How to get an au pair visa for Italy: UK guide

Have you always wanted to live in Italy and experience everyday life like a local? Working as an au pair is a great way to make that happen. It’s a unique chance to learn the language, explore the country and support a host family with childcare and daily routines.

To get started, it’s important to get the visa process right. That’s why we’ve created a comprehensive guide on how to become an au pair in Italy, covering everything from visa requirements to what you can expect once you arrive.

We’ll also suggest a solution for covering visa fees and managing your finances while abroad. With a Wise account, you can send money between the UK and Italy at the mid-market exchange rate for low fees*. You can also rely on the Wise card to spend in euros and 40+ other currencies.

Open your Wise account 🌍

Table of contents

What is an Au Pair visa and do you need one for Italy? Au Pair program in Italy Eligibility requirements for a Student visa in Italy Age and nationality restrictions Host family and au pair agreement requirements Financial requirements and proof of funds Educational and language skill prerequisites Health and insurance How to apply for your Italian Student visa Step-by-Step application guide Essential documents checklist for your application Where to apply: Italy's embassy or consulate Visa fees and typical processing times Life as an au pair in Italy: What to expect Duties, responsibilities and working hours for an au pair in Italy Pocket money, accommodation and other benefits Language courses and studying opportunities Visa duration and extension After you arrive in Italy: Important first steps Registering with local authorities Opening a bank account as an Au Pair Travelling to other countries during your stay Finding the right host family in Italy Reputable platforms and agencies for Au Pair placements in Italy Tips for a successful au pair interview and placement 1. Carefully read the host’s profile 2. Write down questions 3. Keep the time difference in mind 4. Call from a quiet environment 5. Pay attention to the children 6. Discuss your contract 7. Do a follow up call What happens if you change host families? Visa implications Your Italian Au Pair adventure awaits

What is an Au Pair visa and do you need one for Italy?

There’s no official au pair visa for Italy. UK citizens usually apply for a Student visa and enrol in a language course. If you also hold a passport from Australia, Canada or New Zealand, you may be eligible for a Working Holiday visa.¹

Student visa holders need to attend an Italian language course for at least 20 hours a week and can work part time with their host family.¹

Au Pair program in Italy

Whether you’re working as an au pair in Italy, France, Spain or another country, the focus of the program is always cultural exchange between you and your host family. Your main duties include caring for the children and helping with light housework.

In exchange, the host family provides accommodation, meals and a weekly allowance. While your responsibilities will be outlined in a contract, you’ll likely be treated as part of the family rather than just an employee.

Eligibility requirements for a Student visa in Italy

To work as an au pair in Italy, you’ll need to apply for a Student visa, which involves meeting certain criteria. Let’s take a look at the Italy au pair requirements.

Age and nationality restrictions

The age limit for the Student visa is not officially specified. However, the standard age range stated in the official European au pair contract is between 17 and 30 years old, with some exceptions possible.²

Regarding nationality, all non-EU citizens must apply for a visa. That said, citizens of Australia, Canada and New Zealand may be eligible to work as au pairs under the Working Holiday visa scheme instead of the Student visa.¹

Host family and au pair agreement requirements

A contract with the host family is not mandatory for the Student visa. However, it’s important to have a clear agreement that sets out your responsibilities, days off and pocket money.³

Many au pairs use the official European au pair contract template. This document helps ensure you have enough time for your language course and suitable living arrangements, while also clearly defining your duties.²

Financial requirements and proof of funds

To apply for a Student visa, you must provide proof of financial stability. This can be demonstrated with your UK bank statements from the last three months or your parents’ bank statements, accompanied by a copy of your birth certificate.⁴

Educational and language skill prerequisites

As you will be applying for a Student visa to attend a language course, no prior knowledge of Italian is required. You simply need to provide an acceptance letter confirming your enrolment in the course.⁴

Regarding educational requirements, there is no specific level of education stated, but you will need to submit a transcript of your previous studies.⁴

Health and insurance

As part of your application, you will need to obtain travel insurance that covers at least the first two weeks of your stay. The insurance must provide a minimum coverage of €30,000 for emergency hospital treatment and repatriation costs.⁴

How to apply for your Italian Student visa

Let’s go over the steps to apply for an Italian au pair visa.

Step-by-Step application guide

1. Choose a language school and enrol
2. Find a host family
3. Agree on the contract terms
4. Sign the au pair contract
5. Ensure your passport is valid
6. Gather your documents
7. Contact the Italian Consulate
8. Submit your visa application

Essential documents checklist for your application

Here are the documents you’ll need to apply for a Student visa in Italy:

• Valid passport with at least two blank pages
• Signed Long-term visa application form
• UK residence permit
• Passport-style photo
• Cover letter
• Proof of enrolment in a language course
• Transcript of your previous studies in the UK
• Travel ticket reservation
• A letter of invitation from the host family as proof of accommodation
• The host family’s IDs
• Travel insurance
• Proof of financial means to support yourself in Italy⁴

Where to apply: Italy's embassy or consulate

The Italian Consulate in the UK handles all visa appointments and applications through VFS Global. They have offices in London, Manchester, and Edinburgh, but you can also apply via their official website.⁵

While the application can be submitted online, you must attend an appointment in person and bring printed copies of your documents.⁵

Visa fees and typical processing times

The minimum processing time for long-stay visas, including the Study visa, is 15 days, but this can take up to 90 days.⁵

The fee for all long-term visas is €50.⁶

Life as an au pair in Italy: What to expect

Let’s take a look at what your life in Italy will be like.

Duties, responsibilities and working hours for an au pair in Italy

Au pairs in Italy primarily assist with childcare and light household tasks. It is important to clearly outline all your duties in the au pair agreement.³

Your working hours can be flexible, but you must not work more than five hours a day or over 30 hours a week in total. Additionally, you are entitled to at least one day off each week, with at least one Sunday off every month.³

Pocket money, accommodation and other benefits

Italian law does not set a fixed amount of pocket money for au pairs. The average is around €300, but this can be negotiated with the host family.³

Families who hire au pairs are usually financially comfortable, so they typically provide a private room, meals, and cover increased household expenses. They may also pay for other activities.

Living with a local family offers a great opportunity to improve your language skills and experience Italian culture firsthand. You might celebrate holidays together, enjoy authentic Italian cuisine, and explore the country.

Language courses and studying opportunities

A language course is mandatory for the Student visa that most au pairs obtain. While your host family can assist you in finding a suitable course, you will be responsible for the fees. The course should involve at least 20 hours of study per week.³

Because your visa is linked to your language course, pursuing other types of studies, such as university education, may not be permitted. However, if you manage to balance work, your language course, and additional studies, be sure to discuss your schedule with your host family to find a workable arrangement.³

Visa duration and extension

The length of your Student visa is usually determined by the duration of your language course, typically lasting up to 12 months. After arriving in Italy, you will apply for a residence permit, which can be extended later if you continue to meet the necessary requirements.

After you arrive in Italy: Important first steps

Once you have your visa and arrive in Italy, here are a few things to keep in mind.

Registering with local authorities

You must apply for a residence permit within eight days of arriving in Italy. This can be done at the municipality, the Patronato, the Sportello Unico per l’immigrazione in your prefecture or at the post office.¹

You’ll need to bring the following documents:

• Application form
• Copy of your passport and visa
• Valid passport and entry visa
• 4 passport sized photos
• A revenue stamp (€15)¹

Opening a bank account as an Au Pair

You can open a bank account in Italy as a non-resident, and those accounts are known as conto corrente per non-residenti. You’ll often need to visit a bank branch in person and bring physical copies of required documents, such as your residence permit and photo ID.⁷

As an alternative to traditional banks, you could open a Wise account and hold 8+ currencies, including euros and pounds. You’ll pay low, transparent fees* and get the mid-market exchange rate for foreign currency conversion. Wise can be a way for you to pay and manage your finances while waiting for an Italian bank account.

Travelling to other countries during your stay

You can freely travel to other countries in the Schengen area with your visa, but only for a period of up to 90 days every six months.⁸

Finding the right host family in Italy

Choosing the right family is a crucial step in becoming an au pair. Be sure to use reputable websites and take your time to thoroughly read through family profiles. Alternatively, you can use a placement agency, which can manage this process on your behalf.

Reputable platforms and agencies for Au Pair placements in Italy

Some of the most well-known websites for finding a host family are aupair.com and aupairworld.com.

Using an au pair agency involves a fee, but it often makes the process easier. You can reach out to Associazione Nazionale Italiana Alla Pari (ANIAP), which represents the largest au pair organisations in Italy, for assistance.

Tips for a successful au pair interview and placement

Making a good impression during your video interview is key to finding the right host family and ensuring you’re a good match. Here are some tips to help you get ready:

1. Carefully read the host’s profile

Take time to read through everything the family has shared. Watch out for any red flags, as scammers sometimes create fake profiles on au pair websites.

2. Write down questions

Before the interview, jot down questions about the family’s expectations, the children’s routines and any house rules. This is a great chance to clear up any doubts and show your enthusiasm.

3. Keep the time difference in mind

Italy is one hour ahead of the UK, so schedule your interview accordingly.

4. Call from a quiet environment

Make sure you’re in a quiet, tidy room with reliable equipment. Treat this like a proper job interview and dress neatly.

5. Pay attention to the children

If the children join the conversation, don’t just focus only on the parents. Show interest and try to connect with them.

6. Discuss your contract

Talk about working hours, days off, pocket money and any other important terms sooner rather than later.

7. Do a follow up call

One interview may not cover everything. Arrange another call to see your room and clarify any remaining questions.

What happens if you change host families? Visa implications

The notice period for leaving your host family is usually two weeks²

However, since your original host family informed the local authorities that you would be living with them, you will need to report this change.¹ Before making any decisions, it is a good idea to contact the UK embassy to check the latest information regarding your visa status.

Your Italian Au Pair adventure awaits

Working as an au pair in Italy offers a unique opportunity to experience the culture and take part in daily life with a local family. You’ll return with improved Italian language skills and valuable life experience from living independently in a new and enriching environment.

To make the most of your experience as an au pair, you should find a way to manage your finances efficiently. With a Wise account, you can hold and exchange between 8+ currencies and send money between the UK and Italy for low fees*.

You can also get a Wise card for a one-time cost of £7 and use it in 150+ countries, including Italy. Each time you spend, your money is converted to the right currency, with only a small conversion fee*, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account.

Open your Wise account 🌍

Sources used:

1. Aupairworld.com - visa and entry requirements
2. Aupairworld.com - au pair agreement
3. Aupairworld.com - general conditions
4. Consolato Generale d’Italia Londra - study
5. Consolato Generale d’Italia Londra - visas
6. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation - visas for Italy
7. Expatica - open an Italian bank account
8. Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation - travelling

Sources last checked on date: 17-Sep-2025