← All countries

Employing an au pair in Germany

Household employment (Minijob / Haushaltsscheck)

Last reviewed

This is general guidance, not legal advice.

Employment law changes, varies by region and depends on your exact arrangement. Figures below are researched from official sources but go out of date — always confirm the current position with the official body linked on this page, or with a qualified labour adviser, before you rely on it.

Germany runs TWO separate arrangements and you need to know which one you are in. A genuine au pair is a cultural-exchange placement on an au pair residence permit: fixed spending money of €280 a month regardless of hours, capped at 30 hours a week, and — in the Federal Employment Agency’s own words — “au pairs do not receive wages as such”. It is not employment and is not subject to social insurance. Employing a household helper or nanny is the other route: a real job at the minimum wage, registered as a Minijob through the Haushaltsscheck procedure or, above the earnings limit, through full social insurance. Paying an au pair more than the spending money does not simply make them better off — it turns the placement into employment, which does not comply with the au pair permit.

Pay floor

€13.90 per hour (employment route only)

Effective 1 January 2026, rising to €14.60 on 1 January 2027. Applies if you employ a household helper — it does NOT apply to a genuine au pair placement, where spending money is €280 a month. Verified against the Bundesregierung and Minijob-Zentrale on 2 September 2026.

What to get right

1

Which arrangement are you in?

This decides everything else. A genuine au pair holds an au pair residence permit, receives fixed spending money and is capped at 30 hours a week; minimum-wage law does not apply. Anyone else working set hours in your home for pay is an employee, and the Mindestlohn does. If you are unsure, treat it as employment and take advice — the au pair route has conditions attached to the permit.

2

Au pair route — spending money and hours

€280 a month, regardless of how many hours are worked. Maximum 6 hours a day and 30 hours a week, exceeded only occasionally and by prior agreement. Overtime is compensated with time off, not money. Board and a private room are provided free.

3

Au pair route — what else the family owes

The host family must insure the au pair for sickness, pregnancy and birth, and accidents, and pay all the premiums. It must also contribute at least €840 towards a German language course — payable as €70 a month across the stay or as a lump sum — plus travel to the nearest suitable course. Time off: at least one and a half full days a week, four free evenings a week, and one free Sunday a month.

4

Au pair route — holiday

Four weeks of paid holiday for a full year, otherwise two business days for each full month. A family holiday only counts as the au pair’s holiday if any duties are insignificant and they are not required to be present.

5

Written agreement

A written employment contract (Arbeitsvertrag) covering hours, duties and pay is strongly advisable. Use the contract template in the NannyTank app as a starting point.

6

Minimum wage

The statutory minimum wage (Mindestlohn) applies to household work. Confirm the current rate.

7

Register the job (employment route)

For a Minijob, register the employee with the Minijob-Zentrale via the Haushaltsscheck procedure. The earnings limit is €603 a month (€7,236 a year) from 1 January 2026, rising to €633 in 2027 — it is tied to the minimum wage by formula, so it moves whenever that does. At €13.90 an hour that limit is reached at about 43 hours a month, roughly 10 hours a week; above it, standard social-insurance registration applies instead.

8

Insurance & leave

Registered household employees are covered by statutory accident insurance; statutory paid annual leave and continued pay during illness (Entgeltfortzahlung) apply.

Official sources

Check these for the current position — they are the authority, this page is not.

An editable contract template for Germany

NannyTank includes a downloadable employment contract template that references Household employment (Minijob / Haushaltsscheck) — you fill in the agreed pay and hours. Available in the app, along with hours, overtime and claim tracking.

Start your free trial →

Other countries

South Africa United Kingdom Ireland France Netherlands Spain Switzerland Austria United States Canada Australia New Zealand

NannyTank is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is a starting point to help you know what to look into; it may be incomplete or out of date, and it does not account for your specific circumstances. Confirm anything you rely on with the official bodies above or a qualified adviser.