First of all, there is not a specific au pair visa, indeed, au pair stays are included in the Spanish student visa. However, other visas are also possible depending on the nationality.
Please note that au pair coming from Latin American country with Spanish as the official language, cannot work as an au pair in Spain as they are not eligible for a Spanish student visa.
AU PAIRS FROM EU AND EFTA COUNTRIES
A visa for entry into Spain is not required but if the au pair stay is longer than 3 months, the au pair will have to apply for an EU registration certificate at the Central Register for Foreigners (Registro Central de Extranjeros).
AU PAIRS FROM THE USA AND THE UNITED KINGDOM
If the au pair stays in Spain for less than 90 days, he/she will not need to apply for a visa but it will be necessary to provide a reason for the stay as study purposes or private matters. Moreover, a number of documents will be required (passport, health insurance, certificate of enrolment in a language course, letter of invitation from the host family, au pair contract).
However, if the au pair stays more than 90 days, it will be necessary to apply for a student visa. In this purpose, the au pair has to be enrolled in a Spanish course for at least 20 hours per week in an accredited school.
AU PAIRS FROM AUSTRALIA AND CANADA
As for au pairs coming from the USA and the UK, no visa is required for stays less than 90 days.
However, if the stay lasts more than 90 days, 2 options are possible:
- Apply for a Student Visa
- Apply for a Youth Mobility Visa (You can work, study and travel in Spain for 12 months but cannot stay with the same family more than 6 months).
AU PAIRS FROM NEW ZEALAND
As well for au pairs from New Zealand, no visa is required for stays which are lasting less than 90 days.
Nevertheless, for stays longer than 90 days, the au pair can apply for the student visa or the Working Holiday Programme which permits to facilitate the au pair stay in Spain. However, with this programme, au pairs are not allowed to stay with the same family more than 6 months.
AU PAIRS FROM OTHER COUNTRIES
If the au pair stays for less than 3 months and if the au pair comes from a country not belonging to the Schengen Area, he/she will have to apply for a Schengen Visa in Spain.
If the stay is longer than 90 days, there are 2 options:
- Apply for a Student Visa
- Apply for a Temporary Residence Permit: In order to apply for it, the au pair will have to show that he/she has sufficient funds to afford the stay as well as a health insurance covering all the duration of the stay.
Do you need more legal assistance, at Marfour international law firm, our immigration lawyers in Spain can assist you to handle this process without difficulties.
