The UK Youth Mobility Scheme

The UK is currently making the biggest immigration law changes for the last 45 years.

Currently to be an au pair in the UK you will need:

• To be an EU citizen; or
• Get a holiday work visa, for example British commonwealth countries like Australia & South Africa; or
• You are a national of a country that is part of the au pair programme for example Turkey and Macedonia; or
• Obtain a blue card from BUNAC (British Universities North America Club).

The above will no longer be applicable from December of this year (2008) and will be replaced by TIER 5 of the new points-based system.

That means to qualify to be an au pair in the UK you will need to be:

• An EU citizen
• A national of a participating country; or
• A British overseas citizen; or
• A British overseas territories citizen; or
• A British national (overseas);

Also:

• You will also need to be aged between 18 and 30 years of age and have enough financial resources to support yourself from when you first enter the United Kingdom until you start earning.
• You may not participate in the Youth Mobility Scheme if you have dependent children or have previously spent time in the UK as a working holidaymaker.
• You will be expected to leave the UK when your permission to stay ends.
• You will only be able to come to the UK on the youth mobility scheme once.

We are yet to be informed by the UK border agency which countries will be participating in the youth mobility scheme.

For the latest information please visit:

Youth Mobility Scheme for au pairs.

Soraya is currently doing a BA in Media studies at Cardiff university and is a marketing consultant for Au pair and nanny agency Almondbury.