Au Pair in Spain

Overview

UPDATED COVID TRAVEL ALERT: 23 MAY 2021. Spain to welcome fully vaccinated Americans starting June 7.

Spain has decided it's not going to wait for the European Union to formally set a date to begin admitting vaccinated travelers from outside the 27-nation zone: It will open its borders beginning June 7.

Travelers will have to show proof they received their second dose of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccines or their single Johnson & Johnson injection at least 14 days prior to entering Spain. Spain will not yet welcome unvaccinated Americans over 18, regardless of a negative COVID test.

GeoVisions Foundation will begin sending Au Pairs to Spain on June 7.

Travel and earn money at the same time. If that sounds great to you, think about becoming an Au Pair in Spain!

What do Au Pairs do? Au Pairs take care of the children during scheduled hours. They help the children with their homework and assist in keeping children’s rooms and play areas clean. They prepare snacks and meals for the children, and drop them off or pick them up from school or activities. If this sounds like something you’d be really good at, then being an Au Pair in Spain is definitely for you.

Your host family is screened carefully. In addition, you have the ultimate safety net … local coordinators in Spain you can call on anytime. All of this to ensure you have a safe, comfortable environment and that your host family is a suitable host. Receive a clear set of guidelines and expectations that are set with your host family. Through monthly meetups, make new friends during your time in Spain.

Fee

$549

Duration

2-months is the minimum and 3-months is the normal maximum for this program.

Visa

There is no visa for this program.

Start Dates

We have families available year-round.

Eligibility

Be between 18 and 30 with at least a high school diploma. (Female Au Pairs are placed quickly, while male Au Pairs can take a bit longer to be placed.)
Hold a Passport from the United States, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia or New Zealand.
Have previous childcare/babysitting experience with references and a genuine love of children.
Swimmers preferred.
Be able to commit to at least 2 months as an au pair.
- 2-3 month placements are available year-round. If you are a 2 to 3-month au pair you enter on a Tourist visa that is good ONLY for 90-days. You don’t need to take a language class.
Provide a medical statement and a background check.
Be interviewed by phone or Skype to be accepted by the family.
Driver’s license is preferred.

Video

Costs

$549 for 2 to 3 months.

What Will I Earn?

You will earn a weekly stipend of €65 – €85 (Euros) per week for approximately 25 – 35 hours of babysitting.

Before you arrive in Spain, you will receive a timetable with duties and working days/hours, so you know exactly the working time. The family must respect your time off. Should the family require you to work outside the usual working hours this must be agreed by both sides and any extra hours worked must be paid.

At least 1½ days off per week. And one weekend per month.

What's Included

A private room and full board.
Your placement with a screened host family.
In-country support.
Pre-departure assistance.
Monthly au pair coffee group and occasional special events.
24-hour support while abroad.

What's Not Included

Your international flights.
Meals when you travel or go out on your own.
Spending money for personal expenses, when you travel or optional activities.
International insurance with 24-hour emergency assistance services for US permanent residents. (Available at an additional cost.)

Application Process

After you make sure that you meet the au pair qualifications, the next step is to apply.

Click this button:

1. Submit the online application along with the deposit.
2. You'll receive a link for a supplemental form and additional materials to then submit.
3. We work with our partner in Spain to match you with a well-screened host family.
4. We'll email you the host family information. Set up a skype call with the host family for your interview.
5. Once you and the host family agree that it's a good match, you and the family arrange the exact arrival and departure date.
6. Find and purchase your flights.
7. Arrange your international health insurance.
8. If you need a visa, please arrange for your visa.
9. Fly to Spain and begin your au pair program and cultural experience!

Why Is There A Placement Fee? It’s like I’m paying to get a job.

You can find free au pairs positions on the Internet. Over the years we have met au pairs who did that and had horrible experiences when they thought they were going into a fantastic overseas au pair job only to find out the family where they were living was not screened, families dismissed au pairs routinely without paying them, and there was no one to turn to for help and support. No one to look out for them. And because they were on their own, they were lonely.

At GeoVisions, the families are screened and in some cases, we have placed au pairs with that family before. We make sure you’re being paid the highest stipend possible. We provide a person in-country to help you and to be there for you. You can meet other au pairs just like you and attend social activities with other au pairs. In fact, if your placement doesn’t work out, we will move you to another family (based on circumstances).

Can I choose my location?

We recommend focusing on family interviews and choosing your location based on the host family that you really “connect with.” Let the family connection guide your decision on where you will live.

What if I don’t like my placement when I arrive or I have host family issues? Can I move?

Before you depart, we connect you via email, phone and Skype with your new host family. You’ll have all the details you want before you ever leave home. GeoVisions spends a great deal of time on match-making. It is the only way the program will be successful. There needs to be a “connection” between you and your host family.

But after you arrive if you’re having issues, we have a way to start the process to fix things or, change your placement, if necessary. This is extremely rare, but we’ve done this long enough to know things can come up on all sides.

Can I be placed with someone? I’d like to travel with a friend.

Unfortunately, host families needing an au pair only have one au pair in the home at a time. So we are unable to provide a homestay for anyone except one au pair per household. If you want to apply with someone else, they would be placed with another family. We would try hard to find a host family so you would be close to one another, but we could not guarantee that. We are successful most of the time.

Will I be a part of the family or an employee?

Some of our au pairs tell us the bond they form with their host family can last a lifetime. We know some au pairs who actually fly back a few years later for a reunion or to attend a milestone event for one of the children they cared for.

You will participate in family activities, share cultures, make friends in your new community and with other au pairs in the area.

Should I become an au pair?

Becoming an au pair is a serious position … and while you do get paid to travel … your main responsibilities are the children you care for. While you might consider yourself patient, fun-loving and perfect for a job like this … think about how responsible you are and your previous experience with children under your care. If you’re ready … we have incredible families who need you right away, living in amazing locations. It's an amazing cultural exchange!

Can't I use a matching site and do this for free?

PLEASE BE CAREFUL

You can find sites on the Internet that will encourage you to find a family for free. Some of those sites boast 2 Million registrations. How can any company screen 2 million families? Please think twice before you agree to travel thousands of miles from your family and friends and move in with a host family who are advertising that they want a young woman or a young man to move in with them. They remind us of dating sites.

If things go wrong and your host family violates your agreement with them, resolving the problems will be all up to you. And today you may not be concerned. That’s fine. But just know that any family that ducks under the radar and doesn’t want to be screened, that regularly goes beyond the terms of your contract, making you work too much, too often, on the wrong kinds of tasks will likely keep on doing it unless there is someone right there to step in and help you. Or get you out of that situation quickly and safely.

In the USA and in The Netherlands, au pairs are required to use an approved au pair agency. This government requirement is all about protecting you.

Want some real down to earth ideas? The website, AuPairMom.com is a great source. At that site they “get about one email a week from an au pair in Europe or Australia who is working without the support of an agency. She is usually being expected to work far too much, has limited to no use of a car, can’t leave the host family’s house, and/or is having her pocket money withheld for problems she does not think she caused.”

With GeoVisions, every family is screened carefully and visited in person. Many of these families have hosted au pairs before. We brag that we have a few hundred host families not millions. It’s a number we can screen and stay connected to. It’s not about the money. It’s about your safety.

Are there Blog posts about being an au pair in Spain I could read?

Here are plenty of examples, written by our au pairs and tutors in Spain, from our SeekExperiences Blog.

Gallery

Here are a handful of photos to give you a sense of this program.

You can also find more photos, stories, and video through our Facebook Page, Instagram and YouTube channels and our Blog.

As you view more photos and video, consider the program benefits. A second home with new friends, becoming more independent and confident, improving your Spanish since you're now living as a local and helping your host family realize their goals of speaking English. Add an international reference to your resume which helps with future job applications because of your experience tutoring English to a family in Spain and you're ahead of the game.

What Our Au Pairs Say (Click to see all reviews on GoAbroad.com)

9 Rating With 4 half stars T

I was an Au Pair in Spain for three months and had a wonderful experience! I was placed with a family that I fit with very well. It was important to remember that cultures will be different but overall the kindness of people worldwide is the same. I learned so much about the Spanish culture and was able to bring part of my culture to them as well. I saw an improvement with the kids and their English and I definitely learned a lot of Spanish while being over there. I got to travel on the weekends and see so many unique places! It was an amazing experience that I will never forget.

Au Pair in Spain. Jen M, February 15, 2018

10 Rating With 5 Starts T

After my au pair job in Spain, I will be going back home to Mississippi to prepare for my next job as an English teacher for grades 7-12. I have traveled a good bit during my time here and would highly recommend both Rome, Italy, and Barcelona, Spain. They were my favorite trips out of about 9/10 total trips.If you come over as an au pair, don't be afraid to become attached to the kids! Your time will be more fulfilling in the long run. Also, ask ahead of time when the long weekends are if you want to travel. GeoVisions sets you up to email or Skype with the family before you leave home. So make sure they understand you are also there to travel. It can make life much easier.I found a walk and talk group which met once a week and allowed me to learn secret insights into Madrid, which is where I have been since January. There are several types of ways to meet people and really make the most of your experience.This program has given me the ability to listen more and I have forced myself to immerse myself into a culture much, much different than my own. I now prioritize my well-being more in comparison to having been a college student who never worried about anything other than classes.

Great way to see Spain. Mckensie Chancellor, March 30, 2018

10 Rating With 5 Starts T

I was an au pair with GeoVisions in Madrid for two months and loved every second of my experience. I had always wanted to go to Spain and this was the perfect opportunity to learn about Spain and its culture.

Au pair in Spain. Chelsea, October 3, 2018

For 2 or 3 months, live like a local. Earn €85 ($96) per week