An au pair is in charge of taking care of the children and lives within the home of the family. The au pair is provided accommodation and meals and a stipend of spending money. The family gains a loving caretaker for their children and an addition to the family. Expats are more likely to employ au pairs.

Nannies in England

Nannies is different from au pair. Nannies are fairly popular in the UK, with professional qualification and much more expensive than au pair. Different agencies charge different fees an have different standards, so make sure to compare companies. The average cost of a nanny is between £250 - 400 a week. A factor in determining price is where you are located within the UK. Nannies in London often demand the highest prices. Another factor determining price is if the nanny is live-in or live-out.

To mitigate cost, nanny-sharing is becoming popular.

What the au pair must know

Basic application criteria vary from agency to agency, there are a few typical requirements:
• Be conversant in English
• Be between 18-27 years old
• Have a High School diploma or equivalent
• Be able to commit to at least a 6 month placement
• Have at least 6 months child care experience
• Be able to provide 3 references regarding your experience and character
• Be in good physical and mental condition as evidenced by a Physician's Report. Agree to a background check.

What the family has to do

The family has to welcome the au pair in thinking that she is not just an employee, but an important part of the family.

Therefore they will make sure:
• The au pair must have her own bedroom.
• The au pair will work to a maximum of maximum of 25-35 hours per week She should have minimum 2 days (2 x 24 hours) off during the week (make available the au-pair's agreed free time and days off ).
• They understand that having an au pair does not mean having a servant. Au pairs may be asked to do some housework as agreed upon in the contract.
• It may be of benefit to register the au pair at the family doctor.
• The family should pay a salary, with the amount written into the contract. (usually about £280 to £380 per week)

An excellent place to look for a professional nanny is on EasyExpat's job listings. You can also look for au pair in our classifieds. You can ask questions and find advice on the forums or directly with our network of expats.

Agencies

Before trusting your child's care to another, be sure to confirm their credentials. An agency should conduct a background check, but you can also verify a companies credentials through watch group organizations.

• International Au Pair Association (APA)
• International Au Pair Organisation (IAPO)

Visa

If hired through an agency, the agency usually guides the au pair through the process.

If necessary (members of the EU, EEA and of Switzerland do not need a visa) , the most common visa for an au pair is through a Youth Mobility Scheme. You must be a national of a country taking part in the scheme, and have a valid national passport from that country. You can apply if you:

• are a citizen of a country taking part in the scheme or a British overseas citizen, British overseas territories citizen or a British national (overseas)
• are 18 years old or over when your visa lets you come to the United Kingdom (becomes valid) and under 31 years old when you apply
• have at least £1,600 in available funds

The countries in the scheme are:
• Australia
• Canada
• Japan
• New Zealand
• Monaco

Visas are valid for a minimum of 2 months and the au pair cannot stay more than 2 years. For more about this visa, go to the UK Border Agency's page on the Youth Mobility Scheme.

For applicants just out of school, a Tier 1 Post-Study visa may be the perfect fit. It provides international graduates with the opportunity to work throughout the UK after they have completed their studies. It can also be used for internships.

For more information on visas in general, consult the section on "Passport and Visas".