Who it is for
The Overseas Domestic Worker visa is for people who work in a private household overseas and travel to the UK with their employer. You must live outside the UK, work as domestic staff in a private household, and have worked for your employer for at least one year. Domestic workers include cleaners, chauffeurs, cooks, nannies and people who provide personal care for the employer and their family.
What it allows
The visa lets you visit the UK with your employer for up to six months. You must return home at the end of that time. You can travel abroad and come back during the six months, and you can change to another domestic worker job in a private household, as long as you stay within the original six months. You cannot extend the visa, and it does not lead to settlement. People who applied before 5 April 2012, under an earlier route, may have different options.
The cost and timing
| Item | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Application fee | £726 |
| Decision | Usually within three weeks from outside the UK, with faster services for an extra fee |
Your rights
Domestic workers can be vulnerable to exploitation, because the employer and the home are the same. You have the right to be paid at least the minimum wage for the hours you work, to have your passport kept by you, and to leave. If your employer takes your passport, does not pay you, keeps you from leaving or from contacting others, or makes you work excessive hours, that may be modern slavery. If you are being treated badly, you can change employer within the visa, and you can seek help without losing the right to do so. See trafficking and the National Referral Mechanism.
If you are being exploited
If you are working in the UK and are not paid, are kept from leaving, or have had your passport taken, do not wait for the visa to end. The Modern Slavery and Exploitation Helpline is free and confidential on 08000 121 700, and in an emergency you can call 999. Seek advice, because in some cases a victim of modern slavery can obtain protection and permission to stay that the visa itself would not allow.
For employers
An employer who brings a domestic worker to the UK takes on responsibilities, including paying the minimum wage, providing proper accommodation and respecting the worker’s rights. Breaches can lead to prosecution and to the refusal of future visas.
How we help
We advise workers and employers on the application, and advise workers who are being exploited on their options. Book a consultation below, or telephone us.
