Need help filling out the German National Visa Application? Check out this post for a step-by-step guide on how to fill it out as an Au pair!
As someone who filled out the German National Visa Application to become an Au pair, I will say filling out the application is not as easy as it looks. There were multiple times throughout my time filling it out where I wondered whether I was answering the questions correctly or whether I was simply misinterpreting what I read. So, to help prospective Au pairs in Germany avoid any confusion, I thought it would be great idea to create a post that showcases how to fill out the German National Visa Application step-by step.
So, if you’re a prospective Au pair who’s in the process of filling out a German National Visa Application to become an Au pair in Germany, you’ve come to the right place. This post alone breaks down how to fill out the German National Visa Application section by section so that you’re one step closer to getting the visa you need to work in Germany.
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
Where do you get the German National Visa Application?
The German National Visa Application can be obtained at any local German Mission in your home country. If you are based in the U.S., you can find the link to the application on the Residence Visa/ Long Stay Visa page. A new window will pop up once you click on the “Application” hyperlink and it will take to a form that you will need to fill out virtually and print out for your appointment.
How to fill out the German National Visa Application as an Au pair?
Here is a section by section breakdown on how to fill out the German National Visa Application as an aspiring Au pair. Although this form is generalized for anyone looking for a long stay in Germany, the breakdown below will only highlight what’s important for Au pairs.
Information on the applicant
In the “Information on the applicant” section, be sure to fill out everything exactly as it appears on your passport. Sometimes it may also help to fill out any former surname(s) you may have had in the past or if you have dual nationality.
Another thing to keep in mind when you’re filling out your “Marital status” as a prospective Au pair is to select “single”. Prospective Au pairs in Germany are not allowed to be married before they apply for a long stay visa so if you are married this would hinder your application.
As for the “Sex”, male and female are the only options available so it’s important to keep that in mind if you fall under a different gender identity.
Another thing to keep in mind when you’re filling out the “Type of travel document” is to select the “Reisepass” if you’re going to be an Au pair. I remember feeling really confused when I filled out this section for the first time so you’re welcome if that’s the case. 🙂
You also will not need to fill out the “Resident permit no.” and the “Valid until” box underneath since this is something you would need to obtain from the Auslanderbehorde once you’re in Germany.
As for the “Current address and contact details” be sure it is as accurate as possible when you’re filling it out. The German Mission in your home country may contact you if they have any further questions about your application.
Information on the applicant’s spouse/registered partner
The “Information on the applicant’s spouse/registered partner” section obviously does not need to be filled out for prospective Au pairs since you can’t be married during this cultural exchange.
Information on the applicant’s children
The “Information on the applicant’s children” section also does not need to be filled out for prospective Au pairs since having children would disqualify you from getting the visa.
Information on the applicant’s parents
The “Information on the applicant’s parents” section however should be filled out so that the German government is aware of your next of kin if something were to happen to you abroad.
Have you ever been to the Federal Republic of Germany before?
This section only needs to be filled out if you’ve ever been to Germany before. I for one when I was filling this out had been to Germany before so I listed the stay that I had in Berlin from May 2018 as [May 2018 | May 2018 | Berlin ] since it was only 5 days.
Intended place of stay in the Federal Republic of Germany
This section is where you would fill out the address of your host family if you’re living in their house as well as what kind of room you would be staying in during your cultural exchange. For example, sometimes your host family may offer you a single room in their house or it could be your own apartment with an X number of rooms (then you would put the apartment’s address). In fact, some families may even offer you a room in a shared apartment with students which would in this case fall under “Collective accommodation” (then would need to put the address of the collective accommodation).
Do you intend to retain your permanent residence outside the Federal Republic of Germany?
This question by far in my opinion is the most important question you could ever fill out on a German National Visa Application. It’s essentially asking you if you plan on keeping your residency in your home country during your Au pair stay.
Please for the love of God ALWAYS answer “yes” to this question because the German government may be less likely to approve your application if they realize you don’t plan on keeping your residency outside of Germany.
The reason for this is because in their eyes, this might mean you’d be less likely to return to your home country after your Au pair stay is over which is something they frown highly upon. So keep that in mind if you run across this section.
Do family members intend to accompany you?
For this question, prospective Au pairs should say “no” since being an Au pair is a cultural exchange you need to do alone.
Purpose of stay in the Federal Republic of Germany
As for this section, prospective Au pairs obviously need to check off “Au pair” here as well as the statement that says “I intend to stay no longer than twelve months in the Federal territory and apply for a visa that covers the whole duration of my stay.” By checking this off, this helps the German government ensure that you won’t violate your visa by overstaying it.
References in the Federal Republic of Germany
In this section, you need to list your host mother or your host father as a reference since they are the ones employing you to be their Au pair. So, in this case, you would need to write your host family’s address here as well as either host parent’s phone number and email address.
Trust me… the German government does look at this when they look through your application since they called my host mother before they could approve mine.
Trade or profession for which you trained and (if different) your current trade or profession
This section particularly doesn’t need to be filled out if you’re planning to be an Au pair in Germany. However, if you choose to fill it out you can either write what you studied at university/college or what your last profession was.
Intended duration of stay in the Federal Republic of Germany
Since you can’t stay in Germany for more than one year as an Au pair the dates that you include in this section need to reflect that specifically.
What are your means of support?
As for this question, prospective Au pairs can list things such as “pocket money” and/or “host family” as a response. You must also check off “yes” to the question “Do you have health insurance that covers the Federal Republic of Germany?” since it is required that your host family pays for your insurance throughout your stay.
Have you ever been convicted?
For this question, I obviously answered “no” but it’s best to be honest since any conviction you may have could be public record.
Have you ever been expelled or deported from the Federal Republic of Germany, had an application for a residence permit rejected, or been refused entry into the Federal Republic of Germany?
For this question, I also answered “no” but if this has happened to you I recommend being as honest as possible since it could effect the outcome of your application.
Do you suffer from any of the diseases mentioned in footnote 1 (please also state if you are suspected of suffering from
any of these diseases)?
For this question, I also answered “no” but it’s best to be as honest as possible if Footnote 1 below applies to you!
Footnote 1: Smallpox, poliomyelitis, types of influenza not common in humans (e.g. bird flu, swine flu), acute pandemic influenza, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), cholera, pneumonic plague, yellow fever, viral hemorrhagic fever (e.g. Ebola, Lassa, Marburg).
Signature + Declaration Page
Signing the German National Visa Application was different than I expected since the U.S. doesn’t ask for a “Place” when documents need to be signed. If you’re not sure what to write for “Place” just put the city/town where you’re located. As for the date, make sure it’s in the European format which is DD.MM.YYYY.
The Declaration Page is also something that needs to be signed in addition to your application since signing it essentially means you are declaring that everything written in your application is truthful and complete to the best of your knowledge. So, in this case, you would sign the Declaration Page as you did in the German National Visa Application.
Overall, I really hope you enjoyed reading this post on how to fill out the German National Visa Application as an Au pair! Please let me know in the comments down below which fact about the application surprised you the most. I would love to hear from you! 🙂
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