au pairs: what to expect

This page explains what you can expect from your stay in the United Kingdom as an au pair.

The au pair scheme provides you with the opportunity to live in the United Kingdom for up to two years. You will live with an English-speaking family and will be expected to help in the home for up to five hours a day. You will also be able to attend English lessons to improve your language ability.

Host family

Before you make an application to come to the United Kingdom as an au pair you will need to have found a family who want you to work for them as an au pair. We are not able to provide you with help to find a host family. There are many au pair agencies that operate in the United Kingdom and these agencies will be able to help you find a suitable placement. The International Au Pair Association and The British Au Pair Agencies Association can provide you with the contact details of au pair agencies in the United Kingdom.

The International Au Pair Association
Bredegade 25 H
1260 Copenhagen K
Denmark

Phone: (+45) 33 17 0066
Fax: (+45) 33 93 9676

Website: www.iapa.org

The British Au Pair Agencies Association
Trafalgar House
Grenville Place
London
NW7 3SA

Website: www.bapaa.org.uk

The agency that arranges your placement will be your main contact point when you are in the United Kingdom.

Changing host families

If you want to move to another host family after you have arrived in the United Kingdom you will be allowed to do this as long as the work, pay and conditions of the new placement meet the requirements set out below. You will only be able to change host families if you have been in the United Kingdom as an au pair for less than two years.

The work

As an au pair you will be expected work for the host family for 25 hours a week. The work you are asked to do will depend on your host family, however, it is likely to include:

• looking after the children of the family;
• taking the children to or from school;
• light housework;
• cleaning;
• washing-up;
• helping at dinner times.

Pay and conditions

In exchange for the work you do, the family will provide you with:

• your own bedroom;
• all meals;
• pocket money of at least £60 per week;
• at least two full days off per week.

If you are attending English lessons while you are in the United Kingdom, your host family will make sure your work is arranged to allow you time to attend these lessons.

Dependants

One of the conditions of entry to the United Kingdom as an au pair is that you are single. You will not be able to bring any dependants to the United Kingdom with you. If your dependants want to come to the United Kingdom they will need to be given permission to enter separately. As an au pair, you will be provided with accommodation by your host family. The host family will be unable to provide accommodation to any dependants.

Public funds

As an au pair you will be expected to be able to support yourself during your time in the United Kingdom without claiming state benefits. We call this having no access to public funds. Details of exactly what public fund are can be found in the residency section of this website.

Registration with the police

Once you have arrived in the United Kingdom you may need to register with the police. If you need to register we will stamp this requirement in your passport when you enter the United Kingdom.

You will need to register within seven days of arriving in the United Kingdom. If you are staying in the Metropolitan Police Area (this covers most of London) you will need to register at the Overseas Visitor Records Office.

Overseas Visitors Registration Office (OVRO)
Ground Floor, Brandon House
180 Borough High Street
London, SE1 1LH

Phone: 020 7230 1208

You should phone the office before you visit as you may need to make an appointment. You will need to pay a fee to cover the cost of your registration. You will be given details of the fee when you make your appointment.

If you are not staying in the metropolitan area you should contact your local police force for details of your local registration offices. If you are unsure who to contact, your host family should be able to help you.

To register you will need your passport and two passport-sized photographs of yourself. You will also need your fee. The cost of the registration and information on how to pay can be obtained from the police force you register with.

 

 

Please note CK and Jones is not currently providing any immigration advice until we become regulated by the OISC. Please browse our visa information sections in the meantime and use the contact us page to leave us a message.

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