Welcome to Go Au Pair

An Au Pair Agency That Truly Cares.

Q: Can Au Pairs care for special needs children?

Yes, Au Pairs are allowed to care for special needs children, as identified by the Host Family, when the Au Pair has specifically identified their prior experience, skills or training in the care of special needs children and the Host Family has reviewed and acknowledged in writing the Au Pair’s prior experience, skills or training so identified. Many of our available Au Pairs have broad experiences and are interested in caring for children with special needs.

A trusted Au Pair agency for over 30 years, Go Au Pair provides an extraordinary cultural exchange program and a safe, reliable, live-in childcare solution.

We know choosing the right childcare does not come easily. You don’t want to sacrifice quality to get more flexibility, and you shouldn’t have to! We strive to facilitate a trusted, reliable, long-lasting relationship between your family and your Au Pair.

Register as a Host Family for free and search our incredible database of Au Pairs. Identify qualified Au Pair candidates based on your family’s unique needs.

     
 
 
      
 
   Megan Walsh 
 October 15, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We've had a wonderful experience with Go Au Pair. We are in our third year with the program and plan for a fourth (until our kiddo goes to school). We originally sought out an au pair program because of our non-traditional work schedules, but it has been so much more than just a logistics solution. Our kiddo has formed strong bonds with her au pairs and solid foreign language skills that will undoubtedly serve her well in the future. There is also the undeniable fact that we have positively influenced the lives of au pairs.
We have found the agency itself to be helpful and supportive throughout the process; Helping to address any questions or sticking points promptly.
  
 
     
 
   Maria S 
 October 14, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We highly recommend the agency! The team made the au pair search process smooth, stress-free, and enjoyable. Their communication is excellent, and they helped us find an amazing au pair who has had a positive impact on our family. Thank you for all your support!
  
 
     
 
   Daniela Tirado 
 October 12, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. I had a great experience with go au pair, they were very helpful during all my year in the US and I'll be forever grateful for having this experience.
  
 
     
 
   Jamie K 
 October 9, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. We HIGHLY recommend Go Au Pair (GAP).  In the world of working parent guilt and a global pandemic, it really does take a village to raise children--but what does one do when one's village alternates quarantining and childcare is chaos.

When we heard about the au pair program and began to research it, we knew it was our only hope, though we had many concerns. The first was what agency to choose--a huge agency? A small agency? We wondered what role our agency would play, and agonized over the choice. Ultimately, GAP provided terrific, high-quality, personalized service that clearly comes from their experience in the AP world and not being so enormous that they lose sight of their families and APs. We are a family, not just a number, to GAP. We have now been hosting for years and currently have our 5th AP. They are such very special young ladies who are authentic,  bright, and thoughtful. They are fantastic with our children, and it's wonderful to have an extra "big sister" who can cook for them, drive them to and from activities and school, help them with their homework, etc.. With 3 young boys, having a third adult is such an unbelievable help in our family.

Our APs leave unforgettable impressions on our children and have made it so easy to be working parents. We cannot thank GAP enough!
  
 
     
 
   Lisseth Barco 
 October 4, 2026
 
 
 Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Being an Aupair is the best experience I have I found an amazing host family to share our cultures makes me feel like home bc we shared similar traditions and I’m going to say that I’m having a good experience with the program and of course doing my second year with the same family and that’s why I really recommend them 🤗 thanks GoAupair to make us have a good experience outside of our countries sharing our cultures.
  
 
 
 
  
 
   Google rating score: 4.7 of 5, based on 193 reviews

Want to Become an Au Pair?

Your American story starts here.

Flexible & Affordable

Advantages of Joining Our Au Pair Program

Gain a new, international family member.
Introduce your children to new languages and cultures through our carefully vetted Au Pairs.
Afford flexible, reliable, live-in childcare for the same price, no matter how many kids you have.
Share the best of the USA with your Au Pair and spread the love around the world!

See what to expect from our Host Family Process >

What does an Au Pair do?

They make your life easier by performing common childcare tasks.

School & Activities

Lunches, homework, backpacks, after-school activities; Au Pairs provide a convenient way to manage your busy schedule.

Laundry & Tidying Up

Au Pairs help out around the house, doing laundry and cleaning bedrooms and play areas for the kids – allowing you more quality time to spend with your kids.

Culture, Meals & Fun

Cultural fun every day through food, games, holidays, and other activities! Get top notch enrichment and love for your kids.

Learn more about Au Pair duties and definitions >

Au Pair vs Nanny

While a Nanny can be live-in or not, they’re usually from your local area, and the pay and responsibilities are decided entirely between the family and Nanny.

Au Pairs are young people between 18-26 from another country, who live with your family while caring for the children. An Au Pair can even care for multiple children without additional cost! See more about the differences between a Nanny, Au Pair, and Daycare.

Au Pair vs Nanny vs Daycare >

How much do you pay an Au Pair?

A weekly stipend of at least $195.75 is the minimum provided by the State Department; Host Families and Au Pairs may agree to a stipend above the legally applicable minimum. Host Families also pay a one-time contribution of $500 toward the Au Pair’s educational requirements during each placement year.

With Go Au Pair, live-in childcare starts at $8.98/hour for up to 45 hours per week, and offers more flexibility to your family than any other form of childcare.

Au Pair Cost Breakdown >

Featured Au Pairs

DAYANA from ECUADOR

“I decided to extend with a new Host Family to experience a different family dynamic, continue growing professionally as a childcare provider, and further immerse myself in cultural exchange while contributing my skills and dedication to a new home.”

SARA from SPAIN

“I would like become an Au Pair with an American family to share their daily life and learn about American culture. I haven’t decided on my college major yet, but I would like to work with children in the field of sports, and I want to become fluent in English.”

NINO from FRANCE

“I love children; I love it when they want to play all day and tell funny stories about their dreams. I love dancing with them in the living room or baking cookies. Simply finding happiness in the little things!”

Frequently Asked Questions About the Au Pair Program

Can Au Pairs care for special needs children?

Yes, Au Pairs are allowed to care for special needs children, as identified by the Host Family, when the Au Pair has specifically identified their prior experience, skills or training in the care of special needs children and the Host Family has reviewed and acknowledged in writing the Au Pair’s prior experience, skills or training so identified.

Many of our available Au Pairs have broad experiences and are interested in caring for children with special needs.

Can Au Pairs drive in the U.S.?

Yes, your Au Pair may drive in the U.S. for a variety of reasons including (but not limited to) as part of child care responsibilities, to attend school, to attend events hosted by your Local Area Representative and/or for personal/social reasons. Host Families are responsible for reviewing and screening an Au Pair’s driving experience during the matching process and for helping the Au Pair adjust to driving in the U.S. after arrival.

Au Pairs do not have cars. If driving is part of the Au Pair’s child care responsibilities then a car must be provided. All other car access is coordinated between the Au Pair and Host Family. Any Au Pair driving in the U.S. must have auto insurance coverage and a driver’s license (either international license or state license depending on state law).

What is the screening process for Au Pairs?

Au Pair selection is regulated by the U.S. Department of State and includes at minimum:

The Au Pair is between the ages of 18 and 26
Secondary school graduate, or equivalent
Proficient in spoken English
Capable of fully participating as evidenced by satisfactory completion of a physical exam
Personally interviewed, in English, by organizational representative
Successfully passed a background investigation which includes verification of school, three non-family personal and employment references, criminal background check and successfully pass a psychometric test

Go Au Pair screens and selects potential Au Pairs through the following:

Au Pair profile
Photo copies of official documents such as passport, school diploma, driver’s license, certificates, etc.
Au Pair agreement

Au Pair selection is performed primarily by our International Representatives in the Au Pair’s home country.

Can I get an Au Pair without an Au Pair Agency?

According to State Department regulations (e-CFR §62.31), only designated sponsor agencies are able to sponsor an Au Pair visa.

There are sixteen designated Au Pair agencies in the U.S. To bring an Au Pair into the U.S. on the J-1 Visa, you would have to work with one of those sixteen agencies.

So in this sense, no, you cannot find an Au Pair without an agency.

View our Host Family FAQ Page

What Qualifications do Au Pairs have?

Childcare experience: all our Au Pairs have verified employment experience across various types of childcare.
Infant Qualified: Specialty experience requirements to care for children under the age of 2, giving parents peace of mind.
Driving Experience: The most common childcare responsibility – identify what will be involved in getting your Au Pair acclimated to driving in the USA.
Personality: See personality traits to help get a deeper connection with your live-in childcare provider.