The Overseas Domestic Worker visa allows foreign nationals to accompany their employer to the UK for a short period, up to six months, to carry out their role as a domestic worker in the employer’s private household. Eligible domestic roles include cleaners, chauffeurs, cooks, nannies, carers, and other household support roles.
This guide explains the rules for the Overseas Domestic Worker visa, including who can apply, employer and worker requirements, how to make an application, supporting evidence, fees, rights of visa holders, restrictions, and the different rules that apply to visas granted before and after April 2012.
Section A: Domestic Worker Visa Requirements
Both the domestic worker and their employer must meet specific requirements under the Immigration Rules to qualify for this visa route.
1. Worker Eligibility Requirements
An applicant can qualify for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa if they:
- are aged 19 or over at the date of application
- are employed in their employer’s household
- provide services directly related to running a private household, such as cleaning, cooking, driving, gardening, childcare, or personal care
- have worked for their employer for at least 12 months immediately before applying
- intend to travel to the UK with their employer or the employer’s family members for a visit of no more than six months
- intend to work in the UK for that employer (or another private household if they change employers) for the duration of their stay, and intend to leave the UK at the end of their stay or at the same time as their employer
- can maintain and accommodate themselves in the UK without accessing public funds
Applicants must also not fall for refusal under the general grounds in the Immigration Rules, such as criminality or previous immigration breaches.
2. Employer Requirements
The employer must be either:
- a British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and is visiting the UK for no more than six months, or
- a foreign national who is visiting the UK for no more than six months under the visitor rules.
The employer must not intend to remain in the UK beyond six months. The domestic worker’s stay is limited to the period of the employer’s visit or six months, whichever is shorter.
Section B: Applying for a Domestic Worker Visa
A domestic worker must obtain entry clearance as an Overseas Domestic Worker before travelling. This means they cannot simply arrive at a UK port of entry and ask for permission; the visa must be granted in advance.
Applications can be made up to three months before the intended date of travel. The process is completed online and the applicant must attend a visa application centre outside the UK to provide their biometric information. This will involve having their fingerprints scanned and a digital photograph taken.
Once the application has been submitted and biometric information provided, the Home Office will assess the case against the eligibility requirements. Applicants should not make travel arrangements until a decision has been issued.
Section C: Domestic Worker Visa Supporting Documents
Applicants must provide a range of documents to support their application for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa. These must confirm both their identity and their employment relationship with the overseas employer.
The required documents typically include:
- a valid passport with at least one blank page, or other acceptable travel document proving identity and nationality
- evidence of employment in the employer’s household, such as a contract of employment
- proof that the employer will be staying in the UK temporarily, for example a visa or evidence of residence overseas
- financial evidence to show the worker can support themselves without recourse to public funds
- a letter from the employer confirming employment within their household, how long the worker has been employed, and that employment is ongoing
- two copies of a signed written agreement setting out the terms and conditions of employment in the UK
To demonstrate that they meet the 12-month employment requirement, the applicant should provide one or more of the following:
- bank statements or payslips showing salary payments
- confirmation of tax paid
- confirmation of health insurance contributions
- a copy of the current employment contract
- residence permits or visas confirming lawful residence and work overseas with the employer
- evidence of previous travel with the employer, such as visa stamps or endorsements
Where documents are not in English or Welsh, certified translations must also be provided. Additional evidence may be requested depending on the applicant’s circumstances.
| Document | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Valid Passport | Confirms identity and nationality; allows international travel. |
| Employment Contract | Evidence of employment as a domestic worker in the household. |
| Proof of Employer’s Stay | Shows the employer is visiting the UK temporarily. |
| Financial Documents | Demonstrates the worker can maintain themselves without public funds. |
| Biometric Information | Fingerprints and photograph used for identity verification. |
Section D: Application Fees & Processing Times
The Home Office fee for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa application is £682 when applying with standard processing. Standard service typically takes around three weeks from the date the applicant provides their biometric information at an overseas visa application centre. Actual timelines can vary depending on local demand and case complexity.
Faster decision services may be available in some locations for an additional fee. The priority service aims to provide a decision within five working days for an additional £500, and the super priority service aims to provide a decision by the end of the next working day for an additional £1,000. These expedited timescales run from the date biometrics are enrolled, not from the online form submission date.
Applicants should note that service availability can differ by country and visa application centre, and published timescales are not guaranteed. Travel should not be booked until a decision has been received.
Because this visa is granted for a period of less than six months, the Immigration Health Surcharge is not payable for this route. Fees are payable online as part of the application process, and the applicant will also book their biometric appointment during the process.
Section E: Rights & Responsibilities
Overseas Domestic Workers have specific rights and obligations while in the UK. These sit alongside the limits of the visa, including the six-month maximum stay and the requirement to work only in a private household.
1. Employment Rights
- Pay and conditions: You are entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage and to statutory rights such as paid annual leave, rest breaks, and limits on working time, unless a valid exemption applies.
- Written terms: You should receive a written statement of the main terms of employment (such as pay, hours, and duties). Terms must not be changed without your consent.
- Documents: You have the right to keep your own passport and employment contract. No one can lawfully take or retain your documents.
- Protection from abuse: You are protected from forced labour, exploitation, and abuse. If you are at risk or believe you are a victim of modern slavery or human trafficking, you can seek help from the authorities and support services.
2. Work Conditions and Changing Employer
- Type of work: You may work only as a domestic worker in a private household. You cannot take other forms of employment or work for a business.
- Changing employer: You may change employer while in the UK, provided you continue to work as a domestic worker in a private household and you do not stay beyond the six-month limit of your visa.
- Public funds: You must maintain and accommodate yourself without recourse to public funds.
- Travel: You may travel abroad and return to the UK within your permitted period to complete your stay, provided your visa conditions and entry clearance remain valid.
3. Employer Responsibilities
- Ensure pay meets or exceeds the National Minimum Wage and that lawful deductions (if any) are clearly explained.
- Provide clear written terms of employment and keep accurate records of hours and pay.
- Respect the worker’s rights, including the right to keep personal documents, and ensure a safe working and living environment.
- Co-operate with UK authorities in the event of any safeguarding or labour standards enquiries.
4. Restrictions and Compliance
- You cannot extend your stay beyond six months under the post-2012 Overseas Domestic Worker route.
- You cannot bring dependants under this visa category.
- You cannot switch into another immigration category from within the UK under this route; any new application must be made from outside the UK unless another route expressly allows in-country applications.
- Breaching your visa conditions may affect future UK immigration applications.
Section F: Extending an Overseas Domestic Worker Visa
The maximum period of stay for an Overseas Domestic Worker under the current rules is six months. Visa holders must leave the UK at or before the end of this period, or at the same time as their employer if earlier.
1. Post-2012 Overseas Domestic Worker route
Visas granted under the current Overseas Domestic Worker route (i.e., applied for after 5 April 2012) cannot be extended from within the UK. A worker who wishes to return for a further short visit must apply again for entry clearance from outside the UK. The Home Office assesses each application on its facts, including whether the pattern of travel indicates an attempt to live in the UK through frequent or successive visits.
- No in-country extension is permitted under the post-2012 route.
- Fresh entry clearance may be sought from overseas for a new, short visit accompanying the employer.
- Applicants should avoid patterns suggesting de facto residence in the UK via repeated visits.
- Dependants are not permitted under the post-2012 Overseas Domestic Worker route.
2. Domestic Worker visas issued on or before 5 April 2012
Different, more generous rules apply to individuals who were granted a domestic worker in a private household visa on or before 5 April 2012 and have remained in the UK with continuous permission. Subject to meeting the applicable requirements, they may:
- apply to extend their stay in 12-month increments as a full-time domestic worker
- bring a partner and children under 18 as dependants
- apply for settlement (indefinite leave to remain) after five years’ continuous lawful residence as a full-time domestic worker
An extension application will usually require a letter from the employer confirming that employment will continue and a signed statement of terms consistent with the relevant domestic worker requirements.
To qualify for settlement under the pre-2012 route, applicants generally must demonstrate that they:
- have completed at least five years’ continuous lawful residence in the UK as a full-time domestic worker
- hold valid permission as a domestic worker at the time of applying for settlement
- have not been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during the qualifying period
- have maintained and accommodated themselves and any dependants without recourse to public funds throughout the qualifying period
- meet the Knowledge of English and Life in the UK (KoLL) requirement (and any partner applying at the same time must also meet KoLL)
Documentary evidence will normally include a current letter from the employer confirming ongoing employment and proof of satisfying the KoLL requirement for any adult applicants.
Section G: Summary
The Overseas Domestic Worker visa is a short-stay route that allows a domestic worker to accompany their overseas employer to the UK for up to six months. To qualify, the worker must be aged 19 or over, have worked for the same employer for at least 12 months, and intend to work only in a private household during the visit. The employer must be visiting the UK and not intending to remain beyond six months. Applications are made from outside the UK with biometrics and supporting evidence.
Visa holders have core UK employment protections, including National Minimum Wage and safeguards against exploitation. They may change employer while in the UK provided they continue working as a domestic worker in a private household and do not exceed the six-month limit. There is no access to public funds, no in-country extension under post-2012 rules, and no dependants under this route. Different provisions apply to those granted a domestic worker visa on or before 5 April 2012, including potential extensions and settlement after five years.
Section H: Need Assistance?
If you are preparing an Overseas Domestic Worker visa application, consider obtaining advice from a suitably regulated UK immigration adviser or solicitor. A professional can review eligibility, ensure documents meet the evidential standards set out in the Immigration Rules, and help address any risks of refusal before submission. If you have immediate safeguarding concerns or believe exploitation is occurring, seek support from the relevant UK authorities and specialist organisations without delay.
Section I: Domestic Worker Visa FAQs
Who is eligible to apply for a UK Domestic Worker Visa?
To be eligible, you must be employed as a domestic worker in a private household, be aged 19 or over, and have worked for your employer for at least 12 months. You must also show that you can maintain and accommodate yourself without public funds and intend to leave the UK at the end of your stay.
How long can I stay in the UK on a Domestic Worker Visa?
The maximum stay under the Overseas Domestic Worker visa is six months. You cannot extend a post-2012 Overseas Domestic Worker visa from within the UK. Only workers granted a visa on or before 5 April 2012 may extend their stay or apply for settlement if they meet the relevant requirements.
What documents are required for the application?
Key documents include a valid passport, an employment contract, proof of your employer’s temporary stay in the UK, financial evidence showing you can support yourself, and biometric information. You must also provide evidence of having worked for your employer for at least 12 months, such as payslips, bank statements, or tax records.
How much does it cost to apply for a Domestic Worker Visa?
The application fee is currently £682. Because the visa is for less than six months, the Immigration Health Surcharge is not payable. Optional priority and super priority services may be available at additional cost for faster decisions.
Can I switch employers while on a Domestic Worker Visa?
Yes. You may change employers during your stay provided you continue to work as a domestic worker in a private household and do not remain in the UK beyond the six-month limit.
Can my family accompany me to the UK?
No. Dependants are not permitted under the post-2012 Overseas Domestic Worker visa. Each family member must qualify and apply for their own visa if they wish to come to the UK.
What rights do I have as a domestic worker in the UK?
You are entitled to at least the National Minimum Wage, statutory paid leave, safe working conditions, and to retain your personal documents. You are also protected under UK law from abuse, exploitation, or forced labour.
How can I extend my Domestic Worker Visa?
Only those who applied on or before 5 April 2012 can extend their visa. Post-2012 Overseas Domestic Worker visas cannot be extended; a new application must be made from overseas for any further visits.
What should I do if my visa application is refused?
If refused, you may be able to request an administrative review if eligible or submit a fresh application addressing the reasons for refusal. Legal advice can help assess your options and the best course of action.
Section J: Glossary
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Overseas Domestic Worker Visa | A visa allowing domestic workers to accompany their employer to the UK for up to six months to work in a private household. |
| Eligibility Criteria | The conditions an applicant and their employer must meet to qualify for the visa, including age, employment history, and intention to return. |
| Entry Clearance | Permission granted overseas before travelling to the UK, required for this visa route. |
| Supporting Documents | Evidence required to prove eligibility, such as passports, contracts, payslips, and proof of employment. |
| Application Fee | The cost payable to the Home Office when submitting a visa application. |
| Processing Time | The period taken by the Home Office to make a decision on a visa application, usually around three weeks for standard service. |
| National Minimum Wage | The minimum hourly pay that most workers in the UK are entitled to by law. |
| Public Funds | State benefits and services funded by the UK Government, which are not accessible to Overseas Domestic Worker visa holders. |
| KoLL Requirement | Knowledge of English and Life in the UK, a requirement for settlement applications under the pre-2012 rules. |
| Administrative Review | A process allowing applicants to challenge a visa refusal decision if they believe it was made in error. |
| Dependants | Family members who may rely on the visa holder for support. Post-2012 Overseas Domestic Worker visas do not permit dependants. |
Section K: Additional Resources
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| UK Government – Overseas Domestic Worker Visa Guidance | https://www.gov.uk/domestic-workers-in-a-private-household-visa |
| Check if You Need a UK Visa | https://www.gov.uk/check-uk-visa |
| Financial Requirement Guidance | https://www.gov.uk/uk-family-visa/provide-your-financial-details |
| Immigration Health Surcharge | https://www.gov.uk/healthcare-immigration-application |
| Your Rights as a Domestic Worker | https://www.gov.uk/domestic-workers-in-a-private-household-visa/your-rights-and-protections |
| National Minimum Wage and Living Wage Rates | https://www.gov.uk/national-minimum-wage-rates |
| DavidsonMorris – Domestic Worker Visa Guide | https://www.davidsonmorris.com/domestic-worker-visa/ |
| Xpats.io – Domestic Worker Visa Guide | https://www.xpats.io/domestic-worker-visa/ |
