Getting ready to be an Au pair in Germany but don’t know what to pack? Check out this post for a detailed Au pair packing list!
Packing your suitcase for a cultural exchange abroad as an Au pair is not as easy as it looks. In fact, if you’re going to be in your host country for a year, then it’s already twice the battle. Not only do you have to be intentional about what you pack, but you also have to consider what you’ll need for every season.
So, if you’re Au pair stay is starting soon and you don’t know what to pack, you’ve come to the right place! This post alone highlights everything you should take with you on your Au pair stay as well as some suggested things you can purchase on Amazon.
Au Pair in Germany Series
P.S. This is a post in my Au Pair in Germany series. Here is the complete series:
Au Pair Origin and History: What is an Au Pair: The Origin and History
Au Pair Tasks: What Does an Au Pair Do: Au Pair Tasks
Au Pair Agencies: The 7 Best Au Pair Agencies for Americans
German Language Learning Apps: The 10 Best Apps for German Learning as an Au Pair
Au Pair Guide: How to Become an Au Pair in Germany
Au Pair Visa: Au Pair Visa Germany: Requirements for Americans
Au Pair vs. Nanny: Au Pair vs. Nanny: What is the Difference?
Au Pair Salary: German Au Pair Salary: What to Expect
Au Pair Rematch: The Top 10 Reasons Why Au Pairs Rematch
Au Pair Driving: The Au Pair Guide to Driving in Germany
German A1 Exam: How To Pass Your German A1 Test To Become An Au Pair
Host Family Interview: Here Are 100 Host Family Interview Questions You Need To Ask
Host Family Red Flags: 10 Host Family Red Flags You Should Watch Out For
Packing List: Au Pair Packing List: Germany Edition
BFD: BFD in Germany: What Americans Need To Know
FSJ: How to Do an FSJ in Germany
Ausbildung: Ausbildung in Germany: Here’s Everything You Need to Know
Important Documents (au pair packing list)
Bringing your important documents is essential for your Au pair stay in Germany. You’ll need them to enter the country as well as for your weekend trips. Your birth certificate specifically is essential for the Anmeldung so it’s important to keep that in mind.
The following documents below should therefore be with you as you pack for your flight:
- Passport + Visa (with 2 printed copies)
- Birth Certificate w/ Translation (with 2 printed copies)
- International Driver’s License (with 2 printed copies)
- Emergency Au Pair Number
- Au Pair Contract
- $200 of Foreign cash in the currency of your host country
- Debit + Credit Card
- Address of the closest consulate/embassy for your home country
What To Buy on Amazon
- This is a great item to buy if you’re looking for a passport holder that can also hold the rest of your important documents!
- This is a great item to buy if you need a messenger bag that’s pickpocket and theft proof for all of your identification!
Clothes (au pair packing list)
When it comes to packing clothes for your Au pair stay you kinda have to pick and choose between clothes you know you’re going to wear and clothes you’d rather just leave at home. This obviously is a decision only you can make but do keep in mind that you’ll probably end up buying more clothes + shoes in Germany as well.
The following list below should therefore be used as a guide for clothing items to bring with you for your Au pair stay:
- A winter jacket
- 7 pairs of socks
- 14 pieces of underwear
- 7 bras
- 2 pairs of jeans
- 2 shorts
- 1 Sweatshirt
- 10 tops
- 1 Swimsuit
- 1 dressy skirt
- 6 dressy tops
- Gloves
- Flip Flops
- Vans
- 1 dressy shoe
- Snow boots (if it’s cold when you get there you can wear them on the plane)
- 1 fleece-lined legging
*This list may vary if your Au pair stay is shorter than a year. Therefore, I highly suggest you use your due diligence to decide what to bring on the list and what not to bring.
What To Buy on Amazon
- This a great item to buy if you’re looking for some snow boots for your Au pair stay in Germany!
- This is a great item to buy if you’re in need of a winter jacket before you go abroad!
Toiletries (au pair packing list)
When it comes to packing toiletries for your Au pair stay, it’s important to keep in mind which toiletries you need to pack from your home country and which ones you can purchase abroad. There may obviously be some toiletries in your home country that you can’t buy anywhere else. If that’s the case, I highly recommend stocking up on those. However, if you know you can buy some toiletries at a local convenience store in Germany, then there’s obviously no need to pack them.
The following list below should therefore be used as a guide for toiletries you should pack for your Au pair stay:
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Body Wash
- Facial Cleanser
- Deodorant
- Makeup Kit
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Brush
- Comb
- Flat Iron
- Razor
- Shaving Cream
- Body Lotion
- Moisturizer
- Perfume
What To Buy on Amazon
- This is a great item to buy if you need a bag to hold all of your toiletries!
- This is a great item to buy if you need a makeup bag to hold your makeup kit and your brushes!
First Aid/Medication (au pair packing list)
When it comes to packing first aid and medication for your Au pair stay, it’s important to keep in mind what special brands you would like to bring from your home country as well as what else you could buy once you’re in Germany. For example, Ibuprofen isn’t something that’s common in other foreign countries as an American, so I would definitely recommend packing it if you’re really used to the brand.
The following list below should therefore be used as a guide for first aid and toiletries you should pack for your Au pair stay:
- Jet-lag pills
- Pain relievers
- Bandages
- Hydrocortisone
- Birth Control
- Melatonin
- Vitamins
What To Buy on Amazon
- This is a great item to buy if you would like to stock up on some Ibuprofen before your Au pair stay!
- This is a great item to buy if you’ll need some melatonin to help you fall asleep on your flight to Germany from your home country!
Technology (au pair packing list)
When it comes to packing some technology for your trip, it’s better to buy the small things beforehand because they may be expensive or unavailable once you arrive in Germany. For example, if you’re looking to buy a laptop for your Au pair stay, it’ll be cheaper to purchase one in your home country instead of buying one once you’re abroad.
The following list below should therefore be used as a guide for tech you should pack for your Au pair stay in Germany:
- 2 International Adapters
- Mobile Phone
- Mobile Phone Charger
- Power Bank
- Travel Tripod
- Camera
- Camera Charger
- Laptop
- Laptop
- Headphones
- Earbuds
- Bluetooth Speaker
What To Buy on Amazon
- This is a great item to buy if you need a portable charger for your phone while you’re abroad!
- This is a great item to buy if you need a magnetic portable charger for your iPhone!
- This is a great item to buy if you need an adapter that’s compatible with many different countries!
- This is a great item to buy for your iPhone if you need some wireless earbuds for your travels!
- This is a great item to buy for your iPhone if you have a preference for headphones for listening to music!
- This is a great item to buy if you’re looking to take some instant Polaroids during your travels.
- This is a great item to buy if you’re looking for a great travel photography camera for beginners!
- This is a great item to buy if you need a camera to record you while you’re underwater!
- This is a great item to buy if you need a new laptop for your Au pair stay in Germany.
Miscellaneous (au pair packing list)
When it comes to miscellaneous things to pack for your Au pair stay, it’s important to bring whatever you think feels right to you! For example, I have a really big water bottle that I can’t live without so it only makes sense for me to pack it for my Au pair stay.
The following list below should therefore be used as a guide for miscellaneous items you could pack for your Au pair stay in Germany:
- Sunglasses
- English-German Dictionary
- Travel Journal
What To Buy On Amazon
- This is a great item to buy if you need a pocket dictionary to help you practice speaking and reading things in German!
- This is a great item to buy if you need some sunglasses to help you block the sun’s glare in the summer!
- This is a great item to buy if you need a travel journal to write down your thoughts and feelings while you’re abroad!
Au Pair Packing List FAQs
Finally, to finish this post, I thought I would answer some frequently asked questions you might have about packing for an Au pair stay in Germany!
How many suitcases should an Au pair bring?
Au pairs should bring no more than a personal item, a carry-on, and a large checked bag for their time abroad. Bringing more than one suitcase is not worth the hassle especially if you have to bring it with you everywhere when you travel.
What are some must-pack items for an Au pair stay?
- Passport + Visa (along with two printed copies)
- Boarding Pass
- Prescription Medication
- $200 of Foreign cash in the currency of your host country
- Debit + Credit Card
- Comfortable Clothes + Shoes
- International Driver’s License
- Au Pair Contract
Overall, I really hope you enjoyed reading this Au pair packing list for your Au pair year in Germany. Please let me know in the comments down below if you bought any items that I suggested on the list. I would love to hear from you! 🙂
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