Au Pair Visas

The au pair visa is available to single people between the ages of 17 and 27 years who want to come to the United Kingdom to learn English and live with an English speaking family working as an au pair.

The usual arrangements for an au pair are as follows:

1. You can live for up to two years with an English speaking family and have appropriate opportunities to study
2. As an au pair you are expected to help with the housework and take care of any children in the household for up to five hours a day
3. You are entitled to at least two full days off work
4. You are entitled to a reasonable allowance and your own room
5. You are expected to attend an educational institution at least twice a week to improve on your English language skills

Nationals from the following countries are able to apply under the au pair visa:

• Bulgaria*
• Romania *
• Turkey *
• Monaco
• Greenland
• Bosnia-Herzegovina *
• Macedonia *
• Croatia *
• San Marino
• Andorra
• Faroe Islands

Any application for an au pair visa must be made from outside the UK. Anyone from the EU is also allowed to participate in the au pair scheme.

*If you are a national from Bulgaria, Romania, Turkey, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Macedonia, or the Republic of Croatia, you need to get entry clearance from a British Embassy before travelling to the UK.

How to qualify

In order to qualify for an au pair visa, you must satisfy the following requirements

1. You must not be married
2. You must not have any dependents
3. You must not plan to remain in the UK for longer than two years as an au pair
4. You must be able to prove that you can support and accommodate yourself without relying on public funds
5. You must intend to leave the UK once you have finished your two years as an au pair

Is it possible to move to another host family?

It is possible to move to another family provided the new arrangements still adhere to the Immigration Rules. The au pair visa cannot be extended beyond two years.

Can I extend my stay as an au pair?

You are permitted to extend your stay as an au pair provided you meet the following requirements:

1. You have been given permission to enter the United Kingdom as an au pair;
2. You still have an au pair placement; and
3. An extension would not extend your stay beyond two years.