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Pathway

UK Overseas Domestic Worker Visa

United Kingdom Residency
Pathway overview

At a glance

The UK Overseas Domestic Worker visa is a short-stay route for domestic workers accompanying their overseas employer to the UK. It is usually limited to up to 6 months and is not a settlement route.

Who can apply
Domestic workers aged 19+ who have worked in the overseas employer's household for at least one year and accompany them to the UK
Employment terms
Written terms meeting the National Minimum Wage and UK employment law
Stay limit
Leave within six months or when the employer leaves, whichever comes first

Summary

This is a niche temporary route for domestic workers who already work for an overseas employer and accompany that employer to the UK. It is not a general UK work visa and does not create a long-term residence path.

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Eligibility

The worker must apply from outside the UK, be at least 19, have worked for the employer for at least one year and normally work in that employer's household. They must travel with the employer or specified family member, work full-time in the UK household where the employer will live, support themselves without public funds and intend to leave by six months or when the employer leaves, whichever is earlier.

The employer must be a foreign visitor, or a British citizen who normally lives abroad, and must not intend to remain more than six months. Written terms must meet the National Minimum Wage and UK employment law. The application and any interview should reflect the worker's own knowledge and voluntary agreement.

An existing household job and a short visit
  1. Established employment Document at least one year working for the overseas employer.
  2. Qualifying visit Confirm the employer's plans, the worker's duties, and signed terms.
  3. Time-limited stay Plan departure within six months or when the employer leaves, if earlier.

The worker applies from outside the UK; keep accessible copies of identity and employment records.

What This Route Allows

The holder may work only as a domestic worker in a private household, travel and return during the six-month validity, and change to a different private-household employer without notifying the Home Office, provided the original expiry date is not exceeded. UK minimum wage, rest, holiday and employment-tribunal rights apply.

What This Route Is Not

It cannot be extended, does not allow dependents or public funds, and does not lead to settlement. Only legacy entrants under rules before 6 April 2012 retain separate extension and settlement possibilities. Repeated visits cannot be used to make the UK the worker's main home.

Abuse or exploitation should be reported. A potential victim of modern slavery may have protection and immigration options through the National Referral Mechanism, but those are separate from an ordinary ODW extension.

Next Steps

  1. Confirm one full year of employment with contracts, pay records and household evidence.
  2. Review the employer's visitor plans and signed terms privately with the worker.
  3. Keep copies of passport, visa, contract, employer contact details and emergency support numbers.
  4. If pay, passport control or freedom is threatened, seek independent Acas, police, Kalayaan or modern-slavery support; changing domestic employer is allowed within the six months.

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Sources