Au Pair in the UK 2026

What happened to au pairs in the UK after Brexit

Until 31 December 2020, EU citizens could come and go to the UK as easily as moving between French cities. A French, Spanish, German, Italian, or Polish 18-year-old could land at Heathrow, find a host family, and start an au pair year that same week. There was no dedicated UK au pair visa because there didn't need to be one — free movement covered it.

On 1 January 2021, all of that ended. The UK left the EU's free movement framework. EU citizens lost the right to live and work in the UK, and no replacement au pair visa was created. Today, an EU citizen who wants to be an au pair in the UK has essentially no legal route in unless they already have settled status (very rare for new arrivals) or marry a British citizen.

The Youth Mobility Scheme: who it actually helps

The UK does have a Youth Mobility Scheme visa for ages 18-30 (or 35 for some nationalities), and it's the closest thing to an au pair route. But the eligible countries list is small and notably does not include any EU member state:

• Australia, Canada, New Zealand
• Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong
• Iceland, Andorra, Monaco, San Marino
• India and Uruguay (limited quotas)

If you're from one of those countries, the UK is genuinely a viable option. If you're an EU citizen, it isn't.

What au pairs in the UK used to earn (and still do)

A lot of people still search for "au pair salary UK" because the historical data is still relevant for the small group of au pairs who can legally go. The numbers haven't changed dramatically:

• Pocket money: approximately £85-90 per week
• Working hours: up to 30 hours per week, with at least 1.5 days off
• Included on top: private bedroom, all meals, all utilities, and time to study English
• London differential: some London families pay slightly more (£100+ per week) to reflect the cost of living, but most stick to the standard rate

If you're not eligible to legally work in the UK, none of this matters — you can't get a contract that respects these terms because you can't get a visa. Don't let an unscrupulous family convince you to "come on a tourist visa and we'll figure it out". That's illegal and it'll cost you your entire trip when you're caught.

🇮🇪 Why Ireland is the right move for EU citizens

Ireland is the closest legal alternative to the UK in almost every dimension that matters to an au pair:

If your reason for picking the UK was "I want to live in an English-speaking country and improve my English", Ireland gives you the same outcome with none of the bureaucratic blockers. Dublin, Cork, Galway, and Limerick are full of host families who actively look for European au pairs because they share an EU labour market.

Read the full Ireland au pair guide — pocket money, hours, what to expect on arrival, and how to find a host family there in the next two weeks.

UK au pair agencies: do they still exist?

Yes, a handful of UK au pair agencies still operate, but they cater almost exclusively to families who want to hire au pairs from the 13 Youth Mobility Scheme countries. For EU citizens, these agencies cannot help you — they can't sponsor a visa that doesn't exist. If any agency claims they can place you as an EU citizen in the UK, that's a scam.

For comparison: an agency placement in the UK historically cost families £200-500, while the au pair paid nothing. The equivalent in EU countries like Germany or France today involves zero agency fees if you use a direct-matching platform like DearAuPair — another reason Ireland and other EU destinations are the smarter choice.

Can I au pair in the UK on a tourist visa?

No. This is illegal. A Standard Visitor visa (tourist visa) explicitly prohibits any form of work, including au pairing. If UK Border Force finds evidence you intend to work as an au pair — messages with a family, a contract, even a packed suitcase that looks like a long stay — you will be denied entry and potentially banned from the UK for up to 10 years.

This warning exists because families and agencies sometimes suggest it. It's terrible advice. The risk falls entirely on the au pair: deportation, entry bans, and no legal protections if the family mistreats you. Don't do it.

UK au pair requirements: a summary

What about non-EU au pairs from the Youth Mobility countries?

If you're Australian, Canadian, Japanese, Kiwi, Korean, or from any of the other Youth Mobility Scheme countries, the UK is still genuinely a great option for you. The pocket money is fair, English is the language, and the cultural exchange is real. The catch is that DearAuPair doesn't currently focus on the UK as a destination because most of our community is European — meaning you'd find more host families on platforms that specialise in the UK route. We mention this honestly so you don't waste your time here.

Other English-speaking ways to get the experience

If Ireland isn't right for you, two other strong alternatives:

• Netherlands — English is widely spoken, the culture is international, and free movement applies to EU citizens.
• Finland — surprisingly English-friendly, very safe, and almost no competition from other au pairs.
• Luxembourg — multilingual including English, the highest pocket money in Europe, and a tiny applicant pool.