English-speaking nanny in Lisbon: how to find and vet the right person
By Alma Circle
Updated
Finding an English-speaking nanny in Lisbon is not mainly a language search. The harder part is finding someone whose availability, childcare experience, communication style and working expectations fit the family you actually have.
Treat the search like a small hiring process. Define the job before you post it, use more than one discovery route, verify experience yourself and do a paid trial before making a long-term commitment.
The short answer
Use three routes in parallel: a Lisbon-based nanny agency, a current childcare platform and trusted parent referrals. Ask every candidate the same questions, speak directly to references and see the nanny with your child before deciding.
English fluency is useful, but it should sit beside reliability, judgement, warmth, age-specific experience and the ability to communicate clearly when something goes wrong.
Define the role before you start searching
A full-time nanny, an after-school nanny, a babysitter and a family assistant are different jobs. If you write 'nanny' but expect cooking, laundry, school runs, errands and flexible evenings, candidates will interpret the role differently and the mismatch will appear later.
Write down the fixed hours, children's ages, location, driving requirement, languages, childcare duties, household duties and how often you expect schedule changes. This also makes agency or platform searches much faster.
- Childcare only or childcare plus household support.
- Live-out or live-in.
- Fixed weekly hours or variable schedule.
- Baby, toddler or school-age experience required.
- Driving, swimming or school-run responsibilities.
- English level needed for children, parents and emergencies.
Where families currently look in Lisbon
There are several active routes. Lisbon-based agencies such as +One and Nannies of Lisbon currently offer long-term and temporary nanny matching, while platforms such as Babysits provide a broader marketplace of caregivers and agencies.
These are discovery channels, not endorsements. Read each provider's current screening process, fees and replacement policy, then do your own reference and fit checks rather than outsourcing the final decision completely.
How to vet beyond the profile
Ask for two recent childcare references and speak to at least one person by phone. Ask what the nanny did on an ordinary difficult day, how reliable the schedule was and why the placement ended. Generic praise tells you less than a concrete example.
Portugal also has an official criminal-record certificate system. A candidate can obtain their own certificate, and an adult may request another person's certificate with that person's authorisation under the official procedure. Check current requirements and validity rather than accepting an old screenshot.
- Verify identity and right to work.
- Ask for recent, contactable family references.
- Discuss first-aid training and real emergency scenarios.
- Check the criminal-record certificate through the official route when appropriate.
- Ask how the nanny handles separation, boundaries, meals, sleep and conflict at the child's actual age.
Use a paid trial to test the ordinary day
Do not design a trial around an unusually fun outing. Let the candidate see the real routine: snack, getting dressed, playground, lunch, nap transition or school pickup. You are testing how the relationship feels when there is friction, not whether everyone can enjoy an hour at the park.
Stay nearby for the first part, then create a small period where the nanny takes the lead. Afterwards, compare notes on what the child needed, what felt difficult and how each of you would handle the next session.
Agree the employment setup before the first regular week
If you are directly employing someone in Portugal, do not leave the administrative setup until later. Portuguese government guidance requires employers to communicate the hiring of domestic-service workers to Social Security, and broader employer obligations can apply depending on the arrangement.
A nanny's exact employment classification depends on the real relationship and duties, so use the current Social Security guidance and get professional advice if you are unsure. Put hours, pay, holidays, duties, notice and confidentiality expectations in writing.
The English question is more nuanced than fluent or not
For some families, the nanny is the child's main English exposure. For others, English is simply the shared language between adults. Those are different requirements.
During interviews, ask candidates to explain a real childcare situation in English rather than relying on a self-rated level. You need to know whether you can discuss medication instructions, an accident, a difficult behaviour or a change of plan without ambiguity.
Where can I find an English-speaking nanny in Lisbon?
Families commonly use Lisbon nanny agencies, childcare platforms and parent referrals. Use more than one route, then vet references and fit yourself before hiring.
Should I ask a nanny in Portugal for a criminal-record certificate?
It is a reasonable safeguarding check for childcare. Portugal has an official criminal-record certificate service; use the current government process and obtain the candidate's consent where required.
Should I do a trial before hiring a nanny?
Yes. A paid trial in your real routine gives much better information than an interview alone, especially for babies and toddlers.
Do I need to register a nanny with Portuguese Social Security?
If the arrangement makes you the employer, Portuguese employment and Social Security obligations can apply. The exact classification depends on the setup, so verify the current rules before the regular placement begins.