The Au Pair program is part of an International Cultural Exchange programme, controlled in Europe by the European Council Agreement for Placing Au Pairs and by the US State Dept for the United States.

An Au Pair is a single, unmarried person, without dependents, aged between 17 and 27 (inclusive) who spends some time in a different country in order to study a foreign language and learn about a different culture.  

Au Pairs live as part of the host family and act as a 'big sister or brother' to the younger children.  In exchange for their accommodation, meals and a small amount of pocket money per week, the au pair helps with childcare, light housework and general household duties.  During their free time, the au pair will expect to be able attend language classes locally.

Au-Pairs can live for as little as 2 months or for up to two years with a family although the normal length of time is 6-12 months. 

Often also called a 'normal' au pair, works up to 25 hours per week plus a maximum of two nights per week babysitting.  Two full days off per week must be allowed. 

Works for between 26-35 hours per week plus two nights per week babysitting.  One full day must be allowed off per week.  Only EU citizens can work as an Au Pair Plus.

Works anything up to 45 hours per week with one day off guaranteed.  They are usually experienced au pair girls who have been an au pair before and usually with a higher ability. They therefore expect a higher amount of pocket money per week.  Mother's Helps must be EU nationals.

Au Pairs can come either from countries included in the European Economic Area or countries included in an individual government’s Cultural Exchange Programme.  Sometimes countries will not necessarily have their own au pair programme, but may allow citizens to travel and work as au pairs.  For instance Australia doesn't officially recognise the au pair scheme, but officials are happy for Australian nationals to travel on a 12-month vacation visa and stay with a host family in this way, working with children in a similar job to an au pair, nanny or mother's help.
 
It is important that you know if an au pair applicant can legally come to stay in your home as an au pair or nanny and it is certainly worth taking the time to look at the visa requirements of your country  as well as those of your prospective au pair applicant.

For more information about working as an au pair in the UK, the following website is very useful: LINK TO HOME OFFICE AU PAIR PAGE:
http://www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk

Yes, there is a limit to how long an au pair can stay with a host family or in a host country.

Different countries operating the au pair scheme have slightly different rules but generally speaking an Au Pair can stay in the country working as an Au Pair for between one and two years, so long as they comply with au apair immigration rules.

There is no minimum length of stay for au pairs, but most host families are looking for help for three months to two years.  

The most popular length of time host families wish au pairs to stay is for 12 months and many do not wish to take applicants for less than this. 

For more detailed information, please refer to individual country sections.

The levels and requirements for an au pair to speak their language that host families have, vary enormously. 

You and your family will know how well you wish an au pair to be able to speak your language.  However do remember that one of the main reasons an au pair will come to stay with you is to learn.  Many people make the mistake of requesting au pairs to speak their language fluently and of course this highly restricts their choice. 

In the first few weeks, it may be difficult and everyone will need to make adjustments, but if you make allowances for the fact that your au pair is trying to communicate, then you will certainly reap the rewards.  Host families who begin an au pair relationship with an attitude of helping the au pair to adjust and speak their language, often benefit the most. 

Most au pairs will attend language classes and this, together with encouragement at home, ensures that they pick up the language very quickly.

Most Au Pairs are young girls experiencing being away from home for the first time. Everything will be strange to them and they will often be very homesick at first. Both parties - au pair and host family - often need to approach the au pair/host relationship with a flexible attitude and some understanding.

To help ease your Au Pair into your family life as quickly as possible, small gestures often go a long way to making her feel wanted. A kindness would be to allow her a phone call home to tell her family that they have arrived safely. Often the Au Pair’s mother may be anxious about her daughter travelling to a foreign country and it can help enormously for you to have a quick word with them if possible.

Preparing your Au Pair's room with thoughful touches and made comfortable for his/her arrival after a long journey would be expected and welcoming them with a family meal.

In the first couple of days, make sure you have put time aside to show your au pair around, helping her to register with various town facilities, such as her au pair language course, library, sports club etc.
 
Encourage your au pair to be part of your family straight away, so that they don't feel excluded or spend too much time texting home, alone in their room.

When appropriate, invite your au pair on family trips, activities and outings.
 
Ask your au pair about their life and family back home.  If you expect your au pair to enter wholeheartedly into your culture, it is respectful also to show an interest in hers and her language.  If she likes to cook for example, suggest that you eat food she would cook at home one evening.
 
There are many ways in which you can help your au pair settle quickly, but the main way is to treat them as one of your own family - with friendship, respect and warmth.

How do I know that the au pair will be safe? Many agencies will try to avoid this issue, but the real answer to this difficult and understandable question is that ultimately you don’t. 

Au Pairs are rarely qualified child carers and should not be treated as so. They should never be left in sole charge of a child under three years of age at any time.  Au Pairs are girls who come to your country to learn your language and to help you with some babysitting and housework. They are not checked - although they should be able to provide evidence that they have not previous criminal record.
 
However, by following sensible guidance and making appropriate checks, you can do many things to ensure that your au pair is as 'checked' as possible.

As the host family responsible for inviting the au apair into your home, we strongly recommend that you ask for at least two references from your au pair candidate and that you follow up these recommendations. Please also make sure that you see a copy of a recent medical note saying that your au pair is fit and healthy (both physically and mentally) to look after children and also check any relevant certificates and documents.  If possible, also make contact with the au pair's family.  If the au pair is genuine and from a caring background, then their family should be only to happy to know who their child might be staying with as well.
 
Above all, make sure all these checks are completed BEFORE your au pair arrives.

You must provide your au pair with their own room which is their own space and not used by any other member of the family.

Your au pair's private time should be respected and children should clearly understand that this room is for the au pair only and is not an area that the children may go, unless expressly invited by the au pair.  Similarly, although the au pair is staying in your house, it would be expected that you do not enter her room uninvited.

Many au pairs prefer some 'separate' space from the family - especially if they are older and more experienced. However, just as many are experiencing their first trip away from home and prefer to live as part of the family in the main 'heart' of the house.  So analyse your family needs and pick your au pair accordingly.  Its OK to want family time apart from your au pair, but make sure this is clear rather than risking alienating someone who is expecting to be with the family most of the time. 

Payment for au pairs is often called 'pocket money' because an au pair is not subject to the employment laws of the country and not treated in the capacity as a migrant worker.  There are exceptions to this, namely the status of domestic workers, nannies and carers, but applicants who are strictly au pairs, work in exchange for full board and a little extra money each week.

How much you should pay your au pair varies according to which country you are from and how many hours per week they are working. However, there are specific guidelines in place which should be followed. 

UK guidelines suggest a starting amount of £60 for up to 25 hours work + 2 evenings babysitting per week.  However, market demand has raised this to a more realistic starting point of £60 and for London, £70 per week.  For au pairs working more hours than this, the weekly amount goes up accordingly OR extra work for the family is paid at £4.00 per hour.

For Western Europe, Au pairs are paid an amount of €80-85 for 25-35 hours.
 
In the USA, $140+ per week for au pairs would be expected for 40-45 hours per week. 
 
Many host families like to reward au pairs who have experience and attributes which they deem valuable (such as a driving license, older age-group, good language ability etc) and the best candidates (age 21+, driver, long-term, good language level, experience with children, sporty), are able to earn up to €143 (£100) per week.
 
Do also remember, the cost to the host family also includes food and occasional family trips as well as any additional costs incurred as part of the au pair’s duties for the family.
 
Always pay your au pair weekly, preferably in cash, and on time.     

In most countries, the au pair/nanny is responsible for their own travel to the first major point of destination. However, there are a couple of countries where this is not the case - so to be clear, please also check under the information specific to your own (host) country, which you can find on this FAQ page.

In all cases, you need to be willing to meet your guest worker/au pair/nanny at the major airport/bus or train station they arrive at.  However, if you cannot meet them, and they are willing to continue their journey to meet you at a more convenient point to yourself, then you, as their host family, are responsible for booking and paying for this part of the journey.  If it is impossible for you to pre-book and your au pair is willing to do so on your behalf, you must reimburse them for their expense.

Please also be aware that many au pairs will not be able to afford expensive flights and may well have to select an airport where a budget airline arrives. 

It is the responsibility of the au pair's host family to research and preferably book the language course that their au pair wishes to attend.  However, in most countries, it is the responsibility of the au pair to finance the course and pay for the fees themselves. There are exceptions to this, and please see more specific detail under the country section of FAQ.

Course fees can vary enormously so before your au pair arrives, please find out this information and warn your au pair if it means that they have to save up before they arrive or if they need to pay a deposit/pay for the term in advance.

Language courses for au pairs can get very booked up, so do make sure that you have called the administrators and found out if there is a waiting list.  It may be that you will need to register your au pair before they arrive to ensure they get a place.

Also, do tell your au pair if they are arriving during the summer as many courses are closed at this time.

Finally, do make sure that you know when your au pair may be attending classes.  If they only run on a Wednesday at 3pm and you need your au pair to be collecting your children from school at this time, you may need to make other plans.

There are many different types of course and often if a college course during the day is not available, then adult education courses during the evenings are.  

Most au pairs and nannies are female but a growing percentage of applicants are male.  For understandable reasons, many families are nervous about inviting a male au pair into their home, but for many it can be a fresh and new au pair experience.

There are different attributes a male au pair can bring and some of these are:

• For older, male children particularly, a male au pair can provide a lot of 'active' play such as football, rugby, sports coaching and computer games. Male au pairs are often more willing and able to enjoy these activities than female au pairs.
• Male au pairs tend to be far less homesick than female au pairs. They are more easily able to be independent and go out on their own in the evenings.
• Male au pairs are often older and are often more experienced drivers.
• Many male au pairs have sports coaching skills, so if this is important to your children, then why not think about it. 

No, you don't need to use an au pair or nanny agency. 

This is the purpose of this site - so that you can have access to many more applicants and families, than an agency could offer you, at the touch of a button. 

The only exception to this, is if you wish to apply to be an au pair in the USA. 

To work as an au pair in America, you must have a J1 visa and in order to apply for this, one of 6 recognised agencies must be used.  For more information, please see the section on USA.

Au Pair and nanny agencies, however, are also a very valuable resource. 

If you are short of time, then they can certainly help to 'hand pick' appropriate au pair applicants/host families for you and will 'filter' many au pair applications on your behalf.  Reputable au pair and nanny agencies will gather all documentation on an au pair candidate or family ahead of time and present it to you as a 'package' so there is no 'chasing' of references or other background information. 

They also often work in a particular location and will know that area well. Good Au Pair agencies can also give good advice for both family and au pair on the area in terms of language schools and can put au pairs in touch with others in the same area. 

For this 'bespoke' service they will charge a set fee which is payable once an au pair and family have made a 'match'.  If you are interested in a this sort of service, then do feel free to contact one of our selected agencies on this site or email us direct at: contact@rightperson-online.com.

CCE – Certificate in Childcare and Education:
As opposed to the DCE, this course is a one-year, vocational qualification, where experience is gained via a range of practical placements, which make up 60% of the course time combined with 40% of more formal college study where students focus on children’s growth and development and the value of play.  It equips the student to work in the childcare industry.

BTEC – National Diploma in Early Years:
This two-year course qualifies the student to work in a supervisory capacity with young children. This qualification is similar to the two listed above with an extensive range of vocational units being covered.
NAMCW – National Assessment for Maternal & Child Welfare:
It is possible for a student to study for this qualification either as a one-year or two-year course. The one year course covers basic aspects of childcare although would not prepare the student for a sole charge position. However, the two year course is largely recognised to be equivalent to the DCE /NNEB.

NVQ’s – National Vocational Qualifications:
As opposed to more formal training (as incorporated in the above-listed courses), NVQ’s are gained whilst already working.  For this reason, students are usually already based in a role where they can be supervised and also gain a range of vocational experiences, such as in a children’s nursery.  There are varying level’s of NVQ and a student may have one or more.

Level 2:  This level provides basic information in childcare and students will undertake units dealing with the emotional, physical and social development of a child. This qualification would be suitable for some roles, such as a Mother’s Help, but should not be deemed an appropriate enough qualification to be left in sole charge of a child.
Level 3:  If a student manages to gain this Level of NVQ, it is generally deemed to be commensurate with the NNEB/DCE qualification and provides the skills necessary to be in sole charge of children. 
Level 4: This is a higher level NVQ and is an additional qualification which students may take if they wish to work in a managerial capacity. 

If you wish to find a Carer for you or your family, please complete the normal registration form. 

When you write your letter to the applicant, please clearly state what the postion is, and who it is for. 

The applicant will need to know if you require someone dedicated and caring or someone with specific training.  You will need to state the age range of the person who needs a Carer and whether they receive any other regular care (for instance from visiting nurses or social care workers).  Please also describe the nature of any illness or disability and whether any Personal Care is required, Lifting, 24-hour shift-work or medical attention (eg injections).

Please also state the amount of money you are offering per week and whether you are looking for one or more Carers, whether they will be able to attend language classes and if you will need them to drive.

A Carer is someone who comes to work with someone who needs particular support.  Carers can be single or come as a carer couple and either live with the host family or in separate accommodation which is usually provided.

Care work may be with children who need special help (for instance if they have a disability) or more commonly, with an older person.  Most often carers work for an older couple (no children), one or both of whom need help with lifting, shopping, cleaning, housekeeping, cooking etc.  Sometimes one of the couple may have a stroke or may be suffering from a medical condition such as multiple schlerosis, cancer, M.E. or arthritis.

A carer position may be short-term (for instance to help someone get through a particular treatment such as with chemotherapy) or most often, long term.

It is important that people interested in being a Carer are very sure that this job is for them.  The job involves working with people who may be vulnerable and who genuinly need help. Families need someone for long-term (12 months+) and a lot of change is very disruptive.  Please only apply for this type of position if you would genuinly like to help care for people.

Carers do not need to be qualified, but should be able to demonstrate that they are genuine in their intentions of caring for people and need to be able to provide references.  It is normal that if you have any qualifications in care work, such as Social Work, Community Care, Nursing, First Aid etc, then you are likely to find a good position.

If you are able to manage without your au pair, then do offer this option to her early.  Similarly, if you prefer to spend Christmas alone as a family, then you will need to consider paying for your au pair's travel, as tickets can be much more expensive over the festive period.

If you do need your au pair to stay with your family, then please try to give as much advance warning as possible.  Try to understand that she is far from home and that you will try to make her Christmas a good one.  Involve her in the preparations and exchange information as to the traditions in your and her country.  It would be kind to allow her to introduce one or two of her Chrismas customs and to even get the children to learn a short Christmas song in her language.

Do include your au pair on your gift list (!) and on Christmas and New Year's Day, do invite your au pair to call home and speak to her family.