At First Law Solicitors, we provide discreet and comprehensive legal advice to employers and domestic staff applying for or renewing an Overseas Domestic Worker Visa. This route enables experienced household employees to accompany their overseas employer to the United Kingdom for a short-term stay, ensuring lawful entry, transparent employment terms, and compliance with modern safeguarding regulations.
Our solicitors act for both private households and individual workers, balancing the employer’s immigration duties with the worker’s statutory protections under UK employment and human-rights law.
This visa allows a domestic employee such as a carer, housekeeper, driver, or personal assistant to travel with an employer who normally resides outside the United Kingdom. The purpose is to provide household or personal services during a temporary visit.
The visa is valid for a limited period and does not lead to settlement in the United Kingdom. However, it offers lawful status, work rights for the named employer, and safeguards against exploitation under the Modern Slavery Act 2015 and related Home Office guidance.
Applicants must have worked for their employer for a continuous period before applying, demonstrate a genuine employment relationship, and intend to leave the United Kingdom at the end of their stay.
To qualify under the Immigration Rules Appendix Overseas Domestic Worker, the applicant must:
At First Law Solicitors, we prepare full evidential bundles including verified contracts of employment, proof of salary payments, and letters of guarantee confirming the worker’s return to their country of residence.
Since the 2025 Home Office Ethical Recruitment Directive, domestic worker applications undergo heightened scrutiny to ensure the worker’s rights are protected. Employers must provide a signed written statement of terms covering salary, working hours, accommodation, rest days, and the right to retain personal documents.
Our solicitors ensure these terms meet UK employment law standards and that both parties understand their rights and obligations. Where concerns of exploitation arise, we act swiftly to secure the worker’s lawful protection under the National Referral Mechanism (NRM) while maintaining compliance with immigration control.
The visa permits a short period of stay that aligns with the employer’s visit to the United Kingdom. The worker may live in the employer’s household and must continue working only for the named employer.
Switching to another immigration route is not permitted, and the visa cannot be extended beyond the statutory limit. However, if the worker’s rights have been breached, they may apply to remain temporarily under separate protection provisions.
We advise employers on structuring lawful travel schedules, remuneration, and return guarantees to ensure compliance at both the entry-clearance and arrival stages.
From 1 January 2026, all applications for the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa are processed entirely through the Home Office’s digital immigration system.
Applicants verify identity using the UK Immigration ID Check App and receive digital confirmation of their immigration status through a UKVI account. Physical visa stickers and Biometric Residence Permits are no longer issued.
Under the Data Use and Access Act 2025, the Home Office cross-checks digital identity, payroll data, and travel history in real time. Our firm ensures every filing complies with these data-integrity standards, using Qualified Electronic Signatures (QES) for secure authentication.
Discreet Employer Representation
We manage all aspects of the application with complete confidentiality, coordinating directly with household representatives and personal offices.
Worker-Rights Assurance
Our solicitors ensure that all employment contracts meet UK legal standards, protecting both parties from compliance breaches or ethical challenges.
Digital Precision and Compliance
Every submission is processed under DUAA 2025 protocols, guaranteeing secure handling of sensitive data and lawful digital verification.
Strategic Coordination
We advise on future travel and renewal planning to maintain seamless legal continuity for private households employing international staff.
At First Law Solicitors, we combine technical precision with absolute discretion, ensuring each domestic worker assignment meets the highest standards of legality, professionalism, and safeguarding.
For expert advice on sponsoring or accompanying domestic staff to the United Kingdom, contact First Law Solicitors today.
Call 0044 161 224 4066
Complete our secure online enquiry form to arrange a private consultation with an experienced immigration solicitor.
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