The 7 Best Au Pair Agencies for Americans

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Want to be an Au pair but need help finding an host family? Check out this post for the best Au pair agencies for Americans.

As someone who has made the mistake of trusting the wrong Au pair agency, I thought it would be a great idea to create a post about the best Au pair agencies for Americans.

Now don’t get me wrong, as an American, I know that we’re not required to use an agency to become an Au pair abroad. In fact, from what I know so far, it’s only America specifically that enforces this rule for non U.S. citizen Au pairs.

But, just because this regulation doesn’t apply for American Au pairs abroad, that doesn’t mean using an agency can’t be beneficial. Au pair agencies, in general, provide a level of safety for the Au pair as well as support.

In fact, in relation to my experience, I felt a huge layer of safety and support with the first Au pair agency I went to at the beginning. However, my only regret was not doing any thorough research beforehand to see what else was out there.

So, if you want to avoid any mistakes during the Au pair agency selection process, you’ve come to the right place. This post alone highlights 7 of the best Au pair agencies for Americans as well as ones that are host country specific.

Table of Contents

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

Au Pair Butrfly (best au pair agencies)

Image Courtesy of Au Pair Butrfly

Au Pair Butrfly is a great agency for Americans who are interested in Au pairing abroad. Since they are based in France, the agency is better equipped to help you find a host family in any area of France you choose. In fact, each host family on the platform is carefully selected for you based on the parameters you set in the beginning.

So, if you’re planning to be an Au pair in France, I highly recommend checking out Au Pair Butrfly! They support you throughout the entire Au pair process and they have a community ready for you to join in France.

Au Pair World (best au pair agencies)

Image Courtesy of AuPairWorld

Au Pair World is another great agency Americans can use to Au pair abroad! Their platform is completely free for Au pairs and they have host families from different countries around the world. These countries include but are not limited to Iceland, Denmark, Austria and Belgium.

So, if you’re looking to work with an agency that’s not too specific when it comes to host countries, I highly recommend Au Pair World! They work on the basis of self-selection to give you the opportunity to choose a host family and vet them yourself.

Au Pair Berlin (best au pair agencies)

Image Courtesy of Au-Pair-Berlin.de

Au Pair Berlin is another great agency Americans can use to Au pair abroad! Since they’re based in Germany, the agency is better equipped to place you with a host family in Berlin or throughout Germany. In fact, since this agency is certified by RAL, they are highly qualified to place Au pairs and offer tremendous service.

So, if you’re really interested in being an Au pair in Berlin specifically, I highly recommend Au Pair Berlin! Their Au pair application can easily be printed and filled out at home and you’re welcome to fill out their contact form for any initial questions.

AIFS Educational Travel (best au pair agencies)

Image Courtesy of AIFS Educational Travel

AIFS Educational Travel is another great agency Americans can use to Au pair abroad! They’re a leading Au pair agency in Australia and they have helped dozens of Americans find Australian host families.

In fact, for just a one-time payment of $895, you’ll instantly get an orientation at a an award-winning hostel in Sydney once you’re matched. You’ll also get access to an exclusive Facebook group created by the agency as well as some Au pair meetup events.

So, if you’re interested in Au pairing in Australia, I highly recommend AIFS Educational Travel. Once you’re placed, you’ll also get full access to AIFS Work and Travel Program for exclusive travel deals, jobs, and free storage.

Au Pair Link (best au pair agencies)

Au Pair Link is another great agency Americans can use to Au pair abroad! Known for being the first Au pair agency in Australasia to become a member of the International Au Pair Association (IAPA), Au Pair Link is a great agency to work with if you’re looking for a host family in New Zealand.

They offer a ton of benefits for many applicants that are accepted and these benefits include but are not limited to Au pair meet up events, travel discounts, and First Aid training.

So, if you’re interested in Au pairing in New Zealand as an American, I highly recommend Au Pair Link. The agency gives you access to a large pool of fully screened Kiwi host families once your application is approved and you get comprehensive online training courses for support as well.

Cultural Homestay International (best au pair agencies)

Image Courtesy of Cultural Homestay International

Cultural Homestay International (CHI) is another great agency Americans can use to Au pair abroad! As their mission, CHI believes in the power of cultural exchange and wants to help dozens of Americans come together with host families to share culture, values, skills, and life experiences.

In fact, when it comes to their program, prospective Au pairs even have the option to choose their own dates! Their short-term Au pair programs last anywhere between 1-3 months and their long-term Au pair programs last up to 12 months.

So, if you’re looking for a flexible Au pair program in regard to dates, I highly recommend Cultural Homestay International. As of now, they currently have Au Pair Abroad placements in China, France, Germany, and Italy.

Destino Idiomas (best au pair agencies)

Destino Idiomas is another great agency Americans can use to Au pair abroad! Accredited by the Spanish Au Pair Association (AEPA), Destino Idiomas is a great agency to work with if you’re looking for a host family in Spain.

In fact, since they are based in the host country, they’re better equipped to find you a host family in Spain in comparison to agencies based outside of Spain.

So, if you’re interested in Au pairing in Spain as an American, I highly recommend Destino Idiomas. Doing the program is a great way to booster your Spanish as an Au pair and many past Au pairs have even recommended their program for its life changing experience.

Best Au Pair Agencies FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions you might have about the best Au pair agencies for Americans!

via GIPHY

How do I choose an Au pair agency?

When it comes to choosing an Au pair agency, there are three things you need to keep in mind:

The geographic area the Au pair agency covers

The Au pair agency you’re interested in needs to cover the host country you want to go to and work with Americans. If they don’t work with Americans, you won’t get the proper support you need for your visa/resident permit.

Reviews from other Au pairs who have used the agency

The Au pair agency you’re interested in needs to be highly recommended by other Au pairs who have gone through the program. If you see a lot of mixed reviews about the agency from other Au pairs, I would definitely be on the more cautious side.

Resources for making friends as an Au pair

The Au pair agency you choose to work with also needs to provide you with the tools and resources to make friends while you’re abroad. Some agencies from what I’ve seen, do this by creating meetup groups for all of the Au pairs as well as Facebook groups, or different events.

What is the largest Au pair agency?

Au Pair World is the largest Au pair agency for Americans!

Overall, I really hope you enjoyed reading this post about the best Au pair agencies for Americans! Please let me know in the comments down below which agency you would like to work with the most. I would love to hear from you!