How to become an au pair in Ireland?
Ireland has 39 different programs for the different au pair citizenships.
Choose here which programs you want to see and compare.
step by step to get to Ireland
Working Holiday United States of America | Student World | Free Movement EU/EEA/CH |
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find family / au pair, sign contract |
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invitation letter | not relevant | 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. | not relevant |
insurance | 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:
| 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:
| 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. |
visa | The au pair has to provide the following information / documents:
The WHA will be issued on submission of the originals of the above listed documents along with:
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:
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.
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
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.
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
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
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:
| EU/EEA /Ch nationals do not need a visa entering Ireland
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further documents | However, permission to enter Ireland can be refused if the au pair
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:
| 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. | |
organize trip | 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. | ||
start journey | 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. |
step by step once you're in Ireland
Working Holiday United States of America | Student World | Free Movement EU/EEA/CH |
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arrive | 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! | ||
residence registration | 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.
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.
An au pair has to provide proof of the following:
- the full amount in advance where the fees are below 6000€ - an amount of at least 6000€ where the fees exceed it
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.
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:
| 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. |
work permit | 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;
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.
Note: With effect from 1 September 2016 some "Changes to the Employment entitlements of Non-EEA Students holding Immigration Stamp 2" have been announced.
It is further outlined that
| An au pair being
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. |
bank account | 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:
i.e.:
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). | ||
driving a car | 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
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:
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. |
elongate visa / apply for residence permit | 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:
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. | not relevant |
social welfare system | 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
The following documents need to accompany a PPS Number application:
More information is available in section "PPS Number - How to Apply" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection Note:
=> 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
The following documents need to accompany a PPS Number application:
More information is available in section "PPS Number - How to Apply" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection Note:
| 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:
The following documents need to accompany a PPS Number application:
More information is available in section "PPS Number - How to Apply" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection Note:
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step by step to change family in Ireland
Working Holiday United States of America | Student World | Free Movement EU/EEA/CH |
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find new family |
For more information have a look at our tipps, how to change family! | ||
insurance | 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. | ||
residence registration | Recommendation: An au pair has to clarify if he / she has to report a change of address by presenting
=> 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. | Recommendation: An au pair has to clarify if he / she has to report a change of address by presenting
=> 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. | |
social welfare system | 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
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
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
More information are available in section "Personal Public Services Number - PPS fraud control" on the welfare website provided by the Department of Social Protection. |
step by step to leave Ireland
Working Holiday United States of America | Student World | Free Movement EU/EEA/CH |
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de-register residence | 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). | not relevant |
other | Also consider the following, especially when the au pair leaves earlier than planned:
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Hi, my name is Davide Contu
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