Nanny Agency Hong Kong · For Expat Families
Lumière is the private nanny agency trusted by expat families across Hong Kong, The Peak, Mid-Levels, Happy Valley, Repulse Bay, Clearwater Bay, Discovery Bay, plus Macau. Live-in, live-out, rota, governess and maternity-nurse placements. English, Mandarin, Cantonese and French. Fully vetted. Visa-supported.
Find Your NannyFinding a Hong Kong nanny who truly understands expat family dynamics and international education is challenging. A Hong Kong nanny from Lumière is fluent in English, often speaks Mandarin, and has proven experience supporting multicultural families across the SAR. Every Hong Kong nanny we place brings verified background checks, understanding of Hong Kong schools, and cultural sensitivity across neighborhoods from Central to The Peak and throughout Kowloon.
Hong Kong's expat community requires a unique approach to childcare. Families need nannies who bridge cultures, support international education, speak English fluently, often understand Mandarin, and navigate the fast-paced lifestyle of Asia's most dynamic city. Lumière serves Hong Kong's neighborhoods with uncompromising standards for professionally vetted childcare specialists.
International families in Hong Kong require childcare professionals who understand their unique circumstances. Our nannies are experienced with international family dynamics, familiar with Hong Kong's top international schools (ISF, ESF, DIS, HKIS), and comfortable navigating the blend of English and Mandarin education.
We serve families in prestigious neighborhoods including the Peak, Mid-Levels, Repulse Bay, Deep Water Bay, Discovery Bay, Clearwater Bay, and throughout Kowloon and the New Territories. Each neighborhood has distinct community dynamics, and our nannies understand local family networks, schools, and lifestyle expectations.
Matching nannies with Hong Kong families requires understanding both the expat experience and Hong Kong's unique childcare landscape. We invest time understanding your family's background, children's schools, language preferences, and lifestyle expectations.
Background checks, reference verification, credential review, and assessment of international experience ensure professional qualifications and cultural competency.
Evaluation of bilingual proficiency, accent clarity, educational approach, and ability to support children in both English and Mandarin Chinese contexts.
We understand your children's school, language goals, cultural values, neighborhood community, and expectations for international education support.
We assess compatibility with your family dynamics, expat background, lifestyle, and values to ensure genuine cultural and personal fit.
Hong Kong families often encounter the terms "helper," "maid," and "nanny" interchangeably, but these roles serve fundamentally different purposes. Understanding this distinction is crucial when seeking professional childcare.
Hong Kong's traditional "helper" system, predominantly staffed by workers from the Philippines and Indonesia, typically focuses on domestic labor, cooking, cleaning, and basic childminding. These workers often arrive on specific Foreign Domestic Worker visas, come from non-English-speaking backgrounds, and generally have not received formal childcare training.
While helpers provide valuable domestic support, they typically do not possess the educational background, child development expertise, or language proficiency required for sophisticated childcare, educational support, or international school liaison. Many families employ both a helper (for domestic work) and a nanny (for professional childcare) to distinguish responsibilities.
Hong Kong's most prestigious residential areas. Families here often maintain international careers, multiple properties, and seek nannies with sophisticated childcare expertise and cultural understanding. Our Peak and Mid-Levels nannies are familiar with these exclusive neighborhoods' community networks and international school dominance.
These beach communities attract international families seeking a more relaxed yet sophisticated lifestyle. Our nannies in these areas understand the balance between active outdoor living and professional childcare standards.
Newer development communities popular with expat families. These neighborhoods prioritize international schools, community activities, and family-oriented amenities. Our nannies here are experienced with younger expat families establishing roots in Hong Kong.
Our service extends throughout Kowloon Tong, Shatin, and emerging neighborhoods across Hong Kong Island and the New Territories. We match nannies familiar with your specific area, local schools, and community lifestyle.
Our dedicated team understands Hong Kong's expat community and is ready to connect you with a professionally vetted nanny who becomes a trusted part of your family. Let's find the perfect match for your unique needs.
Start Your SearchVetting & compliance
Hong Kong career-nanny placements — distinct from the Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) system — run under the General Employment Policy with declared employment.
Lumière places professional Western career nannies under Hong Kong's General Employment Policy — distinct from the FDH visa. Employer-sponsored, declared employment from day one.
Home-country criminal record check plus CNCC where applicable. References verified with prior private-household employers.
Mandatory Provident Fund contributions and Hong Kong tax handled correctly through declared employment contracts.
Current Hong Kong St. John Ambulance or Red Cross paediatric first aid + CPR certification.
Mandarin- and Cantonese-speaking career nannies placed alongside English fluency, matched to the child's school curriculum (CDNIS, ESF, Chinese International).
Lumière advises families clearly on the distinction between an FDH placement and a professional career-nanny placement — different visa, salary band and scope.
Declared employment. All Hong Kong placements run under the General Employment Policy with declared MPF and tax compliance. Lumière does not place undeclared nannies.
The Lumière difference
"I founded Lumière because the families I worked for kept asking the same question: where do we find another nanny like you? I still take private placements. Every nanny I place is one I would work alongside."
Hanna founded Lumière Placements in Monaco in 2024 after years inside private households as a career nanny. She continues to take selected private placements alongside leading the agency — a working-nanny perspective that shapes every shortlist Lumière puts forward. Lumière is the only Monaco-headquartered boutique placement agency founded and led by an active working career nanny.