Basic information

• Only the visa office of the Embassy in Warsaw is responsible for visa applications. The Consulates General of the Federal Republic of Germany in Krakow, Wroclaw and Gdansk do not issue visas and do not provide information on visa applications.
• Please note that you must come to the embassy in person with all the necessary documents to submit your application. Please make an appointment via our appointment system on the Internet. Please plan that the processing time after application is usually several weeks.
• Your application can only be accepted if the documents are complete. The documents must be submitted in the original with one copy of each. Documents in foreign languages (with the exception of English) must be submitted with an official German translation, if indicated below.
• A fee of approximately 400 zloty (75,- Euro depending on the exchange rate) is charged for processing a visa application. The fee is to be paid in Polish zloty in cash at the time of application. It is a processing fee. There is no right to reimbursement in case of rejection or withdrawal of the application.

General information

Good basic knowledge of German colloquial language is absolutely necessary (min. A1 according to the European reference framework). This means that you must already have a good listening comprehension and be able to conduct simple dialogues without asking questions. In addition, you should be able to credibly demonstrate that the motivation for your planned au pair stay is to perfect these language skills in the German living and cultural environment.

You must be at least 18 years old at the beginning of the Au-Pair employment. The application must be submitted before your 27th birthday.

You can use an Au-Pair placement agency or apply for a position with a host family yourself. In the host family, German must actually be spoken as a native language or (in exceptional cases) as a colloquial language.

The applications are sent to the responsible foreigners authority and, if necessary, to the Federal Employment Agency for comment. The processing time is usually at least four (4) weeks, but may increase to several months in individual cases. As soon as a decision has been made, the applicant will be informed immediately by the Embassy. In order to relieve the visa office, it is urgently requested that applicants refrain from making status inquiries, as this delays the general processing of visa applications. Status requests will therefore not be answered!

After a positive decision on the application, you will be asked to provide proof of existing travel insurance coverage for the validity period of the visa before the visa can be issued. Please note that you will need to collect your visa in person.

Please make sure that you submit complete application documents! Incomplete applications may result in rejection of the visa application.

The Embassy reserves the right to request additional documentation.

The following list allows you to check whether your application documents are complete. All documents listed here must be submitted in the requested form and order.

Checklist

• One (1) application form including instructions according to § 54 AufenthG, completely filled out and signed
• One (1) recent biometric passport photo (format: see photo sample board)
• Valid passport (signed by hand and with at least two (2) completely free pages)
• One (1) plain copy of the data page of your valid passport
• Proof of habitual and legal residence in Poland by Polish residence permit (e.g. visa/residence card), valid since at least 3 months, one (1) copy.
  In individual cases, further proof of habitual residence (e.g. bank statements, ZUS statements, rental contracts, etc.) may be necessary.
  
• Last registration certificate in Poland („zaświadczenie o zameldowaniu“, which is obtained at the city office or town hall appropriate for the place of residence), with one (1) copy
• Au-Pair contract signed by both parties, with one (1) copy
• Current proof of German language skills on at least A1 level, from an ALTE-certified language institution, with one (1) copy
• Gapless Curriculum vitae
• Complete questionnaire, filled out by the host family