The Domestic Worker Visa is for foreign domestic workers who enter the UK to work in a private household. Domestic workers include nannies, cleaners, cooks, chauffeurs, cleaners, and those providing personal care for the employer and their family. You don’t need a job offer before you apply for the Domestic Worker visa.
Who Is Eligible for the UK Domestic Worker Visa?
You are eligible for the UK Domestic Worker visa if:
- You live outside the UK.
- You are a domestic worker in a private household.
- You have worked for that employer for at least 12 months.
- You are 19 or older.
- Work in the same household as your employer.
- Plan to leave the UK after six months.
- You can support yourself without the need for public funds.
- You can prove that you meet the English language requirement*. You can do so by:
- Passing an English language test with at least CEFR level B1.
- Having an academic qualification that was taught in English and is recognized by Ecctis as being equivalent to a UK bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, or PhD.
Your employer must be:
- A British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and who does not plan on remaining in the UK for more than six months.
- A foreign citizen who is coming to the UK on a visit and who does not plan on remaining in for more than six months in the UK.
*You are exempt from the English language proficiency requirement if you are from one of the following countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Guyana, St Lucia, Australia, Canada, Jamaica St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Bahamas, Dominica, New Zealand, Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Grenada, St Kitts and Nevis, USA.
National Minimum Wage for UK Domestic Worker Visa
Your employer must pay you the minimal national salary. In 2022, the UK domestic worker minimum wage is:
- If you are aged 18-20: £6.83 per hour.
- If you are aged 21-22: £9.18 per hour.
- If you are 23 and over: £9.50 per hour.
Conditions of the UK Domestic Worker Visa
The conditions of the Domestic Worker are as follows:
| You can | You cannot |
| Travel abroad and return to the UK | You cannot have another job |
| Change employers but not the role of a domestic worker. | Get public funds |
| Live in the UK for a long time through frequent visits |
If you have applied before 5 April 2012: If you have applied for a UK Domestic Worker visa before 5 April 2012, you can:
- Extend your stay in the UK every 12 months.
- Settle in the UK after five years.
- Bring dependents.
- Change employer while your visa is valid.
Your Employment Rights With a UK Domestic Worker Visa
When you work in the UK, your employer must:
- Pay you an agreed rate, which must be at least the national minimum wage.
- Give you agreed holiday pay.
- Give you the notice you’re entitled to if your employment ends.
- Not force you to work excessive hours.
How to Apply for the UK Domestic Worker Visa?
To successfully apply for the UK Domestic Worker visa, you must:
- Complete the online application form for a Domestic Worker visa. You must answer all the questions in English.
- Upload the required documents. You must upload the documents required for the Domestic Worker visa on the online application portal. You can either scan or photograph the documents. The uploaded photos or scanned documents must be PNG, JPG, JPEG or PDF. See some of the required documents listed below.
- Pay the required fees. You must pay the application fee and the healthcare surcharge online during the application process.
- Book a biometric appointment at your nearest visa application center. You can find a VAC by checking the find a visa application center on the website of the UK government. When applying online you must schedule an appointment to provide your photo and fingerprints to get a biometric residence permit.
Note: You must collect the biometric residence permit (BRP) when you arrive in the UK. A biometric residence permit proves your:
- Identity
- Right to study
- Right to benefits and public services.
Processing Time for the UK Domestic Worker Visa
You will get a decision on your UK Domestic Worker visa in around three weeks when you apply from outside the UK. However, depending on your application, it may take longer (up to seven weeks).
Required Documents for the UK Domestic Worker Visa
You must prepare the following documents to apply for the UK Domestic Worker visa:
- Your original and valid passport with a blank page or other travel identification.
- A filled-out appendix domestic worker statement signed by your employer and you.
- A letter from your employer that states your job title, the length of time that you have worked for them, and that you are a permanent employee.
- Bank statements or other proof that you can support yourself during your stay.
- One of the following documents covering the same period of employment:
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- Bank statements or payslips showing income payments.
- Confirmation of paid tax.
- Confirmation of paid health insurance.
- Employment contract.
- Work visa, residence permit, or equivalent passport endorsement for the country where you’re currently employed by your employer.
- Visas or equivalent passport endorsement if you’ve travelled with your employer before.
Note: The list of required documents will be presented to you during the visa application. Additional documents may be required depending on your circumstances.
You must provide a certified translation of documents that are not in Welsh or English.
Duration of the UK Domestic Worker Visa
The UK Domestic Worker visa is valid for six months. After six months, you must return to your home country because you cannot extend the visa.
Can UK Domestic Worker Visa Be Extended?
The UK Domestic Worker visa cannot be extended. You can extend your Domestic Worker visa for up to 12 months only if you entered the UK using a visa issued before 6 April 2012. In this case, you must complete the application form and book an appointment at a UKVCAS application centre to provide your biometrics.
How Much Does the UK Domestic Worker Visa Cost?
The UK Domestic Worker visa has the following fees:
| Application fee | £531 |
| Priority service (to get an answer within five days) | £500 |
| Super priority service (to get an answer one day after you apply) | £800 |
Can You Obtain ILR With a Domestic Worker Visa?
You cannot obtain indefinite leave to remain with the UK domestic worker visa. If you have applied before April 2012, you are allowed to apply for indefinite leave to remain after five years. Dependents such as your partner and children under 18 can join you. Dependant children over 18 must apply separately.