Au Pair in the USA: Rules, Requirements and J-1 Visa

Do you want to be an au pair in the United States? There is no individual route here: you can only do it through an agency authorised by the State Department (the so-called sponsor), with the J-1 Exchange Visitor visa. The rules are the same for everyone, whatever your country of origin: they are set by federal regulation (22 CFR § 62.31) and published on the official portal j1visa.state.gov. Here you will find requirements, hours, pay, study, duration and the visa process.

Au pair requirements in the USA: who can apply

Age: between 18 and 26.
Education: a secondary school diploma or equivalent.
English: good spoken English: the agency interviews you in English.
Health: a medical exam confirming you are fit to take part.
Checks: a criminal background check, school and employment verification, three non-family references and a personality evaluation.
Experience: to be matched with a family with children under two you need at least 200 documented hours of infant and toddler care.

Federal rules apply to all participants, regardless of nationality. For visa details, what matters is the US consulate in your country.

How it works: sponsor agency and host family

You cannot apply directly to a family to get the visa: the process goes through a designated agency. You sign up, pass the selection, the agency matches you with a US family and gives you the document you need for the visa. Before you leave, the sponsor must give you at least 32 hours of child care training (8 on safety and 24 on child development) and an orientation on life in the USA, healthcare and the resources you can turn to. Host families must be US citizens or permanent residents and speak fluent English.

Working hours and time off

A maximum of 10 hours a day and 45 hours a week of child care.
At least one and a half days off per week, plus one complete weekend off each month (from Friday evening to Monday morning).
Two weeks of paid vacation for each year of the programme.

There is also a variant, EduCare, with a maximum of 30 hours a week and more study (see below).

Weekly stipend, room and board

The au pair receives a weekly stipend calculated under the Fair Labor Standards Act for 45 hours, plus room and board with a suitable private bedroom. According to agencies, the federal minimum in 2026 is $195.75 a week: the federal minimum wage for 45 hours, minus 40% for room and board. The State Department does not publish the figure on its portal, and in some states the minimum is higher because the local minimum wage applies: always ask the agency for the amount your family will pay. With EduCare the stipend is 75% of the standard amount. Some agencies set a minimum higher than the federal one.

Mandatory study and the family's contribution

During the year you must complete at least 6 semester hours of academic credit at an accredited US post-secondary institution. The host family pays up to $500 of the cost of the courses. With EduCare the credits rise to 12 and the family's contribution to $1,000.

Length of the programme

The programme lasts 12 months, with the option to extend by 6, 9 or 12 months. The extension request must reach the State Department at least 30 days before expiry, and a 6-month extension requires 3 additional credits, with a family contribution of up to $250 (for EduCare: 6 credits and up to $500). To take part again you must have lived outside the USA for at least two years.

What the agency or the family may not do

You cannot be matched with a relative.
You cannot be matched with a family with an infant under three months old, unless a parent or other responsible adult is at home.
A parent must be present during your first three days after arrival.
For children under two, documented infant care experience is required.

The J-1 visa step by step

After the match, the agency gives you the DS-2019 form. Then you pay the SEVIS fee (according to industry sources, $35 for au pairs), complete the DS-160 form and book the interview at the US embassy or consulate. The visa fee is about $185 according to industry sources. ESTA and tourist travel are not valid for working as an au pair: you need the J-1 visa. Fees and procedures change: always check the website of the consulate in your country and the travel.state.gov portal.

In short

Age: 18–26.
Education and language: diploma and spoken English.
Process: only through an authorised sponsor agency; J-1 visa.
Hours: maximum 10 a day and 45 a week (30 with EduCare).
Time off: one and a half days a week, one full weekend a month, 2 weeks of paid vacation.
Minimum stipend 2026: about $195.75 a week according to agencies.
Room and board: provided by the family, private bedroom.
Study: 6 credits, family pays up to $500.
Length: 12 months, extendable by 6, 9 or 12.
Training: at least 32 hours before departure.

How to spot a suspicious offer

Be wary if someone suggests you arrive on ESTA or as a tourist, if there is no sponsor agency, if you are asked to work more than 45 hours a week, or if the one and a half days off or the contribution to your studies are missing. A family that refuses a private bedroom or does not want you to attend classes is also a red flag. To compare with other countries, browse our other country guides.

The information in this article is up to date as of October 2026 and is not legal advice. Amounts, fees and procedures change often: always check the State Department portal j1visa.state.gov, the website of the US embassy or consulate in your country, and the sponsor agency you choose.