FAQ

Since 20 years Au Pair Belgium is the most re-known au pair agency in Belgium.

Au Pair Belgium offers personal and professional assistance with the recruitment and placement process of the perfect au pair in your family.

Au Pair Belgium is the only agency working on a success fee basis and presenting candidates to host families for free. Other agencies usually charge a search or registration fee.

Au Pair Belgium places au pair candidates that are thoroughly vetted and trained by professional recruiters in the country of origin the au pair. Any au pair candidate will meet our recruiters in person who will test their motivation.

The placement process flows smoothly and fast.

During the stay of the au pair in the host family, Au Pair Belgium offers free au pair events, coaching, and closely follows up with host families and au pairs. The au pair will be part of Au Pair Belgium’s au pair community and the host family will benefit from support services 24/7.

Au Pair Belgium’s ultimate goal is to make the au pair program an unforgettable and enriching experience for both the host families and the au pair.

Au Pair Belgium is successfully placing au pairs in Belgium since 2007. Many families work each year with Au Pair Belgium to find the perfect au pair for their family and assist them with the administrative process.

Au Pair Belgium only places au pair candidates that are thoroughly vetted and trained by professional recruiters in the home country of the au pair.

Yes, Au Pair Belgium also assist families with the paperwork in case of a self-match.

Moreover, the au pair will be part of Au Pair Belgium’s au pair community and the family will also benefit from support services during the stay of the au pair in their family.

pmmmù

Yes, Au Pair Belgium has a very transparent and straightforward rematch policy. Host families (and au pairs) can rematch up to two months after arrival of the au pair according to terms of the rematch policy. The decision to terminate and rematch should not be motivated as we believe that neither host families neither au pairs can be forced to live together if they do not wish to do so.

After two months, we continue to guide both the host family and the au pair through the termination process; however, the host family will no longer be entitled to a free au pair placement.

Yes, Au Pair Belgium will assist the au pair with the search for a new host family. In 99% of the mismatches, Au Pair Belgium finds a new family for the au pair in re-match.

The placement process usually takes 2 to 3 months. Au Pair Belgium assists host families with the placement process and guarantees that the au pair will arrive in Belgium within the shortest timeframe possible. All steps of the process will be clearly explained. The same applies to the formalities to fulfill after arrival of the au pair in Belgium.

An au pair can work maximum 4 hours per day and maximum 20 hours per week. An au pair can have light household chores and babysit the children.

The main objective of the au pair program is cultural exchange and the learning of another language.

An au pair receives monthly an allowance of minimum 450€ in Flanders and Brussels. In the Walloon region an au pair earns minimum 750€ monthly. This allowance qualifies as pocket money. In addition, the family should offer board and lodging as well as a private furnished bedroom.

An au pair should follow minimum 4 to 5 hours of language courses per week. She should attend the courses in person. Online courses are not sufficient.

In Flanders, she can follow Dutch, French or German language courses, whereas in Brussels she can follow French either Dutch language courses. In the Walloon region, the au pair can follow any courses of her choice if she has a basic knowledge of the usual language of her host family.

Not all non-European driving licenses are recognized in Belgium. You can find the list of recognized non-European driving licenses on the website of the Federal Public Service Mobility and Transport: https://mobilit.belgium.be/en/road/driving/driving-licences/foreign-driving-licences

A non-European au pair with a recognized driving license must exchange their national driving license for a Belgian driving license at the latest 185 days after registration in Belgium. The application for exchange takes place at the municipality where the au pair is registered and can take several weeks. During the application for exchange, the au pair cannot drive. Therfore, an au pair should request the exchange well in advance. However, the Belgian driving license will be issued at the earliest 185 days after registration.

If the non-European driving license is not recognized, the au pair must pass the theoretical and practical exam in Belgium to obtain a Belgian driving license.

Au Pair Belgium recruit au pair candidates all over the world, but works mainly with the following countries: Argentina, Canada, Colombia, Indonesia, Kenya, Madagascar, Mexico, Peru, Philippines, Serbia, South Africa, Thailand, USA.

All au pairs have been thoroughly vetted by our professional recruiters who will meet, interview, prepare and train the au pair in his or her home country before she comes to Belgium.

Yes, Au Pair Belgium also recruits and places male au pairs.

The main advantages of an au pair compared to a nanny are as follows:

1. A nanny is typically a Belgian citizen, whereas an au pair comes from abroad. Therefore, the au pair program mainly focuses on cultural exchange and learning a different language. As a result, the host children can also learn another language if you choose an au pair.
2. A nanny is approximately three times more expensive than an au pair. She receives a salary on which taxes must be paid by both the host family and the nanny. An au pair receives a monthly allowance of at least €450 in Flanders and Brussels and €750 in the Walloon region. This allowance is not considered a salary but pocket money and is fully tax-free.
3. A nanny usually does not live with the host family. An au pair receives board and lodging and has a private bedroom in the host family’s home. This makes an au pair more flexible and allows her, for example, to help easily during the morning rush and take the children to school or daycare.

Since 2007 Marie-Christine Rombouts runs Au Pair Belgium with passion and professionalism. She is mother of two daughters and welcomed 11 au pairs with different nationalities in her family. She holds a master degree in Law and a LLM in Business Law.

She started her career as a lawyer. Afterwards, she managed the legal department of Unilever in Belgium and Luxembourg. After the birth of her second daughter, she founded Au Pair Belgium, the best au pair agency in Belgium.

She is fluent in French, English, and Dutch and lives in Brussels.

She holds ethical values, safety and cultural exchange in high regard and has, over the years, offered thousands of host families and au pairs a very successful and enriching au pair program.