Au Pair Cost Calculator 2025/26
Calculate the total cost of having an au pair in the UK — including weekly pocket money, meals provided, accommodation value, return flights and any language school contribution. Au pairs are not employees but have specific requirements under UK immigration and employment guidance.
Key Inputs
- Weekly pocket money (typically £100–£200/week for 2025)
- Meals provided per day and estimated cost
- Accommodation: spare room rental value per week
- Return flights contribution (typically £150–£500 for European routes)
- Language school contribution (optional, typically £20–£40/week)
- Duration of stay in weeks
What You'll Get
- Weekly total cost including pocket money, meals and accommodation value
- Annual or stay-period total cost
- Comparison with the cost of a part-time nanny
- Cost per childcare hour based on agreed working hours
Important Notes — 2025/26 Rates & Caveats
Au pairs are not classified as employees under UK law — they are cultural exchange visitors who help with childcare in return for board, lodging and pocket money. Au pairs from outside the UK and Ireland require a visa (typically the Youth Mobility Scheme if eligible, or the Skilled Worker route for longer stays). UK pocket money for au pairs in 2025 is typically £100–£150/week for 25 hours of help, or £150–£200/week for 30 hours. Au pairs are not covered by PAYE, employer NI or pension auto-enrolment requirements because they are not employees. However, if the arrangement moves beyond cultural exchange (i.e. they work regular unsupervised childcare hours), the au pair may be reclassified as a worker or employee, with all associated obligations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an au pair an employee?
No — an au pair is not an employee and is not covered by employment law in the same way. They are typically classed as a member of the family household on a cultural exchange basis. You do not need to register as an employer for PAYE, pay employer NI or auto-enrol an au pair in a pension. However, if the au pair's working arrangement resembles regular employment — fixed hours, little flexibility, unsupervised childcare responsibility — an employment tribunal could reclassify them as a worker, creating retrospective obligations.
Do au pairs need a visa to work in the UK?
EU, EEA and Swiss nationals no longer have an automatic right to live and work in the UK after Brexit. Au pairs from these countries now need a visa — most commonly the Youth Mobility Scheme visa (available to certain nationalities aged 18–30), or a Standard Visitor visa (which does not permit work). Australian, Canadian, New Zealand, Japanese and some other nationals have Youth Mobility Scheme access. Always check the UK Visas and Immigration guidance before hosting an au pair from outside Ireland.
How many hours a week can an au pair work?
Traditional au pair arrangements involve up to 25–30 hours of help per week, including a few evenings of babysitting. There is no legal maximum in the UK because au pairs are not employees. However, to maintain genuine cultural exchange status, the arrangement should be light-touch — if the au pair is effectively working as a full-time nanny (40+ hours, sole childcare responsibility), the arrangement is likely to be reclassified as employment.
Related Calculators
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