Au pair in Ireland
Official Au Pair in Ireland Program Information
There is no official program to be an au pair in Ireland,
however it is possible to become an au pair in Ireland.
Au Pair in Ireland Mandatory Criteria
- An au pair in Ireland must be between 18-30 years old (18-35
for Canadian citizens)
- An au pair in Ireland must have a good knowledge of
English
- Have no criminal record
- Be in good health
Au Pair in Ireland General Information
Pocket money
- The pocket money for an au pair in Ireland is not specified. As
a guide, expect up to 100 Euros per week for approximately 35
hours
Working hours, free time and holidays
- The working hours for an au pair in Ireland are not specified,
but approximately 35 hours per week is a guideline or 20 hours
on a student visa
- The free time and holidays for an au pair in Ireland are not
specified. TheBestAupair recommends 2 days free time per week
and 2 weeks paid holidays for a 12-month placement as a
guide
Accommodation and meals
- An au pair in Ireland is to be provided with their own room and
3 meals per day and also have free access to the family home
Travel costs
- The au pair is liable for all costs
- The host family may pay return costs but this will need to be
negotiated
- Do not pay any money in advance. TheBestAupair recommends that
if the host family pays for the return flight, then this is done at
the half way point of the contracted duration
- Please refer to our Travel
Partners for discounts on flights and travel
insurance
Language skills and courses
- An au pair in Ireland must have a good knowledge of
English
- Opportunity to attend a language course
- Au pair pays for language course
Length of stay
- An au pair in Ireland will normally stay a minimum of 6 months
and up to 12 months
Insurances
- TheBestAupair strongly recommends obtaining comprehensive
travel insurance, which covers medical, accident and liability
costs
- Non-EU citizens who have entered with a student visa must have
adequate private medical insurance and provide evidence with their
application
Job Duties
- Au pair in Ireland duties include childcare and light
housework
Driving
- If you are required to drive as an au pair in Ireland, you will
need a full, valid driver's licence
- TheBestAupair recommends obtaining an international driving
permit from your home country if your licence is not valid on its
own in Ireland
- Discuss with your host family what happens if you have a car
accident, who pays, and have your agreements put in the
contract
Visa Information
EU and EFTA
nationals do not require a work permit, but must register with
local authorities after arriving in Ireland. Au pairs from Romania
and Bulgaria need a work permit. Please refer to http://www.djei.ie/labour/workpermits/bulgariaromania.htm
In order for non-EU nationals to become an au pair
in Ireland, they are required to have a Work Permit and work
permits are dealt with solely by the Department of Enterprise,
Trade and Innovation (http://www.dfa.ie or http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=80991).
When you have obtained a work permit then you may apply for an
employment visa.
Information on the visa application process is available on the
website of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service (www.inis.gov.ie -
Please note that we have had problems accessing this site as it is
sometimes down, but the link is correct). Please also note that the
information contained on the website is intended to act as a guide
only. It does not limit the discretion of the Visa Officer in
dealing with individual applications.
Au Pairs who are 18-30 year old citizens of Argentina,
Australia, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, New Zealand and the Republic
of Korea are eligible for a Working Holiday Authorisation (WHA).
The intention of a WHA is to allow a young adult to work casually
to fund an extended holiday in Ireland. There are eligibility
requirements, which prospective au pairs must meet, and it is vital
that applicants have sufficient funds to cover the initial part of
their stay in the event their work arrangements change. We
recommend visiting the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs
and Trade Ireland, for specific details about your country of
citizenship.
Canadian nationals may also apply for the SWAP visa program
to become an au pair in Ireland. (http://www.swap.ca)
South African nationals who are recent graduates or full time
students can apply for a six-month work visa to be an au pair in
Ireland. See http://www.sasts.org.za/
Nationals of other countries may also enter Ireland on a student
visa to study English at an approved institution or be enrolled in
a full-time degree program. There are several eligibility
requirements including course types. See this link for approved
courses: http://www.icosirl.ie/eng/student_information/working_in_ireland. For
stays in excess of 90 days, there is a charge of 150 Pounds.
Additionally, employment can only be on a casual basis with this
visa, and can be 20 hours maximum per week. Full time work is
allowed during normal college vacation periods.
US citizens have a separate agreement and additional eligibility
requirements. Applicants must be either enrolled in post-secondary
study or have recently graduated. There is also a J1 programme in
place but is more limited: http://www.dfa.ie/home/index.aspx?id=73713).
Additional Information
You can find additional information about being an au pair
in Ireland in the websites listed in the Relevant links section on
the right panel of this page.
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