How to Hire a Nanny or Maid in Bangkok: A Step-by-Step Guide for First-Time Expat Families

"I want to hire a nanny, but I have no idea where to begin." It's the question we hear most often from families who've just arrived in Bangkok — and it's completely understandable. Hiring help at home works differently here than it does in Japan, the US, or Europe, so a little uncertainty at the start is normal.

The good news: once you break it down, it's very manageable. This guide walks you through the whole process, one step at a time, so you can move forward with confidence.

Before you start looking, take a few minutes to write down exactly what you'd like help with. The clearer you are here, the easier every step that follows becomes — and the less likely you are to end up with a mismatch.

Think through:

• Childcare — how many children, and what ages?
• Housework — cleaning, laundry, cooking? How much of each?
• Hours and schedule — full-time, part-time, or live-in?
• Language — do you need English, or is Thai-only fine for your family?
• Driving — will they need to drive?
• Cooking — Thai food only, or Japanese and Western dishes too?

Writing this out gives you a clear picture of the person you're looking for, and it becomes your checklist during interviews.

There are three common ways expat families find help in Bangkok. Many families use a combination.

Through an agency or platform (easiest for first-timers)

Using a service like HelloNanny lets you browse candidate profiles, message people directly in the app, and arrange interviews before you commit to anything. It's the most beginner-friendly route because you can compare several candidates in one place and get support with the language barrier and paperwork along the way.

Facebook groups

Bangkok's expat community groups are full of nanny and maid job posts. It can work well, but remember that with this route you're responsible for checking references and background yourself — there's no middle layer doing it for you.

Word of mouth

A referral from a friend you trust is often the lowest-risk option. The one thing to keep in mind: if the fit doesn't work out, it can feel a little awkward with the friend who introduced you.

Once you've found a promising candidate, ask for identification. What's appropriate depends on their nationality:

• For Thai nationals: a copy of their Thai national ID card (บัตรประจำตัวประชาชน). A copy of their house registration (ทะเบียนบ้าน / *tabien baan*) is a nice-to-have.
• For non-Thai staff: many domestic workers in Thailand are from Myanmar and won't have a Thai ID or house registration — for them, a copy of their passport and work permit (ใบอนุญาตทำงาน) is the standard.
• A reference letter from a previous employer, if they have one
• A police clearance / criminal record check (ใบรับรองความประพฤติ) — optional, but many families ask for it for peace of mind

A police background check isn't automatic — it's requested from the Royal Thai Police and takes some time and a small fee. If it matters to you, ask an agency whether they can help arrange one.

At HelloNanny we recommend starting with a video interview. It's faster and safer than arranging home visits, lets you talk to several candidates in a short time, and — with real-time in-app translation — takes the language barrier out of the conversation. Meet in person only the ones who feel right on video.

Questions worth asking:

• What did you do in your previous job, and why did you leave?
• What ages of children have you cared for?
• What kinds of meals can you cook? *(A quick cooking demo can be very telling.)*
• How would you handle an emergency?
• What salary are you hoping for, and when could you start?

And trust your instincts. How a candidate speaks and reacts on video already tells you a lot — and if your children are nearby, see how she responds to them on screen.

Before making it official, a trial period of two weeks to one month lets both sides see whether it's a good fit. You still pay wages during the trial.

A gentle way to structure it:

• Week 1: stay home and work alongside them, showing how you like things done.
• From week 2: gradually give them more time handling things on their own.
• Before the trial ends: sit down together for honest feedback, both ways.

A handshake is easy to misremember later. It doesn't have to be a formal contract — even a simple written note of what you've both agreed goes a long way. This is something you and your nanny set up directly, and it's a good idea to put these points in writing:

• Working days and hours
• Salary amount and payday
• Scope of duties — what's included, and what isn't
• Days off and paid-leave arrangements
• Notice period for resignation or termination
• For live-in staff: room conditions and whether meals are provided

Plenty of families keep it informal, but even a short written summary heads off the vast majority of misunderstandings before they happen.

This is the part first-time employers most often get wrong, so it's worth reading carefully.

Social security: Unlike employees in most other jobs, domestic workers in Thailand are excluded from the mandatory Social Security (ประกันสังคม) system. In other words, you are generally *not* required to enroll a household nanny or maid in social security. (Thai domestic workers may still access public healthcare through the Universal Coverage "gold card" scheme; foreign domestic workers are covered through the health insurance obtained with their work permit.)

What the law sets out — the facts. The following are Thailand's legal standards for domestic workers. These are the law, not our opinion. By law, your employee is entitled to:

• At least one day off per week (no more than six days between rest days)
• 13 paid public/traditional holidays per year (including 1 May, Labour Day)
• 6 days of paid annual leave after one year of continuous work
• Up to 30 days of paid sick leave per year (a medical certificate is needed for absences of three or more consecutive days)
• Double pay for any work done on a public holiday
• Wages paid at least monthly, in Thai baht

One more legal fact on pay: since 2024, domestic workers are entitled to at least the legal minimum wage (around 400 THB/day in Bangkok as of 2026).

And here is our recommendation — kept separate from the law above. Meeting those legal minimums is the baseline. Beyond that, treating your nanny fairly is simply the surest way to keep a good one, and the further conditions fall short of the standards above, the more turnover you tend to see. We'd suggest paying a fair market rate above the minimum (see our salary guide), and — following common local practice — giving one month's notice when employment ends (or one month's pay in lieu), then settling any outstanding wages promptly.

⚠️ Laws and regulations can change, and every household's situation is a little different. Treat this as a helpful overview, not legal advice — for anything specific, it's worth confirming with a professional.

The first time you hire feels daunting, but it really does come down to taking it one step at a time: know what you need, meet a few people, trial the fit, write it down, and treat your employee fairly. Do that, and you're setting up a relationship that can genuinely change your family's daily life for the better.

If you'd like a hand finding the right person, HelloNanny is here to support you from the first search all the way through to settling in.

👉 Talk to us about finding a nanny in Bangkok — a free consultation is just a message away