Denmark has decided to apply new rates to the monthly allowance and financial support allocated to au pairs’ Danish language classes starting next year.
Under the new rules, from January 1, 2024, au pairs’ monthly allowance, often referred to as pocket money, will increase to around 650 euros (DKK 4,850).
Furthermore, the amount earmarked for funding Danish language classes for au pairs is expected to be around 2,589 euros (19,305 Danish kroner), reports SchengenVisaInfo.com.
The Danish International Recruitment and Integration Agency (SIRI) emphasized that the date of submission of the application plays an important role in determining the applicable rate.
The new rates will apply to au pair applications submitted after January 1, 2024. The date you submit your application will determine the type of fee that will be applied to your application.
According to SIRI, the date of submission determines the allowance an au pair receives, regardless of whether the application is received at a diplomatic mission, visa application center, one of its branches, by physical mail or through SIRI’s contact form. This is said to be an important element.
This means that even if the application process begins in December 2023, if the application is submitted after January 2024, the 2024 tax rate will apply.
The au pair system allows young foreigners who want to learn the Danish language and culture to live temporarily in Denmark.
To be eligible for a residence permit in Denmark as an au pair, a foreigner must agree to live with a Danish host family.
The host family is responsible for providing meals, accommodation, and a monthly allowance. Instead, SIRI notes that au pairs “must participate in normal household chores.”
Host families must pay at least 4,700 DKK (2023 level) to their au pairs. As pocket money every month. This money must be paid into your Danish bank account no later than the last banking day of each month.
Danish au pairs are granted a residence permit valid for up to two years. Apart from being allowed to legally reside in Denmark under a residence permit, au pairs are also allowed to visit other Schengen countries.
Au pairs can travel to Schengen countries for up to 90 days within a 180-day period. However, based on their Danish residence permit, they are only allowed to work within Denmark. They can only go to other member states for travel purposes.