The au pair has to provide a Letter of Acceptance from the college, confirming that the au pair has been accepted and enrolled on a course of full-time education, registered in the Internationalisation Register and involving a minimum of 15 hours of organized daytime tuition each week between 8 am and 6 pm.

Recommendation:

The au pair ought to provide a certificate of private medical insurance. The private medical insurance needs to have a level that will cover the cost of hospital accommodation and must have a minimum coverage of 25,000€ for in-hospital treatment in an Irish hospital.

Travel insurance can be accepted when meeting the same prerequisites as those for the medical insurance.

This outlined information about private medical insurance, is based on the document "Private Medical Insurance for full-time Non-EEA Students" from 01 January 2011, available on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website.

Basically, the au pair bears the costs of the private medical insurance.

However, it is recommended that the host family bears at least part of the cost.

Note:

1. The private medical insurance needs to have a level that will cover the cost of hospital accommodation.
2. Besides a private medical insurance, an all-inclusive liability for the au pair is recommended. Therefore it is clear who pays for the damage in case of an accident.

The au pair has to provide a certificate of private medical insurance. The private medical insurance needs to have a level that will cover the cost of hospital accommodation and must have a minimum coverage of 25,000€ for in-hospital treatment in an Irish hospital.

Travel insurance will not be accepted except for a "first year student".

Basically, the au pair bears the costs of the private medical insurance.

However, it is recommended that the host family bears at least part of the cost.

For more detailed information regarding private medical insurance please see the document entitled "Private Medical Insurance for full-time Non-EEA Students" from 01 January 2011, available on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website.

Note:

1. The private medical insurance needs to have a level that will cover the cost of hospital accommodation.
2. Besides a private medical insurance, an all-inclusive liability for the au pair is recommended. Therefore, it is clear who pays for the damage in case of an accident

• Private & professional liability

The au pair has to clarify in advance if the health insurance of the au pair at home will also cover the au pair's stay in Ireland.

Otherwise the au pair will need to take out a private medical insurance covering the au pair's stay.

The au pair has to provide the following information / documents:

• Application form fully completed and signed
• 2 recent identical passport size photos, each with the name of the applicant on the reverse side
• Passport - must be valid for the entirety of the trip to Ireland i.e. for a full year after ticketed date of entry
• Bank statement showing at least sufficient funds  to the equivalent of
  => €4000 EUR or
  => €2000 EUR with a return ticket to the US
• Current curriculum vitae (cv) with contact details for references (at least 2)
• Certificates of any qualifications obtained or, if the au pair is still a student, a letter from the college to that effect should be provided
• Certificate of private medical insurance for the duration of the stay in Ireland
• Payment of the processing fees: $350-360 USD

The WHA will be issued on submission of the originals of the above listed documents along with:

• Return ticket to the US
• Certificate of private medical insurance for the duration of the stay in Ireland
• Valid US passport.

More information can be found in section "US-Ireland visa arrangements" on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

The au pair has to provide the following information:

• signed and dated summary application form and the appropriate fee (where applicable) must be accompanied with the subsequent documents
• 2 colour passport sized photographs not more than 6 months old
• current passport and a full copy of any previous passports

Note:

The current passport must be valid for at least 12 months after the proposed date of arrival in Ireland

Note:

There are exemptions about the validity of the current passport. For more information please see the specified visa information of the home country.

• a signed letter of application including the full contact details of the au pair
• evidence of being enrolled on a privately funded course
• evidence accounting for any gaps in the educational history
• evidence of having paid fees to college
• evidence of the au pair's academic ability to follow the chosen course
• evidence of the au pair's level of English

For more information on the English language requirements and the type of evidence that need to be submitted please see the "English language requirements for study visas" provided by the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service (INIS) website

• evidence of having sufficient funds to support the stay in Ireland without recourse to State Benefits or the reliance to casual employment, meaning having immediate access to at least 7000€

For more information on the financial requirements for study visas please see the "Financial requirements for study visas" as well as the "Notice Regarding Evidence of Finances for all Non EEA-Students" provided by the Irish Naturalization and Immigration Service (INIS) website.

• evidence of having private medical insurance

For more detailed information regarding private medical insurance please see the document entitled "Private Medical Insurance for full-time Non-EEA Students" from 01 January 2011, available on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website

• Previous Visa Refusals

For more detailed information, please see the section "How to apply for a student visa" on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website

However, permission to enter Ireland can be refused if the au pair

• is suffering from a specified disease or disability or 

• his / her conduct has been such that it would be contrary to public policy or would endanger public security (of Ireland)

More information regarding the possibility of being refused permission to land in Ireland is available  in section "Permission to enter Ireland" on the Citizens Information website provided by the Citizens Information Board.

Recommendation:

In any case, the au pair should be able to provide the following documents when arriving at a port of Ireland:

• A Health Certificate
• a Criminal Record Certificate

EU/EEA /Ch nationals do not need a visa entering Ireland

• Still - the au pair needs to hold a valid passport or identity card.
• The current passport must be valid at least 12 months after the proposed date of arrival in Ireland.

However, permission to enter Ireland can be refused if the au pair

• is suffering from a specified disease or disability or 

• his/her conduct has been such that it would be contrary to public policy or would endanger public security (of Ireland)

More information regarding the possibility of being refused permission to land in Ireland is available  in section "Permission to enter Ireland" on the Citizens Information website provided by the Citizens Information Board.

Recommendation:

In any case the au pair should be able to provide the following documents when arriving at a port of Ireland:

•  Health Certificate
•  Criminal Record Certificate

Which further documents the au pair probably needs to bring along?

To proof the payment of the pocket money, most families will want to transfer the money to a bank account of the au pair. Therefore the host family should check what documents the bank asks for to open a bank account for an au pair, so the au pair can organize them at home already (see also “bank account” below).

If the au pair wants to drive a car in the host country, (s)he eventually needs e.g. a legally attested copy of the national driving license. See also “driving license” further below.

The trip will normally be organized by the au pair, of course in accordance with the host family.

Even when everything is clear and all questions are asked, it's good to stay in touch until the journey starts - it's important that also the children get to know that a new au pair is coming and communicating from time to time through Skype is a good way to get used to each other.

What to take with you as au pair? In our community you can find tips from other au pairs!

Please note: Border authorities may examine whether the prerequisites for entry continue to apply. This examination is international practice. The au pair might be refused entry even though (s)he is in the possession of a valid visa, if the prerequisites for entry no longer apply.

Therefore the au pair should carry with him/her documents giving evidence to the purpose of the stay - in particular proof of sufficient funds (au pair contract) and health insurance.

Although it's not mandatory, normally the host family picks up the au pair from the airport or train station (or organizes a pick-up).

The first days should then be reserved for getting to know each other and introducing the au pair to the family's daily routines.

You are not sure how to welcome your au pair and which rules you should define? Have a look at our tipps and discuss with other families in our community!

You are feeling homesick, the kids don't seem to like you and you just feel like returning home asap? Get comfort and tipps from other au pairs in our community!
And with our nearBy function you can immediately see which other au pairs live nearby and can meet with them.

The au pair entering the State with a WHA with the intent to stay for more than 90 days, needs to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) respectively with the Immigration Registration Officer in the area the au pair is residing.

• as of November 2012, the registration fee is 300€
• the fee can only be paid by Bank Giro or credit/debit card

Upon successful registration, the au pair will be given a certificate of registration (GNIB-card), permitting being allowed to stay in Ireland.

An au pair entering the State being enrolled in a full-time course of the Language and non-Degree Program with the intent to stay for more than 90 days whether visa-required or not needs to register with the Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) respectively with the Immigration Registration Office in the area that the au pair is residing.

• as of November 2012, the registration fee is 300€
• the fee can only be paid by Bank Giro or credit/debit card
• must have at all times a valid registration certificate in the form of a GNIB Card=> more information are available in section "Immigration" on Ireland's National Police Service website

An au pair has to provide proof of the following:

• being enrolled on a full-time course in the Language and non-Degree Program, listed in the Interim List of Eligible Programmes (ILEP) => More information about the ILEP (and more) can be found here.
• having a Letter of Acceptance from the college, confirming being accepted and enrolled in a full-time course involving a minimum of 15 hours daytime tuition each week and registered in the Internationalisation Register
• having proof that all fees are paid to the college

- the full amount in advance where the fees are below 6000€

- an amount of at least 6000€ where the fees exceed it

• having a bank statement, issued by an Irish bank, showing having access to of 3000€ at first registration, to be able to support himself/herself without the need of going into business, getting a job or the need of State Benefits

For more information hereabout pls see "Notice Regarding Evidence of Finances for all Non EEA Students" with effect from 01 September 2016  on the website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immagration Service.

• providing a certificate of private medical insurance. Travel insurance will not be accepted

Upon successful registration the au pair will be given a certificate of registration (GNIB-card) giving permission to study in Ireland.

The registration is valid for 12 months and can be renewed on an annual basis, up to a maximum of 3 years.

More information about the "Guidelines for Language and Non-Degree Program Students" can be found in the Student Guidelines on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website.

An au pair might have to provide the following documents to fulfill the following prerequisites when applying for a GNIB Card:

• appear in person
• place of arrival
• date of arrival
• way of entering the State
• photo
• valid passport
• eventually kind of visa (= student visa)
• current address in Ireland

An au pair being a EU/EEA or Swiss national is not required to register with the immigration authorities and therefore does not have to apply for a Residence Card.

More information regarding this subject is available in the section "Coming from the EU/EEA to work" on the Citizens Information website provided by the Citizens Information Board.

Entering the State with a WHA , the au pair is getting registered with Stamp 1 permission. The au pair is not permitted to transfer over to a General employment permit.

The au pair is not allowed to start working unless the employer (host family) or the au pair has obtained a work permit.

For more information please see "Types of residence permission for non-EEA nationals" or "Stamps - Main Immigration".

A WHA arrangement defines employment as; 

• to be of casual or temporary nature only
• to be incidental to the holiday
• not to be employed in regular employment
• to be working less than 13 consecutive weeks
• to work less than the normal hours of work of a regular employee

For more information please see section "Working part-time" on the website of the Citizens Information Board.

Note.

The WHA qualifies the au pair for casual employment without the need of an employment permit, if the au pair presents a valid Garda National Immigration Bureau (GNIB) Registration Card.

Entering the State being enrolled in a full-time English Language or  non-Degree Program course, registered in the Internationalisation Register whether visa-required or not the au pair can only take up casual employment.

Being visa-required, the au pair is getting registered with Stamp N° 2 permission. This means casual employment is allowed.

• For more information about casual employment please see "prerequisites => other restrictions"
• no separate employment permit necessary (please see "Coming to work in Ireland")

Note:

With effect from 1 September 2016 some "Changes to the Employment entitlements of Non-EEA Students holding Immigration Stamp 2" have been announced.

"As part of a package of reforms of the regulatory regime for international education, ..., some changes have been made ... under which non-EEA students (holding Immigration Stamp 2) are permitted to work."

It is further outlined that

"Non-EEA students who are permitted to reside in the State on a stamp 2  immigration permission are allowed to avail of a work concession.  Under  this concession a student may work in Ireland  in a casual part-time  capacity without a work permit."

An au pair being

• an EU national or
• a national from one of the countries of the European Economic Area (EEA) or
• a national from Switzerland

doesn't need an employment permit.

Note:

Even an au pair being a national of Bulgaria or Romania no longer needs an employment permit.

More information about the rights being an EU/EEA national working in Ireland are available in section "Coming from the EU/EEA to work" on the Citizens Information website provided by the Citizens Information Board.

An au pair can open a non-resident account. The following documents have to be presented when applying at the local branch of an Irish bank:

• a current valid passport or driving license
• evidence of the au pair's address in Ireland

i.e.:

1. Short letter from the host family confirming that the au pair is presently living with them or
2. Household bill in the host family's name (telephone, gas, etc.)

•  a character reference
• a financial history from the au pair's own bank

More information about "How to open up a non-resident account" can be found on the Bank of Ireland website.

Important:

Most host families want to have proof of payment of the pocket money. So opening up a non-resident account is one of the first tasks on the 'to-do list" of the au pair as soon as he / she has arrived in Ireland.

The host family can speed up this process by preparing all needed documents before hand (see above).

In general - for any state outside the EU/EEA:

An au pair can drive up to 1 year in Ireland provided that the au pair holds 

• a valid national driving license and / or
• a valid international driving permit

Both must be issued from the country of the au pair

Note:

In case of a longer stay, (more than 1 year) in Ireland the au pair has to apply for an Irish driving license and go through the full drivers licensing procedure.

More information about foreign license holders driving in Ireland is provided by the National Driver License Service (NDLS) website.

In general - for any state outside the EU/EEA:

An au pair can drive up to 1 year in Ireland provided that the au pair holds: 

• a valid national driving license
  and / or
• a valid international driving permit

Both must be issued from the country of the au pair

Note:

In case of a longer stay (more than 1 year) in Ireland, the au pair has to apply for an Irish driving license and go through the full driver licensing procedure.

More information about foreign license holders driving in Ireland can be found on the National Driver License Service (NDLS) website.

Driving licenses issued by an EU/EEA member state are valid without any restrictions.

Therefore, the au pair can drive a car in Ireland as long as the driving license is valid.

More information about foreign license holders driving in Ireland are provided by the National Driver License Service (NDLS) website.

To be allowed to elongate a WHA visa, depends on the individual WHA arrangements between Ireland and the other governments with which Ireland has made such WHA arrangements.

In general, a WHA will only be approved once for eligible participants.

No second application will be accepted.

More information is available in the section "Working holiday arrangements - How to apply" on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade website.

For Second and Subsequent Registration the following conditions need to be met with no other adverse conditions existing:

• being engaged in full-time daytime education of at least 15 hours each week
• being able to demonstrate a level of 80% of attendance in class via letter from the education provider
• showing proof of having paid the fees to the college
• showing proof of having maintained a private medical insurance, i.e. by way of a letter of renewal

The registration is valid for 12 months and can be renewed on an annual basis, up to a maximum of 3 years.

More information about the "Guidelines for Language and Non-Degree Program Students", issued 01 January 2011, can be found in the Student Guidelines on the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (INIS) website.

An au pair entering the State with a WHA needs to apply for a PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number) to get access to public services in Ireland like

• health
• education
• Revenue
• employment
• Driving License

The following documents need to accompany a PPS Number application:

• Current valid passport and
• evidence of the au pair's address in Ireland i. e.

1. A short letter from the host family confirming that the au pair is presently living with them and
2. Household bill in the host family's name (telephone, gas, electricity, etc.)

More information is available in section "PPS Number - How to Apply" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection

Note:

• For the au pair being considered a "domestic worker", the au pair is liable for taxation for Irish tax purposes,
• The au pair may as well pay PRSI (Pay Related Insurance) if 

=> the earning is €38 EUR or more per week

An au pair entering the State being enrolled in a full-time English Language or  non-Degree Program course needs to apply for a PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number) to get access to public services in Ireland like

• health
• education
• Revenue
• employment
• Driving License

The following documents need to accompany a PPS Number application:

• Current valid passport and
• evidence of the au pair's address in Ireland i. e.

1. Short letter from the host family confirming that the au pair is presently living with them and
2. Household bill in the host family's name (telephone, gas, electricity, etc.)

More information is available in section "PPS Number - How to Apply" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection

Note:

• For the au pair considered as a "domestic worker", the au pair is therefore liable for taxation for Irish tax purposes
• The au pair must also pay PRSI (Pay Related Insurance) if => the earning is 38€ or more per week

An au pair being an EU/EEA or a Swiss national, must apply for a PPS Number (Personal Public Service Number) to get access to public services in Ireland like:

• health
• education
• Revenue
• employment
• Driving License

The following documents need to accompany a PPS Number application:

• Current valid passport
  or
• National identity card
  and
• evidence of the au pair's address in Ireland
  i. e.

1. Short letter from the host family confirming that the au pair is presently living with them and
2. Household bill in the host family's name (telephone, gas, electricity, etc.)

More information is available in section "PPS Number - How to Apply" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection

Note:

• The au pair who is considered a "domestic worker", is liable for taxation for Irish tax purposes
• The au pair must also pay PRSI (Pay Related Insurance) if
  => the earning is 38€ or more per week
• The au pair can refer to the EC Regulations regarding Social Insurance
  More information is available in section "Social Insurance and EC Regulations" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection.

• Either the au pair finds a new host family herself / himself or
• the "old" host family helps the au pair to find a new host family

For more information have a look at our tipps, how to change family!

According to the individual insurance conditions, the au pair may have to announce a change of address to the insurance providers, to ensure that the policies are being sustained.

Recommendation:

An au pair has to clarify if he / she has to report a change of address by presenting

• evidence of the au pair's new address in Ireland i. e.

=> a short letter from the new host family confirming that the au pair is presently living with them

to ensure that the initially issued registration certificate in the form of a GNIB Card is still valid.
=> more information is available in section "Immigration" on Ireland's National Police Service website

Recommendation:

An au pair has to clarify if he / she has to report a change of address by presenting

• evidence of the au pair's new address in Ireland i.e.

=> a short letter from the new host family confirming that the au pair is presently living with them

to ensure that the initially issued registration certificate in the form of a GNIB Card is still valid.
=> more information is available in section "Immigration" on Ireland's National Police Service website

For the Department of Social Protection monitors identity fraud issues i.e. by checking the authenticity of supporting documents, it is recommended to report a change of address by presenting

• evidence of the au pair's new address in Ireland i. e.

1. A short letter from the new host family confirming that the au pair is presently living with them and
2. A household bill in the new host family's name (telephone, gas, electricity, etc.)

More information is available in section "Personal Public Services Number - PPS fraud control" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection.

For the Department of Social Protection monitors identity fraud issues i.e. by checking the authenticity of supporting documents, it is recommended to report a change of address by presenting

• evidence of the au pair's new address in Ireland i. e.

1. Short letter from the new host family confirming that the au pair is presently living with them and
2. Household bill in the new host family's name (telephone, gas, electricity, etc.)

More information is available in section "Personal Public Services Number - PPS fraud control" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection.

The Department of Social Protection monitors identity fraud issues i.e. by checking the authenticity of supporting documents. It is recommended to report a change of address by presenting

• evidence of the au pair's new address in Ireland i. e.

1. Short letter from the new host family confirming that the au pair is presently living with them and
2. Household bill in the new host family's name (telephone, gas, electricity, etc.)

More information are available in section "Personal Public Services Number - PPS fraud control" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection.

It is up to the au pair to clarify whether a "DE-registration" with the Department of Social Protection and the Garda National Immigration Bureau is necessarily mandatory for the au pair when leaving Ireland.

Note:

The au pair should take into consideration that this issue might have an influence on an eventual re-entry into Ireland, if the conditions of the granted WHA visa aren't otherwise.

It is up to the au pair to clarify whether a "DE-registration" with the Department of Social Protection and the Garda National Immigration Bureau is necessary respectively mandatory for the au pair when leaving Ireland.

Note:

Considering this issue is important, for it might have an influence on an eventual re-entry into Ireland if the conditions of the granted student visa aren't otherwise (so visa-required).

Also consider the following, especially when the au pair leaves earlier than planned:

• Cancel standing order for pocket money
• Cancel au pair insurance