Apply for Overseas Domestic Worker Visa UK - Specialist Immigration Solicitors

The domestic worker visa route is for an Overseas Domestic Worker seeking to come to the UK to work for up to 6 months as a domestic worker with their current employer. An application for a domestic worker visa is made in accordance with the requirements as set out in Appendix Overseas Domestic Worker of the Immigration Rules. The overseas domestic worker cannot be extended beyond 6 months. However, in exceptional cases, it may be possible to apply for further leave to remain on human rights grounds, e.g. where the best interests of a British child/children will be seriously compromised if the domestic worker is not permitted to stay in the UK for a longer period.

Free Immigration Advice for Overseas Domestic Worker Visa

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide free, 5-minute one-off advice on your application for an overseas domestic worker visa. Ask a question online to our specialist team of immigration solicitors for free immigration advice online, or book an appointment online for detailed immigration advice and consultation with one of our immigration solicitors concerning your overseas domestic worker visa.

Requirements for Overseas Domestic Worker Visa UK

A person applying for entry clearance for an overseas domestic worker visa from outside the UK must meet the following requirements for the grant of a domestic worker visa:

Valid application: The applicant must submit a valid application for entry clearance as an overseas domestic worker in accordance with the requirements of Appendix Overseas Domestic Worker of the Immigration Rules.

Age requirement: The applicant must be aged 19 or over on the date of application.

Employment requirement: The applicant must meet the employment requirement as set out in Appendix Overseas Domestic Worker of the Immigration Rules.

Financial requirement: The decision maker must be satisfied that the applicant can and will adequately maintain and accommodate themselves without recourse to public funds.

Suitability Requirements: The applicant must not fall for refusal under Appendix Part Suitability of the Immigration Rules. 

Employment Requirement For Overseas Domestic Worker Visa

• A person applying for entry clearance as an Overseas Domestic Worker must have been employed as a domestic worker and living with the employer or in a property that the employer uses as a home for themselves on a regular basis, for 12 months or more immediately before the date of application.
• The applicant must provide a letter from their employer confirming all of the following:
  • their employment as a domestic worker; and
  • that it meets the requirements set out in ODW 5.1 of Appendix Overseas Domestic Worker of the Immigration Rules; and
  • that the employment is ongoing.
• The applicant must show they meet the employment requirement by providing one or more of the following:
  • pay slips or bank statements showing payment of salary; or
  • confirmation of tax paid; or
  • confirmation of health insurance paid; or
  • a contract of employment; or
  • a work visa, residence permit or equivalent passport endorsement from the country in which the domestic worker has been employed by the employer; or
  • a visa or equivalent passport endorsement to confirm the applicant has travelled with their employer.
• The applicant must have agreed in writing to the terms and conditions of their employment in the UK and must provide evidence, in the form set out in the Appendix Domestic Worker Statement.
• The decision maker must be satisfied that the employer genuinely intends to pay the applicant at least the National Minimum Wage throughout their employment in the UK.
• The decision maker must be satisfied that the applicant intends to work for the employer whilst the employer is in the UK and intends to travel in the company of one of the following:
  • their British employer, or that employer’s British spouse, civil partner or child under the age of 18, where the employer’s usual place of residence is outside the UK and where those individuals do not intend to remain in the UK beyond six months; or
  • a British employer’s foreign national spouse, civil partner or child under the age of 18, where those individuals do not intend to remain in the UK beyond six months; or
  • a foreign national employer or the employer’s spouse, civil partner or child under the age of 18, where those individuals are seeking, or have been granted, permission under Appendix V: Visitor, except where that permission is to undertake activities listed in Appendix V: Visitor at V 9.
• The decision maker must be satisfied with all of the following:
  • that the applicant will leave the UK at the end of six months in the UK or at the same time as their employer, whichever is the earlier; and
  • will not live for extended periods in the UK through frequent or successive visits; and
  • will not make the UK their main home.

Period and Conditions of Grant

The applicant will be granted entry clearance for a period of 6 months.

The grant will be subject to all the following conditions:

• no access to public funds; and
• no work except as an Overseas Domestic Worker or a domestic worker in a private household.

The applicant is permitted to change employer, without notifying the Home Office, within the validity of their permission as an Overseas Domestic Worker.

Extension of Domestic Worker Visa

A domestic worker may be able to extend his/her stay in the UK depending on the personal circumstances of the domestic worker and his/her employer. You can apply to extend your domestic worker visa in one of the following circumstances:

• You can extend your domestic worker visa up to a maximum of 6 months if your initial entry as a domestic worker was granted for less than 6 months.
• A domestic worker may be able to apply for an extension of his/her stay in the UK on the basis of compelling and compassionate grounds outside the immigration rules if the circumstances of the Domestic Worker are exceptional.
• A domestic worker may be able to apply for an extension of his/her stay as a victim of modern slavery.

Extension On Human Rights Grounds

In exceptional circumstances, a domestic worker may be able to extend his/her stay in the UK on human rights grounds outside the Immigration Rules if the circumstances of the applicant are exceptional and compassionate. Every case will be dealt with according to its own individual facts, but succeeding in such cases outside the Immigration Rules and under Human Rights grounds is always going to be quite challenging. The best interests of any British or settled children who are being cared for by the domestic worker and whose welfare and well-being may be seriously compromised if the Domestic Worker were to leave the UK and not provide the required care can be one of the factors to be argued in cases involving applications for extension outside the Immigration Rules.

Domestic Workers and Modern Slavery

Those who are admitted as an overseas domestic worker and are found to be the victim of slavery or human trafficking can apply for an extension of stay on that basis. There is also guidance on the circumstances in which enforcement action should be taken in respect of a person admitted as an overseas domestic worker who is a potential victim of slavery or human trafficking.

How Can We Help?

Our specialist team of immigration solicitors can provide expert immigration advice and legal representation on a fixed-fee basis for your entry clearance application. Our fixed fee for your entry clearance application will cover all the work of our immigration solicitors on your entry clearance application until a decision is made by the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) on your application. The casework to be carried out by our immigration solicitors in relation to your entry clearance application will entail the following:

Advice on requirements: Our immigration solicitors will advise you on the relevant requirements you have to meet for your entry clearance application to succeed.

Advice on documents: Our immigration lawyers will prepare and email you a comprehensive list of supporting documents to be submitted in support of your entry clearance application.

Assessment of documents: Our immigration lawyers will assess your documents to make sure that all the documents you provide in support of your entry clearance application are in accordance with the requirements of the Immigration Rules.

Completing the application form: Our immigration lawyers will complete the relevant application form for your entry clearance application.

Submitting an application via Priority Service: Where possible, our immigration lawyers will submit your online entry clearance application through Priority Service to obtain a faster decision.

Booking an appointment with the application centre: After the online submission of your entry clearance application, our immigration lawyers will book your appointment with the application centre for you to enrol your biometrics.

Preparing a detailed cover letter: Our specialist immigration solicitors will prepare a detailed cover letter in support of the entry clearance application to explain that all relevant legal requirements have been satisfied for its approval.

Uploading documents online: Before the biometrics enrolment date, our immigration lawyers will upload online all the supporting documents to be considered in support of the entry clearance application.

Follow-up work: Our immigration lawyers will handle all follow-up until the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO) issues a decision on the entry clearance application.

Specialist Immigration Solicitors for the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa

Our immigration solicitors are specialists in Overseas Domestic Worker visa applications from outside the UK. As one of the best immigration solicitors, we have an excellent track record of helping clients obtain an Overseas Domestic Worker visa. Our highly experienced and fully qualified immigration solicitors can provide fast, friendly, reliable, and fixed-fee immigration advice and legal representation for your Overseas Domestic Worker visa from outside the UK. 

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Our Fixed Fee for Overseas Domestic Worker Visa UK

Our fixed fees for overseas domestic worker visa UK applications are as given in the fee table below:

Our Service	Our Fixed Fees Range
Full service for Entry Clearance for overseas domestic worker visa UK to cover all the work until the decision by the Entry Clearance Officer (ECO)	From £1,000 to £1,500 (no VAT)
Full service for the extension of stay for the domestic worker on human rights grounds to cover all our work until a decision by the Home Office UKVI on your application	From £2,000 To £3,500 (no VAT)

The agreed fixed fee will depend on the complexity of the application and the volume of casework involved. In addition to our fixed fee, the applicant must also pay the Home Office UKVI fees for the application.

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FAQs - Overseas Domestic Worker Visa UK