IAPO - Become an Au Pair in UK: FAQ

Au Pair in the UK

Police Registration

Au pairs from a non EU country should inspect their passport stamp on arrival, as it may require that they report to the police within 7 days of their arrival, taking with them: passport, two passport size photographs and a fee, currently of £34.

If you are staying in the Metropolitan Police Area, you should take these to the Overseas Visitors Records Office, Brandon House, 180 Borough High Street, London SE1 1LH, between 9am and 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. If you are not staying in the Metropolitan Area, you should contact your local police force for the address and opening hours of other police registration offices. Applicants are responsible for their own registration fee.

Health Insurance

Au pairs are treated under the National Health Service and should ask their host family for help with NHS registration.

Pocket Money

The Home Office recommends a minimum of £55 per week. This must be paid on a weekly basis to the au pair.

Free Time and Conditions

The au pair must be given free time every day to study or to pursue other interests. Two days a week and any evening when baby-sitting is not required must be free.

Who Can Apply?

You must:

be single and be aged between 17 and 27
be a citizen of any participating country: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, The Faroes, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland or Turkey.
have practical child-care experience
be available within the next six months
have completed a secondary education
not have a criminal record and be able to provide a police record check or certificate of good conduct
speak English at least at basic level
not have any medical or physical or psychological problems
be ready to provide the host family with responsible and loving child care
be able to do some light housework chores such as some ironing, dusting, hoovering
at all times, be polite, help the family and take your child care responsibilities seriously.

Language Education

Most au pairs will take English Language courses at the local college or language school. Au pairs are responsible for paying their own fees but help from the family is appreciated in order to find a course and register at the most suitable institution.

Travel Arrangements

The au pair is responsible for his/her own travel costs to the UK. However the family is required to pick her/him up at the airport.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Do I need a visa as an au pair?
Nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania and Turkey must get a visa from their British Embassy or Consulate before they travel to the United Kingdom.

How do I qualify to come to the United Kingdom as an au pair?
You must show that you want to come to the United Kingdom on an au pair placement and that:

you are not married;
you have no dependants;
you do not plan to stay in the United Kingdom for more than two years as an au pair;
you can support and accommodate yourself without help from public funds;
you plan to leave the United Kingdom when you complete your stay as an au pair.

Can I choose the area I want to go to in the UK?
Yes, you can. We place au pairs mainly in England, some in Scotland and occasionally in Wales and Northern Ireland. You will have a better chance of immediate placement if you leave as many locations as possible open to suggestion.

How long will the placement take once my application is accepted?
This will depend very much on the time of your application and your qualifications. Many au pairs are placed shortly after their registration is accepted by our agency and typically au pairs are placed within 4-6 weeks, but it sometimes takes longer.

If I get homesick, can I go home?
There is no mandatory period for you to stay in England and you can return home at any time but you create a better impression if you stay for the period you have agreed. However, you must think carefully before you register and take into consideration that you will be away from your family and friends. Many au pairs are initially homesick, which is natural, but they overcome this feeling very quickly with the help of their host families and other au pairs.

What are the host families like?
In most families, both parents work and many have small children. The number of children is usually 2 or more. They generally live in the suburbs or in the countryside but all areas where the families live have easy access to public transport reaching main amenities e.g. library, shopping centres, theatres, cinemas, parks, colleges, courses...

Will there be other Au Pairs in my area?
Yes, we place au pairs close to each other in groups as much as possible.

How far ahead should I apply?
We recommend that you apply as soon as you have made the desicion to participate. The minimum time limit would be to apply 4 to 8 weeks before you wish to depart, but remember: the sooner we have your application, the greater your chances of placement.

I am not a citizen of a participating country. Can I be an au pair in the UK?
The countries from which we accept au pairs are: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Bosnia-Herzegovia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, The Faroes, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Monaco, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, San Marino, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
If you are not a citizen of one of these countries, then unfortunately we cannot accept your application.

Will my host family meet me when I arrive in the UK?
Your host family will probably meet you if you arrive on one of their days off. It is also very important that you arrive at the nearest airport to your host family's home. If your host family is not able to meet you at the airport, either a taxi (paid for by the family) will be provided, or we will meet you.

Can I move to another 'host' family?
You may move to another family as long as the new arrangements meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules. If you have acceptable reasons for wanting to change family, we guarantee that we will help you to do so as soon as possible, but you must have acceptable reasons.

Will there be any health insurance cover for me during my stay?
In the United Kingdom, every au pair who is going to stay in the country for more than 6 months is automatically covered by the National Health Service at no cost.

How can I contact you while I am an au pair in the UK?
There is a freephone service available 24 hours a day and 7 days a week. This number will be given you before your arrival in the UK. Please keep this number secret and do not give it to anyone. This is only for your own use in a real emergency.

Can I extend my stay as an au pair?
You can apply to extend your stay if:

you were given permission to enter the United Kingdom as an au pair;
you have an au pair placement
an extension would not take your stay beyond two years from the date you were first given permission to enter.

If you are looking for an opportunity to experience life in the UK, consider IAPO's Au Pair UK program! Apply now!