Information about au pairs

If you need general advice about au pair arrangements, one of the organisations listed at the end of this page may be able to help. What is the au pair scheme? The scheme allows a single person between 17 and 27 to come to the United Kingdom to study English. You can live for up to two years as a member of an English-speaking family. You help in the home for up to five hours a day. You get at least two full days off a week. In return you get an allowance and your own room. An allowance of £55 a week is recommended. Which countries are included in the au pair scheme? An au pair must be a national of one of the following countries.

Andorra	Faroe Islands	Romania
Bosnia-Herzegovina	Greenland	San Marino
Republic of Bulgaria	Macedonia	Turkey
Croatia	Monaco

Do I need a visa?

From 1st January 2007 citizens from Bulgaria and Romania will not require leave to enter or remain to reside legally in the UK.

All Bulgarian and Romanian citizens will have a right of residence in any EU Member State for the first 3 months of residence on an unrestricted basis and remain legally resident in that state as long as they wish, providing they are exercising a treaty right as a student, a self-employed person, or if they are self-sufficient.

They will not however, have an automatic right to reside as a worker (unless they are exempt from work authorisation requirements).

What should I do if I have problems? If you are having difficulties with your host family, you may ask your agency for help. If you feel that you have been unfairly treated by your agency and want advice, you should contact the Employment Agency Standards Office at the Department for Trade and Industry (DTI). Their helpline number is 0645 555105 or you can write to them at: 1 Victoria Street London SW1H OET. The following organisations may be able to help you if you are in difficulty. Those marked with a star (*) can also help you find a family who want an au pair. You can contact: your consulate (your country's representative in the United Kingdom); your local Citizens' Advice Bureau; your local Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA); and your local Young Men's Christian Association (YMCA). reliable aupair agency *

coming in the UK

Coming to the UK - Entry Clearance

If you are currently outside the United Kingdom, you may need to apply for entry clearance before you travel. The entry clearance process for the United Kingdom is run by UKvisas through the British diplomatic posts around the world. The need to apply for entry clearance will depend on your current nationality and the scheme under which you wish to come to the United Kingdom. UKvisas have a visa enquiry form on their website which can be used to determine whether you need entry clearance as well as providing details of the nearest British post where you can make your application. Before you make your entry clearance enquiry, you will need to know which scheme you are interested in applying for. Details of the various schemes offered under the United Kingdom Immigration Rules can be found on this website. Once you arrive in the United Kingdom, you may have to register your stay with the police. If you need to register, this requirement will be stamped in your passport. You must register within seven days of arriving in the United Kingdom. To register, you will need your passport and two passport-size photographs of yourself. If you are staying in the Metropolitan Police Area, you should take these to: The Overseas Visitors Record Office Brandon House 180 Borough High Street London SE1 1LH The office is open between 9 am and 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday. You can get more information from the Overseas Visitors Records Office on020 7230 1208. If you are not staying in the Metropolitan Area, you should contact your local police service for the address and opening hours of other police registration offices. You will have to pay a fee for registering with the police.