Application for a position as an Au Pair

Who can legally be an au pair in the United Kingdom?

a) EU Nationals from Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.

Nationals of EU member countries who joined in May 2004 (except Malta and Cyprus) will need to be registered under the Accession State Worker Registration Scheme if they work for more than 25 hours a week and intend to work for more than 1 month. Once these nationals have been working legally in the UK for 12 months, they will have the full rights of free movement. An application form can be obtained by visiting the website: www.workingintheuk.gov.uk

Please note that Bulgarian and Romanian nationals need to apply for an 'Accession Worker Card' which will allow the au pair to stay with a specific family and work for up to 5 hours a day for 5 days a week. If the au pair wishes to change the family, she/he will need to apply for a new card. Once a Bulgarian or Romanian au pair has been in the UK for one year with an Accession Worker Card, he/she will be entitled to to work freely in the UK by obtaining a 'registration certificate'. Visit the website www.workingintheuk.gov.uk for more information.

A Bulgarian or Romanian national can only work for up to 5 hours a day for 5 days a week plus one or two evenings of weekly babysitting. The UK government are currently suggesting that Bulgarian and Romanian nationals be paid weekly pocket money of £55.

b) EEA nationals from Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.

c) Swiss nationals

An EU, EEA or Swiss national can legally work more hours for extra money.

d) Nationals from Andorra, Bosnia, Croatia, Faroe Islands, Greenland, Macedonia, Monaco, San Marino and Turkey.

Nationals of the countries listed under d) will require an au pair visa from the British Embassy in their country before arrival in the UK. In order to obtain a visa, the applicant will need to be sent a letter of invitation from the host family.

We also place British applicants as au pairs in Europe.