Finding a nanny abroad

Decide the language you want spoken to the child before you meet anyone. A nanny who only speaks the local language is a gift or a problem depending on the age. Say which.

The person must be allowed to work. In the UAE and some other countries that means a visa you sponsor. In Germany or Canada it means a local contract and payroll. We will not introduce someone on a tourist stamp.

You are the employer. We sit in the first meeting, check the references we can actually check, and leave the contract to local rules. A ‘staffing fee’ that quietly includes a cut of her wage is something we will not hide.

If a kindergarten place exists, it is often the better answer for a three-year-old and a worse answer for a newborn. We will say which you are looking at.