Archive Website of the UK government

Au pairs

If you agree with most of the statements below there is a strong likelihood that you are neither a worker nor an employee:

• you are a foreign national who is living with a family in the UK
• you are an EU citizen or have entered the UK on a Youth Mobility Visa (or Student visa)
• you are here on a Cultural Exchange Programme known as 'Au Pair'
• you have a signed letter of invitation from your host family which outlines details of your stay including accommodation, living conditions, approximate working hours, free time and pocket money, etc
• you learn about British culture from your host family and share your own culture with them
• you have my own private room in the house which is provided free of charge by the host family
• you take your main meals with the host family and these are provided free of charge
• in return for the above, you agree to help your host family with some light housework and childcare duties for a total of 30 hours per week inclusive of a couple of evenings babysitting
• you receive reasonable pocket money
• you are free to attend English Language Classes in your spare time at a local college so that you can improve your English language skills
• your host family ensures that you have time to undertake your studies and you practise English with your host family and the children
• you sometimes go on holiday with the host family and help look after the children
• you are free to travel home to see your family during the year
  

Example situation

Gina has come from France to learn English. She lives with her host family in the UK and takes part in family events such as days out and holidays. She has her meals with the family. She does some light household and childcare duties for about five hours a day and babysits for the children a couple of times a week.

She has two free days every week. She is free to study English at a local college on two afternoons a week. Last year she spent three weeks in France visiting her own family and also went on holiday to Crete with her host family.