Guide · 8 min read
How to find an au pair in South Africa (2026)
Step-by-step guide for South African families: where to look, what to ask, verification, pocket money, and how AuPairly helps you hire safely.
Start with a clear brief
Write down children’s ages, school runs, languages, live-in vs live-out, and weekly hours. Families who publish a complete listing on AuPairly get more quality interest from sitters.
Include neighbourhood (not full address), start date, and what “success” looks like in the first month.
Use verification and in-app chat
Prefer profiles with a clear photo, city, bio, and Verified badge. On AuPairly, South African members can use VerifyNow (Home Affairs) and international members can use document + liveness checks.
Keep early conversations on-platform. Share phone numbers only after you’re comfortable, and meet first in a public place.
Discuss pocket money and expectations early
Agree weekly pocket money, days off, car use, and household duties in writing. Transparent listings reduce mismatched applications.
When you’re ready to hire seriously, Plus plans unlock unlimited messages so you can compare candidates without daily free limits.
FAQ
- Is AuPairly free to join?
- Yes. Creating a profile and browsing is free. Paid Plus plans unlock unlimited messaging and Discover when you need more volume.
- Can I hire for babysitting only (not live-in)?
- Yes. AuPairly covers au pairs, babysitting, after-school care, caregiving, house sitting, and pet sitting — not only live-in au pairs.