Nannies and au pairs (SOC 6116) does not currently qualify for UK Skilled Worker visa sponsorship. It is classified as medium skilled and would need to be added to the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage Occupation List before employers could sponsor for it. There are closely related roles that do qualify, listed further down.
Nannies and au pairs care for and supervise babies and young children in the homes of the children's families.
Entry does not depend upon academic qualifications but a qualification in childcare and/or relevant experience may be useful. NVQs/SVQs in Child Care and Education are available at levels 2 and 3. A minimum age limit of 18 years applies, and a DBS check is mandatory. Nannies are not required to register with Ofsted but can become a part of the Voluntary Ofsted Childcare Register.
UK market salary · ASHE 2025
How visa salary requirements compare to what employers pay.
Most nannies and au pairs in the UK earn between £28,444 and ~£48,828 in basic pay.
All figures are before tax. Calculate your take-home pay.
SOC 6116 is classified as medium skilled but does not currently appear on the Immigration Salary List or Temporary Shortage List, so it's not currently eligible for new sponsorship.
If you're interested in this field, you have a few options:
Not under SOC 6116. Nannies and au pairs is classified as Medium Skilled - Extending, which doesn't meet the requirements for Skilled Worker sponsorship right now. That said, some closely related occupation codes in the same field are eligible, so have a look at the related codes section on this page.
SOC 6116 covers a range of nannies and au pairs roles, including: Au pairs, Nannies. Keep in mind that the Home Office matches jobs by duties rather than title alone. Two roles with the same title can fall under different SOC codes depending on the actual work involved.
SOC 6116 itself doesn't qualify, but that doesn't mean you're out of options. The most common workaround is finding a closely related role that falls under an eligible SOC code. We've listed any eligible alternatives further up this page. It's also worth looking into visa routes that aren't tied to a specific occupation, like the Global Talent visa, Graduate visa, or High Potential Individual visa.
This information is provided as guidance only and should not be treated as legal advice. Eligibility criteria and salary thresholds are based on the latest published government data. Always verify with the official UK government guidance or seek professional immigration advice.