Overseas Domestic Worker visa

At a Glance

Item	Details
Visa name	Overseas Domestic Worker visa
Stay	Up to 6 months
Cost	£726
Eligibility timing	Apply up to 3 months before travel
Work rights	Full-time domestic work only
Study	Not stated in the source
Medicare	Not stated in the source
Travel facility	Travel abroad and return during stay
Citizenship	Settle after 5 years (pre-April 2012 only)
Family sponsorship	Partner and children under 18 (pre-April 2012)
Visa record	eVisa via UKVI account
Decision time	Within 3 weeks (outside UK)
Public funds	No access permitted
Extensions	Cannot extend (post-5 April 2012 applications)

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Purpose and Overview

The Overseas Domestic Worker visa allows domestic workers living outside the UK to visit the UK with their employer for up to 6 months. Qualifying roles include cleaners, chauffeurs, cooks, nannies, and individuals providing personal care for the employer and their family.

Eligibility Requirements

To qualify, the applicant must:

• Be 19 years of age or older.
• Have worked for their employer for at least 1 year in the same household or one the employer uses regularly.
• Plan to travel to the UK with their employer, the employer's partner, or their children.
• Intend to work full-time in a UK household where the employer will live.
• Plan to leave the UK at the end of the 6-month stay.
• Be able to support themselves in the UK without public funds.

Employer Criteria

The employer must:

• Be a British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and does not intend to remain for more than 6 months, or a foreign citizen visiting the UK for no more than 6 months.
• Pay the worker at least the National Minimum Wage.

Conditions, Rights, and Obligations

• Permitted activities: You can travel abroad and re-enter the UK to complete your 6-month stay, or switch employers to another private household domestic worker role without exceeding the 6-month maximum stay.
• Prohibited activities: You cannot work in non-domestic roles, live in the UK long-term through frequent visits, or claim public funds.
• Employment rights: Employers must not force excessive hours, must provide agreed holiday pay, must honour required notice periods, and cannot change written employment conditions without agreement. Workers can seek free support from the Acas helpline or Kalayaan.

Required Documents

Applicants must provide:

• A valid passport or travel identification.
• Proof of self-support (e.g., bank statements or payslips covering the last 6 months).
• A signed Appendix domestic worker statement.
• An employer letter confirming job title, permanent employment status, and employment duration.
• At least one of the following covering the employment period: salary bank statements/payslips, tax payment confirmation, health insurance records, employment contract, relevant work visa/residence permit, or previous visas showing travel with the employer.
• A certified translation for any documents not in English or Welsh.

How to Apply

1. Submit an online application up to 3 months before travel.
2. Pay the £726 application fee (an extra fee applies if purchasing a faster decision service).
3. Attend an appointment at a visa application centre to provide biometric information (fingerprints and photo).
4. Receive a decision (typically within 3 weeks) and set up a UKVI account to access the digital eVisa.

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Special Provisions

Applications Made On or Before 5 April 2012

Workers who entered under the rules in place on or before 5 April 2012 may extend their stay or apply for permanent settlement.

• Extensions: Apply online for 12 months at a time (£1,407 per person). Must provide an employer continuation letter and signed domestic worker statement.
• Settlement: Apply online after 5 continuous years of full-time domestic work (£3,226 per person). Absences must not exceed 180 days in any 12 consecutive months. Must demonstrate knowledge of English (CEFR level B1, UK degree, Ecctis-assessed English-taught degree, or exempt nationality) and pass the Life in the UK test.
• Dependants: Partners and children under 18 can be included; children over 18 must apply separately.
• Processing & Travel: Standard processing takes 8 weeks; super priority processing is available for £1,000. Warning: Do not travel outside the UK, Ireland, the Channel Islands, or the Isle of Man while an application is pending, or it will be withdrawn.

Victims of Modern Slavery or Human Trafficking

Domestic workers who receive a "conclusive grounds" letter from the Single Competent Authority (SCA) can apply to stay and work in the UK for up to 2 years.

• Application terms: Free of charge; must apply online within 28 days of receiving the conclusive grounds letter (or within 28 days of a refusal if another visa was sought first).
• Work rights: May work in domestic roles and change employers without needing an upfront job offer.