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Au Pair in England / UK: contract and insurance

Both, Host Family and Au Pair, need to sign the Au Pair contract before the Au Pair stay can begin. This contract should include all duties of the Au Pair and Host Family, as well as the mutual expectations of parties.

The Au Pair's contract and insurance are some of the most important things on the Au Pair's way to the United Kingdom. So, in this post we will show you how to deal with the important paperwork!
Au Pair insurance UK

The Au Pair contract

British legislation doesn't specify what the agreement should look like exactly , therefore we recommend to use our official Au Pair contract and modify it according to your needs.

According to the British government, the participant should have a signed letter of invitation from the Host Family, which includes information about the stay, e.g. accommodation, working hours, pocket money, free time, holiday and general conditions.

It is an important document for the Au Pair's visa application. Even if there is no need to apply for a visa, the agreement is still crucial.

Discuss the subject together and specify your expectations of each other. Write down all the  important points, such as:

Termination of the contract

If you aren’t enjoying your Au Pair experience, you can always consider the termination of the contract. Usually, there is a notice period of 2 weeks, during which both the Host Family and the Au Pair can find a replacement.

The Au Pair insurance in the UK

The National Health Service (NHS) is in charge of public healthcare in the United Kingdom. It is also responsible for hospital stays and basic medical services.

However, there are some additional points the Au Pair needs to take care of for a safe stay. Let us shed some light on this subject.

Here you can find the general conditions of the Au Pairs' health insurance. The ones applying to Au Pairs from any EEA (European Economic Area) country are as follows:

Health insurance for EEA citizens in the United Kingdom

Au Pairs from any EEA country can receive all the benefits of the National Health Service. Nonetheless, to enjoy the public healthcare in the United Kingdom, the Au Pair needs to apply for the European Health Insurance Card before their departure date. 
 
Participant who have used the NHS without the EHIC might have to pay for all services received.

The services covered by the EHIC may vary depending on the country. Thus, services provided for free in one country aren’t necessarily free in the United Kingdom.

Before the departure date, the participant should check which services the EHIC covers in the United Kingdom. For instance, mountain rescue services are not covered by the EHIC and the Au Pair would have to cover the costs in case of an accident.

The Au Pair can purchase an additional private travel insurance besides EHIC. AuPair.com recommends the Au Pair to do so, as well as the Host Family covering some of the insurance costs.

Health insurance for Non-EEA citizens in the United Kingdom

Participants from Non-EEA countries should get a private health and accident insurance for the whole stay before their departure.

It is nearly impossible to purchase the insurance during the stay in the United Kingdom, in which case the applicants or the Host Families will have to cover the cost of all the medical services.

Exceptions are citizens from countries that have signed a reciprocal health agreement with the UK:

Anguilla Australia Bosnia and Herzegovina
British Virgin Islands Falkland Islands Gibraltar
Isle of Man Jersey Kosovo
Macedonia Montenegro Montserrat
New Zealand Serbia Turks&Caicos Isl.

According to different rules, the citizens of these countries are eligible for the National Health Service in the United Kingdom. Usually the service is limited to necessary hospital treatment or immediate help, therefore we recommend a supplementary insurance. 
 
We are working with two companies that offer special Au Pair insurances, Dr. Walter and Care Concept.

Car insurance and driving license

Many Au Pairs will have to drive a car in the United Kingdom. Usually, if the Host Family allows the participant to drive a car, they need to communicate this to the insurance company. This way, the Au Pair will be able to drive a car safely in the United Kingdom.
 
Before the departure, the participant should also check if their driving license is valid in the United Kingdom. Remember, cars are driven on the left side of the road in the UK, so make sure this is not a serious obstacle for you.


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