The Portuguese can be described as easy-going, welcoming and polite, known to be willing to go out of their way to help others. People in Portugal respect authority and look to those above them for guidance and decision-making, so your Portuguese au pair will most likely appreciate clear guidelines from her host family. In Portugal, punctuality is not seen as important. In fact, it is polite to arrive five minutes late, so punctuality might not be the au pair’s top priority.

Family is the foundation of the social structure and forms the basis of stability. The extended family is quite close and loyalty to the family comes before other social relationships. Young people stay with their parents until they get married or find a job that enables them to have their own place. Sometimes grandparents live in the same house as the rest of the family. Children are very much appreciated; not only the parents but also the older siblings look very carefully after them. When the parents go out, they normally take their young children with them. That is why Portuguese children go to bed later than they do in countries like the USA.

In Portugal, almost all children under the age of three are looked after by family or informal babysitters. Nurseries and child care centers are not common, which is typical of a country with a lot of financial support for stay-at-home mothers. In general, your Portuguese au pair will have a lot of babysitting experience from looking after her siblings, cousins and other relatives.

In order to obtain your driver’s license in Portugal, one needs to pass a theoretical and driving exam, after a minimum of 32 hours driving practice. People of at least 18 years of age will be allowed to drive. Of course, it is always recommended that you discuss your driving needs when interviewing au pairs.

Education in Portugal is free and compulsory until the age of 18, when students complete the 12th grade. English is an optional subject in elementary school, as of 5th grade all students need to study the English language. In average, the English level of our Portuguese au pairs can be described as good. They usually feel more comfortable with written English, at least at the beginning of the au pair program.