Au Pair Requirements in South Africa
There is no licence to be an au pair and no official register to join. What exists instead is a fairly consistent set of things South African families check before they hand over their children and their car keys. This page is that list, in the order it usually gets asked about.
What families ask for
Not all of these carry the same weight. The first four come up in almost every interview; the last two are what separate two otherwise similar candidates.
A matric certificate
Almost every family asks for a completed matric. It matters less as a qualification than as evidence that you can help with homework, and families with children in high school will ask which subjects you took.
Contactable childcare references
Two or three people who have actually left children in your care, with working phone numbers, and who know you are giving out their details. Informal experience counts — a neighbour, a family friend, holiday babysitting — as long as the person will take the call.
A valid driver's licence and your own car
This is the single biggest thing that decides how many roles you can apply for. Most families are hiring to solve the school run, so a licence and a car you own and maintain yourself will get you more interviews than any other line on your profile.
A clear criminal record
Families are choosing who to trust with their children, and a police clearance certificate is a normal part of that. Getting one before you start applying puts you ahead of candidates who only begin the process once a family asks.
First aid certification
Not every family insists on it, but paediatric first aid is one of the few short courses that visibly changes how you are read. It reassures a parent about the pool, the playground and the drive, and it is a fair argument for the upper half of the pay band.
Practical skills families ask about
Swimming, cooking a simple supper, homework help in a second language, and comfort with a particular age group. These are all searchable on your profile, so leaving them blank keeps you out of results you would have matched.
What families are really screening for
Every candidate a family shortlists already has the certificates. What decides the role is whether a parent can stop thinking about the afternoon once you have it.
- Reliability above everything. A family builds its week around you being there at half past two.
- Punctuality that survives traffic — leaving early is part of the job, not a favour.
- Communication in full sentences. Parents read your first message as a sample of how you will handle theirs.
- Patience with routine: the same homework, the same lift, the same supper, done properly every day.
- Discretion about what you see inside someone's home.
- Honesty about what you cannot do, including hours you cannot actually work.
Next: the profile itself
Meeting the requirements gets you nowhere if your profile does not show it. The profile guidelines cover photo standards, how photos are scored, and how to write an "About me" families actually read. For what the work pays, see the au pair salary guide.
Becoming an au pair: common questions
Do I need a qualification to become an au pair in South Africa?
No formal childcare qualification is required. Families expect a completed matric, contactable childcare references and, in most cases, a driver's licence. A first aid certificate or an early-childhood qualification is an advantage rather than a prerequisite, and it strengthens your case for the upper half of the pay range.
Can I be an au pair without a car?
You can, but it narrows your options considerably, because the school run is the reason most families are hiring. Your best prospects are families who live within walking distance of the school, or who only need help once the children are home. Say clearly on your profile whether you drive so nobody's time is wasted.
How old do you have to be to au pair in South Africa?
There is no fixed age, and au pairs here range from students in their first year through to experienced childminders in their forties. What families actually screen for is a completed matric, genuine childcare experience they can verify by phone, and someone they trust to drive their children.
Tick the boxes? Get listed.
Creating an au pair profile is free and always will be — families are the ones who pay to unlock contact details. Add your experience, your licence and a clear photo, and let them find you.