Immigration Rules for Au Pairs

An au pair placement is an arrangement where a single person aged from 17 - 27 (inclusive) comes to the United Kingdom to study English and lives for up to two years as a member of an English speaking family. The au pair helps in the home for a maximum of 5 hours per day, with at least two full days off per week, in return for a reasonable allowance and the use of his or her own room.

An au pair must be a national of one of the following countries:

Nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania, Macedonia and Turkey must obtain a visa from their designated British Embassy or Consulate before travelling to the United Kingdom.

Nationals of the European Economic Area can enter the United Kingdom to work or study without any formalities.

An au pair must show that they are seeking entry to take up an arranged au pair placement and that they are:

1. unmarried
2. have no dependants
3. do not intend to stay in the United Kingdom for more than two years as an au pair
4. intend to leave the United Kingdom on completion of their stay as an au pair.

An au pair can stay in the United Kingdom up to a maximum of two years from the date they were admitted as an au pair.

An au pair can apply to extend their stay if:

1. they were given permission to enter the United Kingdom as an au pair
2. they have as au pair placement
3. an extension would not take their stay beyond two years from the date they were first given permission to enter

Permission to remain as an au pair will not be granted to anyone who did not enter the United Kingdom as an au pair.

An au pair may change families provided the new arrangements continue to meet the requirements of the immigration rules.

If an au pair has stayed in the country for longer than six months, they will normally be required to register with the police. (This requirement will be stamped in their passport) To register they should take their passport and two passport sized photographs to their local police station. A fee will be charged.

An au pair may apply by post to the Immigration and Nationality Department (recorded delivery is recommended if a passport is being sent) or in person at one of the Home Office Public Enquiry Offices.

All applications should be made before the date your permission to stay expires. Applications should be accompanied by their passport a letter from the host family giving details of the au pair placement and the length of time for which an extension is sought. All documents should be originals.

For further information, click on http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/