Does AP have to come from certain country?

[stressed2007]

Sorry to be dense but I am getting the sense from posts I have read that AP must come from certain countries in the EU. Does this mean therefore that I can't have say a Japanese, Australian or Amercian AP for example? Is there a site that explains all this? Thanks

Yes, to qualify under the Au-Pair scheme, they have to come from a country on the list. See INF16 - Au Pairs for more info.

EEA citizens and Swiss nationals can work in the UK without many restrictions, and can call themselves an au-pair if they wish, though they are more like a mothers-help or nanny. Bulgaria and Romainia are exceptions, for which there are specific rules.

UKVisas.gov.uk is a useful place for seeing what kind of Visa someone from another country requires to enable them to work in the UK.
For domestic staff, a Working Holidaymaker visa can sometimes be used... but 1/2 the time the person is in the UK must be their holiday - for which they will require sufficient funds.

Working Holidaymaker scheme is also only for people from certain countries - so again use the UKVisas website to check.

Working Holidaymaker Guidance

Thanks for this. Is this how americans and australians cone here then as au pairs - under the working holiday maker scheme?

It would depend on their nationality, some people living in Australia may have British Citizenship. But yes, for those who are not British, they are probably coming in under a Working Holiday visa.
Americans can't come in under the Working Holiday visa... so not sure what visa they are using.

Thanks for this reply. I am finding this a minefield and this is before I have even started looking properly for an AP!

If you are looking at Aupair websites, you will probably find that there are people on there who want to come to the UK, but who can not get the right visa. The onus is on you as the employer to check their immigration papers, while border control may stop someone, they can't check everyone.

There's lots of info on this site about finding au-pairs. Somewhere there is a questionnaire which you can send applicants - this will often screen out unsuitable people.

Something which can be very confusing is the difference between an au-pair and a live-in nanny. Visa type is one difference - an au-pair is in the UK to learn the language, whereas a nanny is here to provide childcare. The amount of pay is also different - au-pairs get pocket money, nannies get a salary. You may find that some people want to be an au-pair, but also want £300 per week! Avoid them... they are wanting to be a nanny, not an au-pair.