Childcare Abroad: How to Find a Nanny, Nursery or Kindergarten Before You Land

Last checked: September 2026. Childcare subsidies, fee caps and eligibility rules change often, sometimes every year. Treat figures as a starting point for your own research.

When families plan a move abroad, schools get weeks of research. Childcare often gets a few evenings. Yet for parents of babies and toddlers, childcare shapes almost everything else: whether both of you can work, how the first months feel, and how much money is left at the end of each month.

The good news is that much of the work can be done before you land. This guide explains how childcare works in different parts of the world, what it costs, and how to arrive with a plan rather than a gap.

Why does childcare work so differently from country to country?

Every country has its own childcare culture. It grows out of how long parental leave lasts, how much the state pays towards care, and how affordable home help is. Broadly, you will meet four models.

• Public places as a right. The state guarantees a subsidised place from a certain age and caps what parents pay. The Nordic countries and Germany work like this.
• A mixed system. Public nurseries exist but are in short supply, so families combine them with registered childminders and nannies, often with public help towards the cost. France is the classic example.
• A private market. Most care is private and parents pay most of the cost. The United States, and the UK for younger children, fall into this group.
• Nanny-based care. In much of the Gulf, Africa and parts of Asia, many working families employ a live-in or daily nanny, often alongside a private nursery for part of the day.

Knowing which model you are moving into tells you what to do first. In a "right to a place" country, you register early with the local authority. In a private market, you shop around and budget hard. In a nanny-based culture, you learn to be a fair employer.

What do the main childcare models look like in practice?

Germany: a legal right to a Kita place

Since 2013, every child in Germany has had a legal right to a place in a Kita (day-care centre) or with a Tagesmutter (registered childminder) from their first birthday. This is the Kita-Anspruch. Fees are set by each state and often each town, usually based on income, and several states have made Kita free for some or all ages. The catch: a legal right does not mean a place near you on the day you want it. In big cities demand still outstrips supply, so register as early as you can.

The Nordics: guaranteed places with capped fees

In Denmark, councils must offer a place to children from 26 weeks old, and parents pay no more than 25% of the cost. In Sweden, children have a right to a förskola place from age one, usually within about four months of applying, and fees are capped by the national maxtaxa at a small share of household income. Nordic cooperation guidance says Swedish councils may not insist on a Swedish personal identity number before you apply, which helps if you are still abroad.

France: crèche, assistante maternelle and nanny

French parents choose between a crèche (group nursery, with fees linked to income), an assistante maternelle (a childminder approved by the local authority who looks after a few children in her own home) and a garde à domicile (a nanny in your home, sometimes shared with another family). When you employ an approved childminder or nanny, the family allowance system can pay part of the cost through the complément de libre choix du mode de garde (CMG). It was reformed in September 2025 to follow income and hours of care more closely. City crèche places are scarce, so many families start with a childminder.

The UK and the US: a private market with high costs

In England, eligible working parents can get up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare from nine months old, for 38 weeks a year. You generally need a National Insurance number and permission to access public funds, so many new visa holders will not qualify at first. Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland run their own schemes. The US has no national entitlement. Child Care Aware of America puts the average annual price of care at around US$13,000 in 2025, and in every state with data, centre care for two children costs more than median rent.

Portugal: free crèche for younger children

Portugal's Creche Feliz programme makes crèche free for children born on or after 1 September 2021, in the social sector and, where no free place exists locally, in approved private crèches. Places are still limited in popular areas.

Gulf, Africa and Asia: nanny plus nursery

In the UAE, residents sponsor a nanny through licensed Tadbeer centres. There is an income threshold, widely reported at around AED 25,000 a month of household income, and duties to provide housing, food, health insurance, rest days, annual leave and return flights. In Singapore, employers of a foreign domestic worker pay a monthly levy. The lower rate is tied to having a Singapore citizen child under 16, so most expat families pay the standard levy. In South Africa, domestic workers are covered by the national minimum wage, which rose to R30.23 an hour from 1 March 2026.

How do childcare models compare by region?

Region or country	Main model	Typical cost to parents	What to do before you land
Nordics (e.g. Denmark, Sweden)	Public place as a right, capped fees	Low. Capped at a small share of income	Contact the council. Ask how to apply before you have a local ID number
Germany	Legal right to Kita or childminder from age one	Low to free, set locally	Register on the city's Kita portal or directly with centres
France	Crèche, approved childminder or nanny	Low to moderate after CMG and tax credits	Apply for crèche via the town hall. Shortlist childminders
Portugal	Free crèche for eligible under-threes	Free, where a place exists	Check local vacancies and registration dates
UK (England)	Private nurseries and childminders, some funded hours	High for under-twos. Funding depends on status	Check eligibility. Join nursery waiting lists
United States, Switzerland	Mostly private or partly subsidised centres	High. Can match or exceed rent	Budget early. Join several waiting lists
Gulf (e.g. UAE)	Nanny plus private nursery	Moderate to high, plus employer duties	Learn sponsorship rules. Shortlist nurseries and agencies
Southern and East Africa	Nanny plus private pre-school	Moderate, with legal employer duties	Learn wage and registration rules. Visit pre-schools on a scouting trip
South-East Asia (e.g. Singapore)	Live-in helper plus pre-school	Moderate, plus levy and insurance	Understand work permit, levy and housing rules

How much does childcare cost abroad?

The range is huge. In some countries full-time care costs about as much as a phone bill. In others it costs as much as a second rent.

The OECD tracks "net childcare costs": what a family pays for full-time centre care after benefits. For a couple both on an average wage, 2022 OECD figures put this at close to zero in Italy and around 1% of household income in Germany. At the other end it was around a fifth of income or more in the United States, the Netherlands and Switzerland. Some countries, including Canada, have since brought fees down. These are national averages. Your own cost depends on your city, income and child's age.

• Under-threes cost the most. Babies need more staff per child, so this is the most expensive stage almost everywhere.
• Subsidies may not apply to you at first. Many schemes depend on residence status, tax registration or a local ID number. Budget your first year at full price and treat any support as a bonus.

Put childcare in your budget as a fixed monthly cost. Our guide to what a family relocation really costs shows where it sits alongside rent, school fees and insurance.

From experience: We budgeted childcare like rent. It went into the plan as a fixed monthly cost from the start, not as something we would work out once we saw what was left over. For us, it comes to about half of our rent.

Planning your own move? Get our free 120-task family relocation checklist and cost planner, so you can see every step before you start. Get the free checklist

Can you join waiting lists before you arrive?

Often, yes. Popular nurseries and kindergartens in many cities have lists that open months, sometimes a year or more, ahead. If you wait until you have an address, you may miss the next intake.

1. Find out how places are given out. Is there a central council portal, or does each centre run its own list? In the Nordics it usually runs through the council. In Germany it varies by city. Private nurseries run their own lists.
2. Ask what you need to register. Some systems want a local address or ID number. Others accept an application from abroad with a planned start date. Ask directly: "Can we register from abroad, and what do you need from us?"
3. Join more than one list. Three to five is normal. Some private nurseries charge a registration fee or deposit, so check whether it is refundable.
4. Keep a simple tracker of each place and follow up with a short email every month or two.

Should you choose local-language or international care?

Local-language care is usually cheaper, often subsidised, and helps young children pick up the language. It also connects you to local parents. The trade-off is that notes home and parent meetings may be hard for you at first.

International or bilingual care, such as English-language or Montessori settings, is usually private and more expensive. It can make settling in easier and a later move simpler. Waiting lists in expat hubs can be long.

Think about the next step, not only this one. If your child may move into an international school later, or you may move again, a setting that prepares them for that path can save a harder switch. If you plan to stay long term, local care is a wonderful start. Our guide to choosing a school abroad covers how this carries into the school years.

From experience: Our daughter is registered at a Montessori kindergarten and will start there later. The waiting list opened early, so we signed up well in advance. We chose a setting that keeps the option of an international school open later on. Our rule was simple: pick care that travels with her.

How do you hire a nanny abroad fairly?

In many countries, hiring a nanny makes you an employer, with real legal duties. The rules differ a lot, so treat what follows as general guidance and check the details with the local labour authority or a qualified adviser.

• Contract. Put everything in writing, in a language you both understand: hours, duties, pay, overtime, rest days, holidays, sick leave, notice and whether the role is live-in. Use a standard domestic worker contract where one exists.
• Pay. Find out the legal minimum and the usual rate for experienced nannies. They are often very different. Pay fairly for experience, languages and first-aid training. A nanny who feels respected is more likely to stay, and stability matters to a small child in a new country.
• Social security and registration. Many countries expect you to register as an employer, pay contributions and sometimes insure against work injuries. In France, families declare childminders and nannies through a dedicated system linked to the CMG. In the Gulf and Singapore, the worker's visa is tied to you as sponsor. Ask a local adviser: "What must we register, pay and report as a household employer?"
• References and checks. Speak to at least two previous families by phone or video. Ask what ages the nanny cared for, how long they stayed and why they left. A recommendation from another expat family is often the best starting point. Ask for a background check where one exists. Confirm the right to work, and never hold on to a worker's passport.
• A paid trial. Start with a paid test day at home. If it goes well, agree one to two paid weeks, with a parent at home for part of it. Watch how the nanny talks to your child and handles a hard moment. Say clearly at the start that it is a trial.
• Wider duties. These can include paid leave, sick pay, health insurance, housing for live-in staff, flights home and end-of-service pay. A live-in nanny still needs real time off.

How do you vet childcare when you can't read the reviews?

Reviews may be in another language, missing or unreliable. So lean on facts you can check.

• Licensing and inspection. Most countries license providers, and many publish inspection results. In England, Ofsted reports are public. In Australia, services are rated against the National Quality Framework. In France, the family allowance website monenfant.fr lists crèches and approved childminders. Ask any provider: "Who licenses you, and can I see your last inspection?"
• Staff ratios. Ask how many adults care for how many children in each age group, and compare with the legal minimum. In Australia, for example, the national rule for under-twos is one educator to four children. Ask how often staff change.
• Training. Ask what qualifications staff hold and whether someone trained in paediatric first aid is always on site.
• Visits. Start with a video tour, then visit in person on a scouting trip or in your first week. Watch how staff speak to children and whether children look settled.
• Other parents and policies. Ask to speak to a current family, and ask for settling-in, illness and safeguarding policies in writing.

What paperwork should you prepare before you go?

• Vaccination records, translated where needed. Some countries make certain vaccines a condition of group childcare. Germany, for example, requires proof of measles protection. See our guide to vaccinations for children moving abroad.
• Birth certificates, with certified translations and an apostille or legalisation if required.
• Passports and visas or residence permits for the child and both parents.
• Proof of address and employment letters, since some systems give priority to working parents.
• A short health summary from your doctor covering allergies, medicines and any support needs.
• Proof of income, where fees or subsidies are means-tested.

What do you do between landing and a place opening?

There is often a gap. Plan how you will cover it before you land.

• A temporary babysitter or agency carer for the first weeks, while you look for a longer-term nanny locally. Most families find a good nanny only once they are there and can meet candidates in person.
• A private nursery with a short, flexible contract, while you wait for a subsidised place.
• A parent-and-child playgroup, which eases your child into group settings and helps you meet other parents.
• Staggered start dates, so one partner covers the first weeks while the other starts work.

Plan for settling-in time too. In many countries, especially Germany and the Nordics, the first two to four weeks are gradual, with a parent present at first. Nobody works a full day during that phase.

From experience: Our daughter was six months old when I went back to work and our nanny started. You can't really find a nanny from overseas. Find one once you are there, ideally recommended by another expat family, or with good references. Then do a test day at home.

Why is childcare the second partner's career runway?

In many families, the move is triggered by one partner's job. The other partner's career depends on what happens next. Without reliable childcare, that second career can stall for months, even with a work permit and a job lead.

So plan childcare and the second career as one decision. First, check the accompanying partner can work there at all. Our guide to whether your partner can work there covers the visa side. Then ask: if they get a job, who looks after the children, from which date, and at what cost?

• Book care to start a little before the second partner's job search or work begins, not after.
• Check whether a job search counts as "working" for childcare priority or subsidies. Often it does not.
• If an employer offers relocation support, ask whether help finding childcare or bridge care can be included.

For more, read our guide to relocation spouse support.

From experience: Our daughter was born here. We had two careers and no default childcare arrangement. Nobody was going to be the one who "just stays home". So we planned care and the second career as one decision, not two.

Should childcare shape where you live?

Yes, and earlier than most families think. At the Decide stage, childcare deserves as much weight as schools, commute and rent. Even in countries with a legal right to a place, shortages vary a lot between districts. In a nanny-based culture, the question is whether your salary and housing can support a fair employment arrangement. When comparing areas, ask:

• How many nurseries or kindergartens are within 15 minutes of home, and do they have space?
• How long are waiting lists here compared with the next district?
• Is there care near the working parent's office as a backup?
• What happens on closure days and during holidays?

Our guide to moving abroad with kids covers the wider picture of settling young children.

Not sure which countries fit your family's childcare needs? Take the 2-minute family destination quiz to see which destinations match your priorities, including care for young children and the second partner's career.

Childcare abroad: frequently asked questions

How early should I start looking for childcare abroad?

As soon as your move is likely. For popular nurseries and kindergartens, six to twelve months ahead is sensible, and some lists open earlier. For a nanny, it usually works best to look once you have arrived, so you can meet candidates and do a test day at home. Allow a few weeks.

Can I get subsidised childcare as a new arrival?

Sometimes. It depends on your residence status, tax registration and local rules. Some countries give access soon after you register. Others, such as England, link funded hours to immigration status. Budget for full fees at first.

Is a nanny cheaper than a nursery?

It depends where you live. In many Gulf, African and Asian countries, a nanny can cost less than full-time private nursery. In Europe and North America, a full-time nanny is usually the most expensive option once contributions are added. Sharing a nanny with another family can reduce the cost.

Will my child cope with care in a language they don't speak?

Many young children adapt well, but every child is different. Ask for a gradual start, share a few key words and routines with carers, and give it several weeks before judging.

Want the whole move in the right order? The Global Relocation System takes your family through all five stages, Decide, Prepare, Transit, Arrive and Thrive, with a master checklist, planning templates and a budget tool. See what is inside the system