Can EU Au Pairs Come to the UK? Free Movement, Brexit and the Youth Experience Scheme
3 November 2026 · Tuuli
Short answer: not yet — here’s where things stand, and what to do in the meantime
Free movement between the EU and the UK ended with Brexit, and it has not come back. As of November 2026, there is no live visa route that lets EU au pairs simply move to the UK to live with a family.
There is real movement behind the scenes. The UK and the EU are negotiating a Youth Experience Scheme that could one day cover au pairing, and a UK–EU summit is expected in Brussels on 20 November 2026. But nothing has been agreed, nothing is open for applications, and there is no start date. If you are an EU au pair hoping to come to the UK, or a family hoping to welcome one, here is what is true today — and what to do about it.
Where things stand today: free movement has ended
Since Brexit, EU, EEA and Swiss nationals no longer have an automatic right to live and work in the UK. Like most other nationalities, they generally need a visa or an existing immigration status.
The main exception is people who already hold status under the EU Settlement Scheme. Settled or pre-settled status gives the right to work in the UK, so these candidates can take au pair, mother’s help and nanny roles in the usual way, showing their right to work online through their eVisa.
For everyone else in the EU, there is currently no au pair route. Au pair placements are not something a UK family can sponsor, so a family cannot take on an EU au pair who has no UK status, however well the two get on.
This is general guidance, not legal advice. Candidates should check their own position on GOV.UK, and families should always check right to work before a placement starts.
The proposed UK–EU Youth Experience Scheme: what we know
The Youth Experience Scheme is a proposed visa route that would let young people from the UK and the EU work, study, volunteer, travel and au pair in each other’s countries for a limited time. It is a proposal under negotiation, not a policy. Here is the position as reported by EU Perspectives, West End Consultants, Wisevoter and Brit Brief:
- Not agreed. Negotiators are still working towards a deal. A summit was originally planned for July, was postponed after the change of UK prime minister, and is now expected on 20 November 2026.
- Possibly delayed again. In late October, diplomats were reported to be considering putting the youth scheme back by around six months so that the wider summit can go ahead, with tuition fees possibly left to be negotiated by May 2027.
- Not open. There is no application form, fee or process. Beware of anyone offering to reserve a place or give early access.
- No start date. Final terms must be agreed, approved and put into practice before applications can open.
- Age and eligibility unknown. 18 to 30 is the figure from the European Commission’s original proposal, but it is not confirmed.
- Au pairing is on the list, but the final rules have not been published, so how placements would work is unclear.
- Sticking points. The UK has floated a cap of about 50,000 places a year, while EU diplomats have suggested figures above 100,000, and some member states want a much higher cap or none at all. Brussels also wants EU students at British universities to pay home fees, and the UK wants participants to pay the NHS surcharge.
Crucially, even if the scheme goes ahead it would not restore free movement. Participants would still need a visa and would have to meet immigration requirements. It would be a time-limited youth route, not a return to the pre-Brexit system.
Last checked 3 November 2026. We will update this article after the 20 November summit.
What this means for EU au pairs and UK families right now
If you are an EU au pair without UK status, you cannot take a UK au pair placement at the moment. Please do not pay anyone for a “youth scheme” visa — it does not exist yet. Keep an eye on official GOV.UK announcements, and consider the alternatives below.
If you are an EU national with settled or pre-settled status, you can work in the UK, and we would love to hear from you.
If you are a UK family, please do not plan your January or spring 2027 childcare around a scheme that may not open for many months, if at all. Families with a start date in the next few months are best served by candidates who already have the right to work in the UK, such as British and Irish nationals, EU nationals with settled or pre-settled status, and candidates on a valid visa such as the Youth Mobility Scheme.
If the scheme does launch, it is likely to widen the pool of au pairs for UK families, but only once the rules, fees and start date are published. We will share the details as soon as that happens.
Your options today, and how we can help
EU au pairs who cannot work in the UK yet still have good ways to take a gap year with a family abroad. Our sister programme, Smart Gap Year Adventures, places candidates in overseas destinations, and we are happy to talk you through what is available.
UK-eligible candidates: we have families looking now across London and the Home Counties for live-in au pairs, junior nannies and nannies. There are no fees for candidates.
Families: we will help you find a candidate who can legally start on your timeline, check references and background checks, and support you through the placement.
The quickest way to start is a WhatsApp message to our team, or a call booked at a time that suits you. We will keep this article up to date as the Youth Experience Scheme develops, so do check back after the 20 November summit.
This article is general information, not legal or immigration advice. Always check the current rules on GOV.UK.
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