Au pair or trainee in Belgium: a short stay your host applies for
Both routes start with a Belgian family or employer filing the paperwork, and each region writes its own rules. Here's who qualifies in 2026, what it pays and what it costs.
You can't file for either permit yourself. A host family or an employer in Belgium does it, then you get a long-stay visa from the consulate. Think of it as a year to try Belgium, not a way to settle.
The key numbers for 2026
$512
Minimum au pair pocket money a month in Flanders
€450, as of 2026
$853
Minimum au pair pocket money a month in Wallonia
€750, updated July 2026
20 hours
Most an au pair can help per week
and 4 hours a day
6 months
Longest trainee permit at first
Flanders can extend once
Route 1
Au pair: live with a family, help out 20 hours a week
A Belgian host family with at least one child under 13 applies for your work permit. The rules follow the region where the family lives, and they differ more than you'd expect.
- Age: 18 to 25 in Flanders (under 26 when the permit is granted), 18 to 30 in Wallonia
- Pocket money: at least $512 a month in Flanders (€450) or $853 in Wallonia (€750), as of 2026
- Tasks capped at 4 hours a day and 20 hours a week, with language classes on top
- One year maximum; Flanders allows one renewal inside that year
- The family pays for your medical, hospital and repatriation coverage
- You need schooling at least until age 17
Host family in Brussels? Plan on about two months
Brussels runs its own au pair authorization, valid for one year at most, and the host must be a person legally living in Belgium. The procedure takes about two months. The Brussels pages we read don't list an age limit or pocket money, so ask the family to confirm both with Brussels Economy and Employment before you commit.
Route 2
Trainee: an internship that matches your degree
A Belgian employer applies for a single permit that covers work and residence. You need a higher-education degree finished in the last two years, or one you're still studying for, and the internship must fit your field.
- Paid or unpaid internships are both allowed
- Up to 6 months; Flanders allows one extension of up to 6 more
- Flanders asks for a Dutch-language internship agreement signed by both sides
- Authorities have 90 days to decide
- You get an A card, the card for a limited stay
What it costs and how long it takes
$275 au pair fee
Belgium's residence contribution fee for au pairs, €242 as of January 2026.
$173 trainee fee
The single permit contribution, €152 as of January 2026. Flanders adds €180 (about $205) from September 2026.
About 3 weeks
The consulate's estimate for au pair and trainee visas, once the permit is approved.
8 days
Your deadline to register at the town hall after you arrive.
The steps, in order
-
Find a host family or an employer willing to sponsor you.
-
They apply to their region for your au pair work permit or trainee single permit, and the contribution fee is paid.
-
Once it's approved, you apply for a long-stay D visa at the Belgian consulate that covers your state. If you mail or drop off your file, your signature must be notarized.
-
Arrive, register at your town hall within eight days, and your residence card follows.
What this year won't do for you
EU long-term residence rules leave out people living somewhere only on temporary grounds, and au pairs are named. Long-term residence and Belgian citizenship both start at five years of legal residence, so plan a different route if you want to stay. A trainee's partner can join only by meeting Belgium's family reunification rules. You'll still file U.S. taxes; the 2026 foreign earned income exclusion is $132,900.
People who can help
Rebecca Poulson
Belgium Local Guide
An American living in Belgium since 2021 who helps newcomers with integration, immigration questions and finding their feet.
Hunter Schultz
Healthcare Coach
A healthcare coach who maps your health needs to a care plan before you move.
ExpatInsure
Global Health Insurance
International health insurance for the private coverage a visa file asks for.
Lingoda
Language Learning
Live online classes in small groups, a head start on the Dutch or French course you'll take after arriving.
MyExpatTaxes
U.S. Expat Tax Service
Tax filing software and support built for Americans living abroad.
Au pair and trainee questions
Can Americans be au pairs in Belgium?
Yes. A host family with at least one child under 13 applies to its region for the au pair's work permit, and the au pair then gets a long-stay D visa from the Belgian consulate. In 2026, Flanders takes au pairs aged 18 to 25 and Wallonia takes 18 to 30.
Does time as an au pair count toward permanent residence in Belgium?
Don't count on it. EU long-term residence rules exclude people who live in a country only on temporary grounds, and they name au pairs. Long-term residence and Belgian citizenship both require five years of legal residence.
How much do Belgium's au pair and trainee permits cost?
As of January 2026, Belgium's residence contribution fee is €242 (about $275) for au pairs and €152 (about $173) for a trainee's single permit. Flanders adds €180 (about $205) to single permit applications from September 1, 2026. The consulate's visa fee is separate.
Can my partner come with me on a Belgian trainee permit?
Only if they meet Belgium's family reunification conditions. The trainee permit itself doesn't cover family members.
How long can an au pair stay in Belgium?
One year at most. In Flanders the permit can be renewed once, but the total still can't pass one year. In Wallonia an au pair can also switch host families once during the stay.
How much do au pairs get paid in Belgium?
Au pairs get pocket money, not a wage. As of 2026, the minimum is €450 a month in Flanders (about $512) and €750 a month in Wallonia (about $853), on top of room and board. Tasks are capped at 4 hours a day and 20 hours a week.
Can I do an unpaid internship in Belgium as an American?
Yes. Brussels and Flanders both allow paid or unpaid internships. You need a higher-education degree earned in the last two years, or one you're still studying for, and for stays over 90 days the employer applies for a single permit.
How long does a Belgian trainee permit last?
Up to six months at first. Flanders allows one extension of up to six more months. Brussels says its internships can run to one year in total, while the EU's official portal says only Flanders renews, so confirm with your employer's region.
Is a year in Belgium your best first step abroad?
The free Expatsi Test compares Belgium with other countries on cost, healthcare, climate and safety.
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