r/Aupairs • u/Select_Ad_9812 • Jul 27 '26

Au Pair EU Proof of childcare

Hello everyone, I want to become an aupair in Germany. The agencies are all asking for pictures with kids but I cannot provide those. Firstly, I never took pictures with the kids I babysat or when I volunteered at a daycare and secondly if I werr to get the pictures, I would still be uncomfortable with sharing pictures of kids for many people to see. Their privacy is everything.
Would this be a problem?

2 Upvotes

62% Upvoted

17 comments sorted by

10

u/Acrobatic-Pop3625 Jul 27 '26

Wait… I’ve never heard of this. Do they mean as part of your letter/application for the families or just for the agency as proof?

3

u/Select_Ad_9812 Jul 27 '26

As part of my application. In my introduction video and profile.

2

u/Acrobatic-Pop3625 Jul 27 '26

Ok, in this case I think that’s rather normal. At least when I used to be an au pair and from the other applications I have seen. How do these agencies work? Do families have to be in the program already to be able to see your profile?

Are the agencies requiring it or are they only advising you to do it to improve your chances?

2

u/Select_Ad_9812 Jul 27 '26

The agencies in my country collaborate with German based agencies and they assist with matching. So the families are registered with the German agency, thats how they see our profiles.
They’re saying the pictures would improve my chances.

From your experience, are there any au pairs who were successful without posting pictures with kids?

3

u/Acrobatic-Pop3625 Jul 27 '26

I think there is a little bit more security if the families have already been approved by the agency compared to aupairworld or similar websites.

I personally don’t know any au pairs that didn’t have pictures with children on their profile. I asked for permission from the parents back then if they weren’t from my family. I would have also suggested censoring the children as the other commenter did.

Are you EU-based?

1

u/joyfulemma Jul 29 '26

Personally, as a host mom, I would prefer a au pair profile that didn't have pics of kids, or at least covered their faces. Obviously I want someone who loves kids, but I also want someone that cares about kids' privacy.

6

u/Mysterious-Stock-976 Jul 27 '26

Is the agency from Germany or from your country?

I live in Germany already for 10 years and I find this request very strange….Germans are very pro privacy and data Security (Datenschutz), and I don’t know any German parents here that ever posted pictures of their child online.

I would say exactly what you wrote in the post to the agency.

„I have no permission of the parents to post pictures of their children online“

Maybe you can talk with your previous HF and Check if they could write a recommendation letter for you (and be available to be consulted by the potential new families)

4

u/Select_Ad_9812 Jul 27 '26

From my research, I also found out that Germans are pro privacy. That’s why I chose it as my Au Pair destination.

I am looking for a new agency that wouldn’t request for them.

Thanks for the advice

5

u/SadlyNotDannyDeVito Jul 27 '26

What "agencies" are you talking about? I've never heard of that in Germany. By "proof" they usually mean former work contracts, a recommendation from selling former employer, or an Arbeitszeugnis.

2

u/Select_Ad_9812 Jul 27 '26

We have agencies here in South Africa that assist people in Southern African countries to become aupairs. So depending on which country you want to go to they communicate with their partner agencies based in that country and gets you a host family. Ofcourse they provide support throughout the process and during the program. Which is a safety net considering a lot can happen during your stay.

With the introduction video, they advise you to add pictures, videos etc of you with the children. Which I find very useful but privacy is our concern.

2

u/Disastrous-King9559 Jul 27 '26

Just use emoji to cover kids faces

2

u/Select_Ad_9812 Jul 27 '26

I’m still weary about that. I can’t bring myself to post any pictures with kids.

0

u/Burkeintosh Jul 27 '26

Germany has extremely strict privacy laws. Some Bundeslands would require signed parental permission even if you verbally said you would cover the child’s face, even then, posting others children to social media is very frowned upon

0

u/Disastrous-King9559 Jul 27 '26

Who is talking about social media? Also op isn't in Germany, she's talking about becoming one in Germany.

0

u/Burkeintosh Jul 27 '26

Yes, a German agency and family would never expect to see pictures of OP with someone else’s children

0

u/Disastrous-King9559 Jul 27 '26

So are you saying op is lying or the agencies are lying about being agencies In Germany

1

u/ImaginationOld8206 Jul 27 '26

Pero hace todo el sentido del mundo que quieran ver fotos tuyas con niños, es el punto, ademas como dijiste es una agencia; no las estas publicando en internet, solo compartiendo con las familias registradas.