You’ve arrived. The family is welcoming, the children are curious, and the city is everything you imagined. But somewhere between unpacking and your first full week of childcare, a letter arrives from the Ausländerbehörde reminding you that your visa comes with an obligation: you must attend a German language course.
For many au pairs, this comes as a surprise. For others, it’s the main reason they chose Germany in the first place. Either way, understanding the rules — what you must do, what the host family must pay, and which course options actually fit around a childcare schedule — is essential to making your year work.
This guide covers everything: the legal framework, the financial split, the best course formats for au pairs, and how to find a school that won’t waste your evenings.
The au pair program in Germany is regulated under the Beschäftigungsverordnung (BeschV) — the Employment Ordinance. Section 12 specifically governs au pair placements and includes a direct reference to language courses.
Under German law, au pairs are not employees in the traditional sense. They are cultural exchange participants who assist with childcare in exchange for room, board, pocket money, and — critically — access to German language education. The language course is not a bonus or a nice-to-have. It is a core element of the program’s legal definition.
What this means in practice:
This is not bureaucratic theater. The language course requirement exists because the au pair program is classified as a cultural exchange, not labor. The moment language education disappears from the picture, the arrangement legally becomes something else — which German authorities want to avoid.
This is the question that causes the most friction between au pairs and host families, so let’s be direct.
Minimum legal obligation: The host family contributes at least €50/month toward your German course fees. This is widely understood as the floor, not the ceiling.
Typical real-world costs: A good German course in Germany costs between €150 and €400 per month, depending on:
The gap: If your course costs €200/month and the family pays €50, you cover the remaining €150 from your Taschengeld (pocket money). At the standard au pair pocket money rate of €280/month (2026 rate), this is a significant portion.
How to negotiate: Many experienced au pairs discuss course costs explicitly before placement. If you can, get written confirmation in your au pair contract that the family will cover course fees beyond the legal minimum — ideally the full amount. Agencies can help facilitate this conversation.
Volkshochschule as the affordable option: The VHS (Volkshochschule) is Germany’s public adult education system, present in virtually every city. German courses at the VHS cost between €60 and €150 per quarter, making them far cheaper than private schools. Quality varies, but many VHS branches have dedicated teachers for international learners. For au pairs on tight budgets, the VHS is the most realistic option.
German law does not specify an exact number of course hours per week for au pairs. However, several guidelines emerge from practice and agency recommendations:
Recommended range: 4–6 hours of German instruction per week is the standard advice from both au pair agencies and Ausländerbehörde counselors.
What this looks like: Two evening sessions of 2 hours each, or two mornings per week (if the host family can cover childcare during those hours). Some au pairs attend Saturday courses.
Why it matters for your visa: When you renew your visa or extend your stay, immigration officers may ask for proof of language course attendance. A certificate from your language school showing regular participation is your best evidence that you’ve fulfilled the cultural exchange requirement.
Realistic intensity: Au pairs typically work 5–6 hours per day with the children, plus light household tasks. An intensive course (20+ hours/week) is not realistic unless it’s a block course between family placements. Most au pairs progress through A1 and A2 over the course of their year, which requires roughly 4–8 hours/week of instruction spread over 8–10 months.
The most popular option. Evening courses run 2–3 evenings per week, typically from 18:00 to 20:00 or 18:30 to 21:00. They are specifically designed for working adults who can’t attend during the day.
Pros: Fits naturally around childcare hours; classes are often smaller (8–14 students); teachers are experienced with non-traditional learners.
Cons: After a full day with children, concentration is not always at its peak. Evening courses require genuine commitment.
Where to find them: Most private language schools and all VHS branches offer evening German courses. Look for courses labeled “Abendkurs Deutsch als Fremdsprache” or “DaF Abendkurs.”
Held on Saturdays, sometimes Sundays. Typically 4–5 hours per session, once per week.
Pros: Leaves weekday evenings free; many au pairs have Saturdays off from childcare duties (standard in most au pair contracts); good for consolidating a week’s learning.
Cons: Intensive sessions can feel tiring; less frequent contact with the language slows progress compared to multiple sessions per week.
Some schools offer a blended format: one in-person session per week plus online homework, speaking practice, or recorded lessons. This is increasingly common post-2020 and suits au pairs who change cities mid-year.
A short, intensive burst — typically 2–4 weeks, 4–6 hours per day. Most useful during the transition between host families or in the weeks before the au pair year begins. Not a substitute for ongoing study, but an excellent way to jump from A1 to A2 quickly.
Here is a realistic weekly schedule for an au pair balancing childcare and language study:
| Time | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday | Sunday |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morning | Children | Children | Children | Children | Children | Free | Free |
| Afternoon | Children | Children | Children | Children | Children | Free | Free |
| Evening | German course 18:30–20:30 | — | German course 18:30–20:30 | — | Free | German course 09:00–13:00 (alt.) | — |
Two evening sessions per week = 4 hours of instruction. With self-study (app practice, vocabulary review, watching German TV), you can realistically cover 6–8 effective hours of language learning per week. That’s enough to progress one CEFR level in approximately 5–6 months.
Strictly speaking, the au pair visa does not require you to have any German before you arrive. There is no A1 test requirement for the au pair visa (unlike the spouse reunification visa, which does require A1 proof).
However, coming with A1 knowledge is strongly recommended for several reasons:
Free resources to prepare: Deutsche Welle’s online course “Deutsch Warum Nicht?”, the Duolingo German course, or the Goethe Institut’s free online A1 material.
The au pair visa (issued under § 12 BeschV) has several rules that directly affect how you plan your language education:
Duration: Maximum 12 months. This is not extendable as an au pair visa. If you want to stay in Germany, you must switch to a different visa category.
Age restriction: You must be between 18 and 26 years old at the time of placement.
Working hours: Au pairs may work a maximum of 6 hours per day, 30 hours per week. The language course does not count as “work” — it counts as the cultural exchange component.
Country of origin: EU citizens don’t need an au pair visa but should still follow the program’s framework. Non-EU citizens (from the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Israel, and others) can apply for the visa at the German embassy in their home country. Citizens of other non-EU countries may face additional requirements.
Language course documentation: When applying for your visa, you may need to show proof of course enrollment or at least a letter from a language school confirming a place has been reserved for you.
This is where language skills become genuinely consequential. Your options after 12 months depend heavily on your German level:
If you’ve reached B2 or above during your au pair year, you may qualify to apply directly to a German university (Hochschule). With A2 or B1, you could attend a Studienkolleg — a preparatory college that bridges to university admission. This path requires proof of a university admission or Studienkolleg place.
The Integrationskurs (Integration Course) is Germany’s official language and civic orientation program. It runs 700 hours: 600 hours of German language instruction (A1 through B1) plus 100 hours of civic orientation (Orientierungskurs). Au pairs who remain in Germany under a different visa category (e.g., job seeker visa or partner visa) may be eligible to attend — and in some cases obligated to.
Germany offers an 18-month job seeker visa for qualified professionals from non-EU countries. A German level of B1 or above significantly improves your chances of finding an employer willing to sponsor a work visa. The language investment during your au pair year is not wasted — it is career infrastructure.
Technically, the au pair program cannot be extended beyond 12 months with the same family. However, a new placement with a different host family is permitted (and resets the 12-month clock). The combined maximum for au pair placements in Germany from outside the EU is generally not more than 24 months total.
Not all language schools are created equal, and au pairs have specific needs that not every school accommodates well. Here is what to look for:
Does the school offer evening courses that start at 18:00 or later? Can you join mid-month, or must you start at the beginning of a course block? Au pairs sometimes change host families mid-year and need to transfer between cities — ask whether credits transfer or whether you can pause enrollment.
Some schools in larger cities offer courses specifically for au pairs and other cultural exchange participants. These have the advantage of a shared experience among students in similar situations. However, mixed classes (with other adult learners) are equally valid and often have better scheduling variety.
Look for schools accredited by EAQUALS, telc, or with certification from the Goethe-Institut as an exam center. These accreditations are not a guarantee of quality, but they are a meaningful filter. Schools that prepare students for telc, TELC, or Goethe A1/A2/B1 exams give you a credential that matters for future visa applications.
A school that makes it difficult to find out what a course costs before you register is a school optimizing for upselling, not for your language learning. Prices should be clearly published, and the school should be able to explain exactly what €50/month from your host family will cover.
Use the school search on sprachschule.org to find accredited language schools in your city with evening and weekend offerings.
The Volkshochschule deserves its own section because it is consistently underrated by new arrivals who gravitate toward private language schools with glossy marketing.
The VHS is:
The main limitation: VHS courses tend to have more students per class than premium private schools (sometimes 15–20), and the teaching style is more traditional. If you need maximum speaking time and personalized feedback, a smaller private school may serve you better for a portion of your year.
Most au pair agencies — both German and international — have relationships with language schools or direct recommendations for the cities where they place au pairs. Ask your agency:
Some agencies include language course information in their orientation materials; others leave it entirely to the au pair and host family to arrange. Knowing your agency’s approach before you arrive prevents the situation where you spend your first month scrambling to find a course while also adjusting to a new family, new city, and new language.
Yes. Under § 12 BeschV, attending a German language course is a core component of the au pair program. The host family must enable and financially support your participation. Failing to attend could be considered a breach of the cultural exchange agreement.
The legal minimum is broadly interpreted as €50 per month. Many families pay more, especially in cities where quality courses cost €150–300/month. Negotiate this explicitly in your au pair contract before arrival.
Technically yes, if the host family agrees to cover childcare during your course hours. In practice, most au pairs attend evening or weekend courses to avoid complications. Some host families specifically offer morning course time as part of the arrangement — this is worth discussing during the matching process.
There is no legal requirement for German knowledge before the au pair visa is issued. However, A1 is strongly recommended for practical daily life reasons and for integrating smoothly into a beginner course once you arrive.
Start with a direct conversation referencing the legal obligation under § 12 BeschV. If the family still refuses, contact your au pair agency — this is a contractual issue they should mediate. As a last resort, the Ausländerbehörde can be informed that the cultural exchange requirements are not being met.
Online courses have not traditionally been accepted as equivalent to in-person attendance for au pair visa purposes. Some authorities may be flexible, but in-person enrollment at a recognized language school is the safe approach.
Yes. The Volkshochschule is a fully recognized educational institution. VHS certificates are accepted by German authorities and the VHS prepares students for official exams (telc, Goethe-Institut).
Aim for B1. This is achievable with 4–6 hours of weekly instruction over 10–12 months, combined with daily exposure through the family and environment. B1 opens most practical visa pathways (Integrationskurs completion, student visa eligibility, many job applications) and represents genuine conversational ability.
Yes. You’ll need to re-enroll at a school in your new city. If you have a certificate from your previous school, bring it for a placement test — you don’t need to start from A1 again.
An intensive course (20+ hours/week) gives faster results but is incompatible with a full-time childcare schedule. The best use of intensive courses for au pairs is during transition periods — between families, during holidays, or in the weeks before your year begins. For the body of your au pair year, evening and weekend courses are the realistic format.
Your au pair year is one of the most effective language-learning setups imaginable: total immersion in the language, financial support for your course, and a motivated reason to communicate every day. The legal requirement is also an opportunity.
Use the school search on sprachschule.org to find verified language schools in your city — filtered by course format, schedule, and budget. Evening and weekend courses are clearly labeled so you can find options that fit around your childcare hours.
Make the language course the part of your au pair year you look back on most proudly. The Ausländerbehörde will thank you — and so will your German.
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