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