UNITED KINGDOM (UK)
This information and guidance explains what you will need to do if you want to go to the United Kingdom (UK) as an au pair, and what the immigration Rules say,
It is only a guide but it aims to answer some common questions.
Au Pair Placement in the United Kingdom (UK)
An au pair placement is an arrangement where a single person (no dependents) between 17 years and 27 years of age can come to the UK to learn English and:
- Live up to two years as a member of an English-speaking family, with appropriate opportunities for further study, and
- Helps in the home for up to five hours a day with at least two full days off a week, in return for a reasonable allowance and their own room.
To qualify to travel to the UK as an au pair
You must show you want to go to the UK on an au pair placement and that you:
- Are not married
- Have no dependents
- Do not plan to stay in the UK for more than two years as an au pair
- Can support yourself and live without any help from public funds and
- Intend to leave the UK when you complete your au pair placement.
Which countries are included in the Au Pair scheme?
An au pair must be a national of one of the following countries,
- Andorra
- Bosnia-Herzegovina
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Faroe Islands
- Greenland
- Macedonia
- Monaco
- Romania
- San Marino
- Turkey
Although European Economic Area (EEA) and Swiss nationals are not included in the au pair scheme, they are free to come to the UK to take au pair placements.
Visa Requirement
Nationals of Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Macedonia, Romania, and Turkey must get a visa before they travel to the UK.
If you do not need an entry clearance when you arrive in the UK, you will still have to satisfy the Immigration Officer that you qualify for entry. They will then give you permission to stay in the UK for six months.
To extend your stay you will need to apply for a residence permit at the immigration and Nationality Directorate (details at the end of this guidance). They will charge you a fee for this.
What is a Visa?
A visa is a certificate that is put into your passport or travel document at a British mission overseas. The visa gives you permission to enter the UK.
If you have a valid UK visa, you will not normally refuse you entry to the UK unless your circumstances have changed, or you give false information or did give important facts when you applied for your visa.
When you arrive in the UK an Immigration Office may ask you questions, so take all relevant documents in your hand luggage.
How do I Apply for a Visa for the UK?
You will need to fill a visa application form (VAF 1 – non-settlement). You can get one free of charge from your nearest British mission overseas where there is a visa section.
You can apply for a visit visa at any full service visa-issuing office. For all other types of visa, you should apply in the country of which you are a national or where you legally live.
You can apply in a number of ways, for example by post, by courier, in person and online. The visa section will tell you about the ways in which you can apply.
What will I need to make application?
- Application Form VAF 1 – non-settlement, which you have filled in correctly.
- A passport or travel document
- A recent passport-sized (45mm +35mm) colour photograph of yourself.
- taken against a light coloured background
- clear and of good quality, not framed or backed
- printed on normal photograph paper, and
- full face and without sunglasses, hat or other head covering unless you wear this for cultural or religious reasons.
- The visa fee. This cannot be refunded, and you must normally pay it in the local currency of the country where you are applying.
- Supporting documents relevant to your application.
What supporting documents should be included in the application?
You should include all the documents you can to show you qualify for entry to the UK as an au pair. If you do provide this your application will be refused.
As a guide you should include:
- A letter of introduction from the family you will be staying with in the UK (the host family), which outlines the main terms and conditions of your employment.
What will happen to the application?
The Entry Clearance Officer will try to make a decision using your application form and the supporting documents you have provided. If this is not possible, they will need to interview you.
Please check you visa when you receive it. You should make sure that:
- Your personal details are correct
- It correctly states the purpose for which you want to come to the UK, and
- It is valid for the date on which you want to travel. (You can ask for it to be post-dated for up to three months if you do not plan to travel immediately.)
If you think there is anything wrong with the visa contact the section immediately.
What are public funds?
Under the Immigration Rules, if you want to travel to the UK as an au pair you must be able to support yourself and live without claiming certain state benefits.
Can I move to another host family?
You can move to another family as long as the arrangements continue to meet the requirements of the Immigration Rules.
Can an au pair extend his/her stay?
You can apply to extend your stay as an au pair if:
- you were originally given permission to enter the UK as an au pair
- you have an au pair placement, and
- an extension would not take you beyond two years from the date you first arrived in the UK
Visa Information
For more advice and information about visa contact:
UKvisas
London
SW1A 2AH
General enquiries: (+44) (0)20 7008 8438
Application Forms: (+44) (0)20 70088308
Email: www.ukvisas.gov.uk/enquiries
Immigration and Nationality Directorate IND)
For more advice and information about extending your stay once you are in the UK contact:
Immigration and Nationality Directorate
Croydon Public Caller Unit
Lunar House
40 Wellesley Road
Croydon CR9 2BY
General enquiries: (+44) (0) 870 606 7766
Application Forms: (+44) (0) 870 241 0645
Email: indpublicenquiries@ind.homeoffice.gsi.gov.uk
Website: www.ind.homeoffice.gov.uk
HM Revenue and Customs
You can get advice on bringing personal belongings and goods into the UK from
HM Revenue & Customs
Dorset House
Stamford Street
London
SE1 9PY
Telephone: (+44) (0)845 010 9000
Website: www.hmrc.gov.uk
Drug Warning
Anyone found smuggling drugs into the UK will face serious penalties. Drug traffickers may try to bribe travellers. If you are travelling to the UK, avoid any involvement with drugs.
Forged or destroyed documents
Travellers to the UK may commit an offence if they do not produce valid documents or passports to the UK Immigration authorities for themselves and their children. People found guilty of this offence face up to two years in prison or a fine (or both).
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