Last verified: May 2026
Post-Brexit, the UK no longer offers a dedicated au pair visa, and the Youth Mobility Scheme is NOT open to Filipino passport holders. Filipino candidates currently have very limited pathways to au pair in the UK — typically only through dependent visas, student visa scenarios, or a UK passport. Most candidates should consider Germany, the U.S., or Australia instead.
Honest assessment first: the UK does not currently offer a viable au pair pathway for Filipino citizens. Since Brexit, the UK has no dedicated au pair visa category. The Youth Mobility Scheme — the closest equivalent — is open only to citizens of select countries (Australia, Canada, Japan, New Zealand, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and a few others). The Philippines is not on this list.
Filipino candidates with a UK passport (e.g. dual citizens), with a partner or spouse on a UK visa (Dependent Partner pathway), or already studying in the UK on a Student Visa may take an au pair role as part of permitted side activity. Outside these specific scenarios, taking an unregistered au pair role in the UK risks visa violations.
If you are eligible: industry-standard pocket money is £80–£100/week for 25–30 hours of childcare. You receive your own bedroom, three meals daily, and typically two full days off per week. There is no formal language-course contribution requirement.
Our honest recommendation: if you're a Filipino candidate looking for an English-speaking au pair experience, Australia (subclass 462) or the United States (J-1) are the realistic options. Ireland is also accessible with a Working Holiday Authorisation if you meet age and study requirements.
If you're specifically looking for a Filipino au pair, the visa landscape is the binding constraint. Most Filipino candidates do not have a legal pathway to au pair in the UK without an alternative visa basis. Be honest with candidates about this from the outset.
If you find a Filipino candidate already in the UK on a valid visa (student, partner, dual nationality), industry-standard arrangements are £80–£100/week pocket money, 25–30 hours/week of childcare, two days off, full board and a private room.
UK au pair arrangements technically fall outside the National Minimum Wage if the au pair lives genuinely as a family member. Misclassifying a domestic worker as an au pair to dodge minimum wage law is a serious legal risk — consult a UK employment solicitor if there's any doubt.