19 year old Au Pair for 1 month

Barleyfields

I also agree that she would need a DBS check in order to work with children or anyone vulnerable, and people simply employing a cleaner sometimes request this. They take some time to arrange and I have no idea if it would even be possible to arrange from another country.

If she were to work privately, the family might not insist on a DBS, whereas an agency would. I don't think you can actually apply for a DBS until you arrive in the UK. You can start work straightaway once the application has been submitted.
She should, however, get a police record check in Switzerland before she comes here.

escaped

Barleyfields

I also agree that she would need a DBS check in order to work with children or anyone vulnerable, and people simply employing a cleaner sometimes request this. They take some time to arrange and I have no idea if it would even be possible to arrange from another country.

If she were to work privately, the family might not insist on a DBS, whereas an agency would. I don't think you can actually apply for a DBS until you arrive in the UK. You can start work straightaway once the application has been submitted.
She should, however, get a police record check in Switzerland before she comes here.

She simply cannot come here and be employed.
www.gov.uk/au-pairs-employment-law/au-pairs

Just to say not sure if laws are different but I don't think Switzerland is part of EU.

The DBS certificate and work visa are two separate issues.

The applicable law is that of the UK. Even if Switzerland were in the EU (which it isn’t), there is no longer freedom of movement between the UK and EU.

A Swiss national can visit the UK for less than 6 months without needing a visa to work.

But would they legally be able to work?

If you want to help your friend, CountessFosco, the easiest way would be for you to invite the girl to stay with you, since you were planning to have her in the afternoons anyway. I have a German friend, and when our children were young, we had various German young people to stay, that my friend referred to us. They weren't Au Pairs, but helped a bit around the house and with children, in exchange for board. Last Easter, we had the daughter of one of our German guests long ago as we were asked but couldn't find anyone who would be willing to have her.

Apart from all the work/visa rules, people nowadays seem to be reluctant to have someone they don't know, stay with them - maybe lives too busy, house too small?

For one month, it could very easily be an informal private arrangement. Have done this ourselves many times.

Yes, my understanding is that someone can employ them in the short term. Beyond 6 months they would need a visa.

Claremont

For one month, it could very easily be an informal private arrangement. Have done this ourselves many times.

👍 exactly, and not breaking any law.

Might she like to volunteer though?

My friend used to regularly have young volunteers on her tiny smallholding:

wwoof.net/

escaped

A Swiss national can visit the UK for less than 6 months without needing a visa to work.

But not to have any kind of paid employment. Just to be a visitor.

And not work “privately’ either!

escaped

Claremont

For one month, it could very easily be an informal private arrangement. Have done this ourselves many times.

👍 exactly, and not breaking any law.

No, no.

Any paid position requires a work visa.

Actually quite horrified at posts advocating breaking the law as long as it’s done privately 😱

just a private arrangement for a 'friend of the family' - for 1 month! Absolutely no issue. This is not 'work' just an exchange- a bit of help in exchange for language immersion and discovering the country. As said, done it many times ourselves.

The issue is pay. Spending time with a family in return for food and board is permitted.

Any kind of payment whether cash or in kind that could be deemed extra to daily keep becomes work and needs a visa.

The OP suggested that “pocket money” would be hoped for. This would count as pay and require a visa.

I have no doubt a number of people are willing to bend the rules. I’m concerned that the OP could unwittingly find herself in deep trouble by arranging a “bent” set up.

My daughter is an English au pair working in England they're not all foreign

I think we know that, but am not sure how it’s relevant to the current thread?

No one is advocating breaking the law. I fully understand that payment in kind counts as work, but a helpful hand unloading the groceries from the car or walking the dog is what any visiting ""friend", not paying, would offer to do. I wouldn't give a list of jobs, just a "do you fancy walking the dog" suggestion whenever. And it certainly wouldn't be taking the job away from a UK citizen because the paid job wouldn't exist anyway. I'd be very careful not to do anything underhand, and I agree that is good advice for the OP.

Reading back my earlier comment, I was wrong to say "in return". I amend that to "alongside this" to show there are no conditions and no formal agreement.

Biscuitmuncher

My daughter is an English au pair working in England they're not all foreign

That is not allowed as per Au Pair rules- must be short term (I believe 2 years max), with age limit and be foreign, living as part of family in a different language to one's own.

I expect Biscuitmuncher’s daughter is a child minder/cleaner/‘mother’s help’. But ‘au pair’ sounds smarter.

You have to be very careful. A few years ago a young helper came from USA but was stopped at Border control in Edinburgh and sent home. It was such an unhappy time.

She made the mistake of mentioning the word work and she had no work visa.
Infact she could easily have come as a tourist as she had her return ticket and plenty of money however I think the home office were clamping down on illegal immigrants at that time and they decided to make an example of her.
I tried to plead for her but my MP could do nothing nor the American Consulate.

Exactly, it has to be very short time, as here, 1 month- pocket money only, and be a private 'friend of the family' guest/invite.

Claremont

Exactly, it has to be very short time, as here, 1 month- pocket money only, and be a private 'friend of the family' guest/invite.

No pocket money. No payment of any kind!

Please stop giving the OP information that could get her into serious trouble.