Spain Au Pair Visa 2026: Apply With Immigration Lawyer Support

Spain does not have a standalone Au Pair visa. Since 20 May 2025, Spain’s current immigration regulation no longer expressly refers to study visas for au pairs. However, Spanish consular authorities continue to provide an au-pair procedure under the study-visa framework, where the applicant undertakes qualifying studies alongside the au-pair arrangement. The applicable requirements depend on the visa route, nationality and consulate handling the application.

As an Au Pair, you will live with a Spanish host family where you will be expected to help with domestic chores such as childcare and cooking. In return, you will receive free accommodation, regular meals, and an authentic experience of living in Spain and Spanish culture. An au pair does not receive a salary for their services, but the au-pair agreement should state the amount of pocket money to be provided by the host family during the placement.

If you are an EU citizen, you will not require a Student visa in order to work as an Au Pair in Spain. However, there are still certain eligibility requirements which you will need to satisfy, as outlined in the next section.

Page Contents

• What is an Au Pair Visa in Spain?
• Eligibility Requirements for Spain Au Pair Visa
• Application Process for Obtaining Au Pair Visa in Spain
• Required Documents for Spain Au Pair Visa
• Cost of Visa Fee
• Application Processing Time
• How Total Law Can Help
• Frequently Asked Questions

In order to be eligible to work as an Au Pair in Spain as a non-EU citizen, there are a number of eligibility criteria which you will need to satisfy. These are as follows:

• Be 17-30 years of age
• For the study-visa route, you must meet the requirements for a qualifying full-time course in Spain. Some Spanish consulates specify a minimum of 20 hours per week for language courses used for au-pair applications.
• Have a clean criminal record
• Demonstrate sufficient financial means to cover your living expenses and return journey without relying on public assistance. In 2026, the standard requirement is 100% of the monthly IPREM, currently €600 per month.

If you are an EU citizen and wish to enrol in a Spanish Au Pair programme, you will still need to satisfy a number of criteria. Specifically, you will need to be 17-30 years of age, speak one of the above languages, and have a clean criminal record. You will not need to enrol in an educational course, however, because as an EU citizen you will not need to apply for a Student visa in order to live and work in Spain as an Au Pair.

If you are a non-EU citizen, there are a number of steps which you will need to complete in order to work as an Au Pair in Spain.

Firstly, you will need to choose a host family for whom to Au Pair. This can be done online, using websites such as aupair.com. If a match is found, you should make sure to obtain an Au Pair Agreement where the expectations and duties are clearly outlined and both you and the host family sign the agreement.

Next, you should enrol in a Spanish educational course which is at least 20 hours a week, within commutable distance of your host family.

Once you have secured the host-family agreement and qualifying studies, you can apply for the relevant Spanish study visa through the consulate responsible for your place of residence. The exact submission procedure and supporting documents vary by consular jurisdiction.

When your application has been submitted, it will then be processed. If approved, you will receive the relevant long-stay visa and study-stay authorisation for the approved period. The au-pair agreement itself can have a maximum duration of one year under current Spanish consular guidance.

There are a number of documents which you will need to provide in order to apply for a Spanish Au Pair visa. In general, you will need to provide the following:

• A valid passport
• Passport photo, to the Spanish specifications
• Au Pair Agreement with your host family outlining the shared expectations and your duties. Both parties should sign this agreement. This serves as your Au Pair contract and offers you legal protection if anything goes wrong during your stay
• Confirmation of acceptance on a Spanish course
• Proof of sufficient financial means to cover your stay and return journey, normally based on 100% of Spain’s monthly IPREM. In 2026, this is €600 per month, subject to the applicable rules on prepaid accommodation.
• Medical certificate
• Spanish private health insurance
• A clean criminal record check certificate

If there are any missing documents, you will likely be asked to provide the missing information. If you fail to do so, your application will not be successful.

Foreign documents must be legalised or apostilled where required and, where applicable, submitted with an official Spanish translation. EU public documents may be exempt from legalisation requirements.

The Spanish Au Pair visa fee is US$160 for US nationals and US$104 for other nationalities. Different fees apply to nationals of certain countries, including the UK, Australia, Canada and Ethiopia, under Spain’s reciprocity rules, so applicants should check the applicable consular fee before applying.

In some cases, you may also choose to pay for legal assistance with your application. Contact Total Law today on +34 919015010 to learn more about our own packages and to help ensure that your application runs as smoothly as possible.

In general, you should receive a decision on your application within 1 month of applying. However, this may take longer if additional information is required or if a high number of other applications are being processed at the same time.

In order to avoid delays, make sure to submit your application correctly, including all necessary documentation, and to promptly provide any additional information which is requested.

What Must Be Included in an Au Pair Agreement in Spain?

A written Au Pair Collaboration Agreement should be prepared with the host family and submitted alongside the other documents required for the relevant visa application. The agreement should clearly establish the conditions of the placement and demonstrate that the arrangement is an au-pair collaboration rather than standard employment.

The agreement should include:

• The names of the au pair and host family.
• The duration of the placement, which can be for a maximum of one year.
• The household services or chores the au pair will provide, which should not exceed five hours per day.
• At least one full day off each week.
• The address where the au pair will live with the host family and a reasonable degree of independence.
• The host family’s commitment to provide sufficient time for the au pair to attend language courses and develop their cultural and professional knowledge.
• The amount of monthly pocket money the au pair will receive.
• A provision allowing either party to terminate the agreement by giving two weeks’ notice.

The Spanish Consulate in Washington also advises that the host family’s signature may be legitimised before a Spanish notary, although it states that this is advisable rather than mandatory. The agreement must be at least in Spanish.

Is There an Au Pair Visa for Spain in 2026?

Spain does not have a standalone visa category specifically called an Au Pair Visa. The immigration regulation currently in force, Royal Decree 1155/2024, no longer expressly refers to study visas for au pairs. However, Spanish consular authorities continue to publish a specific procedure for au-pair applicants using the study visa framework. For example, the Spanish Consulate states that an au pair may apply for a study visa for qualifying Spanish-language studies of at least 20 hours per week, provided they meet the applicable study-visa requirements.

For this route, the au-pair arrangement must be a genuine collaborative relationship with the host family rather than ordinary salaried employment. The au pair normally lives at the family’s address, provides complementary household or childcare services and receives pocket money rather than a salary.

Do Au Pairs Need to Study in Spain?

For applicants using the study-visa framework for an au-pair placement, qualifying studies form part of the immigration route. Spanish consular guidance specifically states that an au pair may apply for a study visa for Spanish-language studies, with a minimum of 20 hours of study per week. The applicant must meet the wider requirements for the applicable study visa in addition to providing the Au Pair Collaboration Agreement.

The course should therefore be arranged before the visa application is submitted, and the applicant should obtain the required acceptance or enrolment documentation from the Spanish educational institution. The exact requirements for the course and supporting evidence should be checked with the consulate handling the application.