How to become an au pair in China
Six clear steps from your application to your first day in China, with our Shanghai team beside you all the way.
- 1
Apply
Email us your resume and a one-minute video introducing yourself. No resume? Create a profile in one minute with our short online form.
Our Shanghai team replies within two business days.
- 2
Get to know us
A video call with our Shanghai team: we learn about you and answer all your questions about life in China.
Tell us your ideal start date, how long you want to stay and any city you have in mind.
- 3
Meet your host family
Video call with host families and choose the one that feels right for you.
Every family is interviewed and checked first. Nothing is decided until you are happy.
- 4
Agree everything in writing
Your weekly hours with the children, time off, room and education subsidy are set out in writing.
You and your host family both know exactly what to expect before you book anything.
- 5
School and visa
We register you at a language school and cover your tuition. You apply for your X1 or X2 student visa with our guidance.
We send you the document checklist for your country and review everything with you.
- 6
Welcome to China
Fly to China (we reimburse your flight), meet your host family and start your Mandarin classes.
Your insurance covers you from the day you land.
How long does it take?
It depends mostly on two things: finding the right host family for you, and the visa process in your country. Sometimes the right family comes along quickly, sometimes it takes a little longer, and that's fine: a good match is worth the wait. Allow a few weeks for school registration and your visa.
The best tip: tell us your ideal start date as early as possible and we plan backwards from it. Programs run from 3 months to one year, so you can fit China around your studies or plans.
Your first weeks in China
Arriving is exciting, and a little overwhelming. Here's what usually happens first.
Settling in
Unpack, get to know the children and learn the family routine. Your host family shows you around the neighbourhood.
Getting connected
Set up a local SIM card and Alipay or WeChat Pay. We help with anything that is tricky.
Local paperwork
Register your address, with help from your family. On an X1 visa, we also guide you through your residence permit.
Starting school
Begin your Mandarin classes and meet other international students in your city.
During your stay and after
Our team in Shanghai is one message away on WhatsApp, WeChat or email, and we help whenever you or your host family reach out. If a match isn't right, we listen to both sides and, if needed, help you move to a new host family.
Thinking of staying longer when your program ends? Talk to us early, so we can look at your options together. And when it's time to go home, many au pairs leave with a second family and a new language for life.
Next: check the requirements, read about student visas or see what the program includes.
Ready for your year in China?
Applying takes a few minutes. No resume yet? Create a profile in one minute instead.