indicate the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth on the photo board)
    • If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service
  • Proof of payment of the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
  • Host agreement completed and signed by the two parties
  • Any document attesting either to a basic knowledge of the French language, or to a complete course of secondary education or a form of professional qualification
  • Copy of an identity document of each of the parents of the host family.

If your file is complete, you will receive a receipt pending the response of the prefecture.

Cost

You have to settle €100 by tax stamps when validating, on your arrival, the long-stay visa as a residence permit then €150 when issuing a first residence permit.

Proof of payment of stamp duty and tax is requested when the card is handed over.

The prefecture has a period of 90 days, from the filing of the complete application, to take a decision on the issuance of this card.

If beyond these 90 days, the prefecture has not responded, it is a implied refusal.

Your card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home (depending on where your application is submitted).

The residence card au pair is valid 1 year maximum.

If you wish to continue your stay beyond 1 year as an au pair in France, you must conclude a new agreement for a maximum period of 1 year.

Request for the card

The request for renewal of the residence card is made during the 2 months before its end with the prefecture (or sub-prefecture) of your home.

Who shall I contact

Warning  

It is not possible to carry out the procedures in some sub-prefectures. Find out more on the website of your prefecture.

Documents to be provided

  • Residence card
  • Passport (pages concerning civil status, validity dates, entry stamps and visas)
    • or consular certificate with photo
    • or photo ID card
    • or consular card with photo
    • or certificate of nationality of less than 6 months with photo
  • Proof of address less than 6 months old
  • 3 photos
    • If the request is made on the internet: indicate the code of the e-photo (provided by the photographer or the authorized booth on the photo board)
    • If you don't have an e-photo yet, you can locate a digital photo and signature service
  • Proof of payment of the stamp duty (to be delivered at the time of delivery of the title)
  • Host agreement (form cerfa no. 15973) completed and signed by the two parties
  • Any document attesting either to a basic knowledge of the French language, or to a complete course of secondary education or a form of professional qualification
  • Copy of an identity document of each of the foster parents

If your file is complete, you will receive a receipt pending the response of the prefecture.

Cost

You have to settle €100 by tax stamps at the time of issue of the residence permit.

Proof of payment of stamp duty and tax is requested when the card is handed over.

Handing over the card

Your card is given to you by the prefecture or sub-prefecture of your home (depending on where your application is submitted).

Duration of validity

The residence card au pair is valid 1 year maximum.

Who can help me?

Find who can answer your questions in your region

  • Administrative information by phone - Allô Service Public

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      For more information on this subject, you can contact Allô Service Public.

      Attention: the service does not have access to users' personal files and therefore cannot provide information on their progress.

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