UK Domestic Worker Visa Guide 2025

Section A: What is the Domestic Worker Visa?

The Overseas Domestic Worker visa allows an individual to accompany their employer to the UK in order to continue providing domestic services in a private household. The route is designed for workers such as housekeepers, cleaners, cooks, chauffeurs, gardeners or carers who have been employed by the same employer for at least 12 months before applying.

Holders of this visa are permitted to live in the UK for up to six months, or until the end of their employer’s visit if sooner. During this time, they must remain employed by the same employer and carry out the same type of domestic work they were employed to do before travelling.

The visa is strictly temporary and does not provide a pathway to settlement in the UK. Workers cannot extend their permission beyond six months under the current rules, nor can they switch to another immigration category while in the UK. They must leave the UK at the end of their stay and can only apply again from overseas if they wish to return on a future visit.

1. Rights & Responsibilities

Domestic workers who are granted an Overseas Domestic Worker visa are allowed to live in the UK for up to six months while continuing to work for the same employer they were employed by overseas. They must remain employed in the same type of domestic role within the private household and cannot take on other work or change employers under the current rules introduced after April 2012. At the end of the permitted stay, they must leave the UK with their employer or when their visa expires, whichever is sooner.

a. Employment Rights

While in the UK, overseas domestic workers are entitled to the same core employment rights as other UK-based workers. These include the right to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage, paid annual leave, and protection under UK health and safety laws. Employers should provide a written statement of terms and conditions covering working hours, pay and other arrangements. Any changes to these terms must be agreed by the worker and cannot be imposed unilaterally.

Employers must not retain workers’ passports or documents, and workers must be free to leave their employment at any time. Exploitation, threats or coercion are unlawful and may amount to modern slavery or human trafficking. Employers who mistreat domestic workers risk criminal investigation and prosecution, as well as immigration enforcement action.

b. Protections from Exploitation

Domestic workers must not be forced to work excessive hours, or made to carry out duties outside of their agreed role under threat, coercion or violence. Examples of unlawful treatment include forcing someone to work for free or for less than the minimum wage, taking their wages, restricting their movement, or pressuring them into marriage. Workers who are victims of such abuse are encouraged to seek help from the police, the Home Office or specialist charities. Confirmed victims of modern slavery may be offered protection and support under the UK’s National Referral Mechanism.

c. Restrictions on Visa Holders

There are strict conditions attached to the Overseas Domestic Worker visa. Workers must not take up any other type of employment or work outside of a private household. The visa cannot be used as a means to live in the UK for extended periods through repeated visits. Holders cannot extend their permission beyond six months and cannot switch into another immigration category from within the UK. Access to public funds such as benefits or local authority housing is prohibited under this visa.

2. Dependants

Dependants are not permitted to join or accompany a domestic worker under this visa. Each individual family member would need to qualify and apply for their own visa if they wish to travel to the UK. This contrasts with the pre-April 2012 domestic worker visa rules, under which dependants could be included and longer-term rights, including settlement, were available.

Section B: Domestic Worker Visa Requirements

Both the worker and their employer must satisfy strict eligibility requirements to qualify for the Overseas Domestic Worker visa. These criteria are designed to ensure the arrangement is genuine, temporary and that the individual will return home at the end of their stay.

1. Worker Eligibility Requirements

An individual may apply for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa if they can demonstrate all of the following:

a. they are aged 19 or over on the date of application

b. they are employed within their employer’s private household

c. their role involves providing personal services relating to the running of the household, such as housekeeper, cleaner, cook, chauffeur or gardener, or providing personal care to a family member, such as a nanny or carer

d. they have been employed by their current employer for a continuous period of at least 12 months immediately prior to the application

e. they intend to travel to the UK with their employer, or a member of the employer’s family, on a visit that is not expected to exceed six months

f. they will continue to work for their employer in the UK as a full-time domestic worker and will leave at the same time as their employer, or at the end of six months, whichever is sooner

g. they can maintain and accommodate themselves in the UK without recourse to public funds

Applicants must also meet the general grounds for entry clearance and satisfy the Home Office that they will leave the UK at the end of their visit. Failure to evidence continuous employment with the same employer for at least 12 months is a common reason for refusal.

2. Employer Requirements

The employer must be either:

a. a British citizen who is normally resident outside the UK and does not intend to remain in the UK for longer than six months, or

b. a foreign national who is visiting the UK for a short stay and does not intend to remain in the UK for longer than six months.

The employer’s main home must be outside the UK. They cannot use this route to base themselves in the UK for extended periods, and the worker’s visa will always be tied to the employer’s visit. UK-based permanent residents cannot use this route to employ domestic staff long-term.

Section C: Application Process, Supporting Documents, Fees & Processing Times

Applications for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa must be made before travel to the UK. The process is detailed and requires both the worker and the employer to provide clear evidence that all eligibility requirements are met. Any gaps in documentation or inconsistencies can result in refusal, so careful preparation is essential.

1. Application Process

The application must be submitted online from outside the UK, up to three months before the intended date of travel. Once the form is completed and the visa fee paid, the applicant will be required to attend a visa application centre overseas. At this appointment, they will provide biometric information including a photograph and fingerprint scans. Supporting evidence must also be uploaded or presented to confirm that the applicant has been employed by the same employer for at least 12 consecutive months immediately before applying, and that the arrangement will continue in the UK.

After the application has been lodged, the Home Office will assess the evidence provided. The visa, if granted, is issued as a vignette in the applicant’s passport allowing entry to the UK for up to six months, or until the end of the employer’s visit if sooner.

2. Supporting Documents

The applicant must submit a full set of documents proving their identity, their role, their employment history, and their ability to support themselves in the UK without recourse to public funds. These will usually include:

• a valid passport with at least one blank page
• a letter from the employer confirming the worker’s employment in their household, the length of service (minimum 12 months) and confirmation that the employment will continue in the UK
• two signed copies of an employment agreement between worker and employer, setting out terms and conditions for work in the UK
• proof of financial means to support themselves without accessing public funds

Additional evidence will usually be required to prove the 12 months’ continuous employment with the same employer. Depending on the applicant’s situation, this may include payslips, bank statements showing salary payments, tax or social security records, employment contracts, residence permits, work visas, or evidence of previous travel with the employer. Documents not in English or Welsh must be accompanied by certified translations.

3. Supporting Documents Summary Table

4. Application Fees

The fee for applying for an Overseas Domestic Worker visa is £682. This is a fixed fee and is payable at the point of online submission. Overseas Domestic Workers are not required to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge and do not have access to the NHS beyond emergency treatment. Employers are expected to cover private medical insurance or related healthcare costs during the worker’s stay.

5. Processing Times

Standard processing times are around three weeks from the date of the biometric appointment. However, timescales vary depending on the visa application centre and seasonal demand. Faster services may be available:

• Priority Service: additional £500 fee, decision usually within 5 working days of biometrics
• Super Priority Service: additional £1000 fee, decision usually by the end of the next working day after biometrics

Not all overseas application centres offer faster services, and availability may be limited. Applicants should confirm what services are offered locally before relying on a faster option. If a decision cannot be made within the advertised timescale, the fee will not be refunded, but the application will continue to be processed.

Read more about UK visa application processing times here >>

Section D: After the Domestic Worker Visa

The Overseas Domestic Worker visa is a short-term route. The maximum stay is six months, and holders must leave the UK at the end of this period or when their employer departs, whichever comes first. For visas granted under the rules introduced after 6 April 2012, there is no option to extend the visa from within the UK and no direct pathway to Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR). A worker may reapply for another visa from overseas, but repeated or successive applications risk refusal if the Home Office considers the route is being used to try to live in the UK long term.

1. Extensions and Reapplications

Post-2012 Overseas Domestic Worker visas cannot be extended. Once the six-month period expires, the worker must leave the UK. A fresh application can be made from outside the UK if the worker wishes to return with the same employer, but each application will be assessed on its own merits. Frequent or back-to-back applications raise concerns that the worker is trying to establish residence in the UK, which will almost always result in refusal.

2. Switching into Other Visa Categories

Holders of the Overseas Domestic Worker visa cannot switch into other UK immigration routes from inside the country. To pursue an alternative visa, such as a work, family or study visa, the applicant would need to leave the UK and apply from overseas, meeting the eligibility criteria in full for the new route. In practice, switching options for domestic workers are limited because roles in private households rarely qualify for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker visa unless they fall within specific eligible job codes at the required salary threshold.

3. Settlement (ILR)

Settlement is not available to those who entered the UK on a domestic worker visa under the post-2012 rules. They cannot use time spent on this visa to build towards ILR. The only group able to apply for settlement are those who were granted a domestic worker in a private household visa on or before 5 April 2012 and who have remained in the UK lawfully since then. ILR applications are made under Appendix Domestic Worker in a Private Household (transitional provisions).

4. Domestic Worker Visas Issued on or before 5 April 2012

The rules governing the Domestic Worker visa changed significantly on 6 April 2012. Applicants granted a visa before this date continue to benefit from more generous provisions, while all applications made after are subject to stricter conditions. This distinction is important because the rights and options for those who entered prior to April 2012 are very different from those available to current visa holders. For most new applicants, the visa is a strictly temporary six-month route with no progression to settlement. For the small number of pre-2012 workers who remain lawfully in the UK, the earlier rules still apply, including rights to extend, change employers and, in some cases, settle permanently.

Workers admitted under the pre-2012 rules retain more generous rights. They can apply to extend their visa in 12-month increments, change employers within the UK and bring dependants such as a spouse or children under 18. They may also qualify for ILR if they meet the following criteria:

• they have lived lawfully in the UK for at least five continuous years as a domestic worker
• they hold valid permission as a domestic worker when they apply
• they have not been absent from the UK for more than 180 days in any 12-month period during those five years
• they and any dependants have been able to maintain and accommodate themselves without public funds
• they meet the Knowledge of Life in the UK and English language requirement (KoLL requirement)

Applicants under this category must provide confirmation from their employer that the employment is continuing, alongside evidence of meeting the KoLL requirement if applying for ILR. Where dependants are applying, they must also demonstrate that they meet the KoLL requirement.

5. Alternative Routes to Remain in the UK

For domestic workers who entered under the post-2012 rules, there is no built-in progression to long-term or permanent status. If the individual wishes to remain in the UK beyond the six months, they would need to qualify for another visa in a different category. This might include:

• Skilled Worker visa – available if the role falls under an eligible occupation code, the worker secures sponsorship from a licensed employer, and the salary threshold is met
• Family visa – possible if the worker has a qualifying family relationship with a British citizen or settled person
• Student visa – if the worker intends to study and meets course and financial requirements

Each of these routes has strict eligibility criteria and usually requires applying from outside the UK. Domestic workers and employers should plan well ahead if longer-term residence or continued employment in the UK is an objective.

Section E: Summary

The Overseas Domestic Worker visa is available in only specific limited circumstances. As such, applicants must ensure they meet all of the eligibility requirements and provide sufficient evidence to support this, to avoid visa refusal.

The Overseas Domestic Worker visa is a narrowly defined immigration route, designed only for workers who have been employed in the same private household for at least 12 months and who are accompanying their employer on a temporary visit to the UK. The visa is granted for a maximum of six months and does not lead to permanent residence. It cannot be extended, and holders are not permitted to switch into another immigration category while in the UK. Dependants cannot accompany the worker under the post-2012 rules, making this a strictly individual visa route.

Because the criteria are restrictive and the evidential burden is high, careful preparation is critical. The Home Office will expect to see clear proof of continuous employment, a genuine and ongoing arrangement with the employer, and sufficient financial means for the worker to support themselves during their stay. Weak or incomplete evidence is likely to result in refusal. Employers and workers who hope to continue the relationship long term must plan ahead for alternative immigration options, as this visa cannot be relied on for anything beyond a single short-term assignment.

Section F: Need Assistance?

DavidsonMorris are UK immigration specialists. To avoid issues with your application and gaining entry to the UK to continue to perform your role, contact us.

Section G: Domestic Worker Visa FAQs

Who is eligible to apply for a UK Domestic Worker Visa?

To be eligible, you must be aged 19 or over, employed as a domestic worker in a private household, and have worked for the same employer for at least 12 consecutive months. You must be travelling to the UK with your employer, or a member of their household, for a visit of no more than six months. You also need to show that you can support and accommodate yourself without relying on public funds.

How long can I stay in the UK on a Domestic Worker Visa?

You can stay for a maximum of six months, or until your employer leaves the UK if earlier. The visa cannot be extended under the current rules. The only exception is for those who were granted a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa before 6 April 2012, who may still apply for extensions and, in some cases, settlement.

What documents are required for the application?

You will need a valid passport with a blank page, a letter from your employer confirming your employment and duties, a signed employment agreement setting out your terms and conditions while in the UK, and financial documents proving you can support yourself. You must also provide biometric information, including fingerprints and a photograph, at a visa application centre. Depending on your circumstances, you may also need to submit payslips, bank statements, tax or social security records, or evidence of previous travel with your employer.

How much does it cost to apply for a Domestic Worker Visa?

The application fee is £682. There is no Immigration Health Surcharge payable for this visa, as it is a short-term route. You should ensure you have suitable medical cover or insurance in place for the duration of your stay.

Can I switch employers while on a Domestic Worker Visa?

No. Under the post-2012 rules, you must remain employed by the same employer throughout your stay. If you leave that employment, you are required to leave the UK. The ability to switch employers only applies to those who entered on a domestic worker visa before 6 April 2012 and have remained lawfully in the UK under those rules.

Can my family accompany me to the UK?

The Overseas Domestic Worker visa does not allow dependants to accompany or join you. Each family member would need to qualify for and apply under their own visa category if they wish to come to the UK. Only workers who entered before 6 April 2012 retain the right to bring dependants under this route.

What rights do I have as a domestic worker in the UK?

You have the right to be paid at least the National Minimum Wage, to receive paid holiday leave, and to work in safe conditions. Your employer must not withhold your passport or employment documents. You must not be forced to work against your will, to work for free, or to accept pay below the minimum wage. Exploitation or abuse may amount to modern slavery, and employers face criminal prosecution if they mistreat workers.

How can I extend my Domestic Worker Visa?

You cannot extend an Overseas Domestic Worker visa granted under the current rules. The only extensions available are for those who applied for a Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa before 6 April 2012, who may extend in 12-month periods and, if eligible, apply for settlement after five years.

What should I do if my visa application is refused?

Refusals carry no right of appeal or administrative review. The only option is to reapply with a stronger application, addressing the reasons given for refusal. In many cases, it is advisable to take specialist legal advice before reapplying to ensure the evidential requirements are properly met.

Section H: Glossary

Section I: Additional Resources