The officially permitted length of an au pair stay varies from host country to host country. This also can be affected by visa stipulations. Maximum length of stay information for various countries is given below.
| Australia | 1 - 6 months (a change of families is possible for a further 6 months) |
| Austria | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: 6 - 12 months max. |
| Belgium | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: 1 - 12 months max. |
| Canada | 1 - 12 months max. |
| Denmark | EU: no restrictions, non - EU: 1 - 12 months, extendable up to 18 months max. |
| Finland | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: 1 - 12 months max. |
| France | 3 - 12 months, extendable up to 24 months max. |
| Germany | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: min. 6 - 12 months max. |
| Iceland | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: 1 - 12 months max. |
| Ireland | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: 1 - 12 months max. or longer with a student visa |
| Italy | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: 1 - 3 months or up to 12 months with a Working Holiday Visa |
| Liechtenstein | 1 - 12 months max. |
| Luxemburg | 1 - 12 months max. |
| Netherlands | 1 - 12 months max. |
| New Zealand | 1 - 12 months max. |
| Norway | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: 1 - 24 months |
| Spain | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: 6 - 12 months max. or longer with a student visa |
| Sweden | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: 1 - 12 months max. |
| Switzerland | EU: 1 - 12 months, extendable up to 24 months max., non-EU: 1 - 12 months max. |
| United Kingdom | EU: no restrictions, non-EU: 1 - 24 months |
| USA | 12 months min., extendable by 6, 9, or 12 months. |