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Overseas Domestic Worker Visa

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government.

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Can I apply for the UK Skilled Worker visa?

We can help you. It’s what we do.

Overview

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.

You can apply for a Skilled Worker visa to work in the UK in an eligible job with an employer licenced as a sponsor by the UK government. This UK work visa has replaced the Tier 2 (General) work visa. This category is for all foreign nationals who have been offered a skilled job to fill a gap in the workforce which cannot be filled by an already settled worker in the UK. There are a number of complex scenarios which should be discussed and explored in detail before you can apply.

International Sportspersons visa

This category is for highly skilled sportspersons who must be recognised by a governing body as an elite sports person or a sports coach. The applicant must demonstrate that their employment in the UK will encourage the sport to become more elite and prominent in the UK.

To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of 5 years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £35,800.

Indefinite leave to remain

The skilled worker visa lasts for up to five years. If you want to stay longer, you can apply to extend your, as long as you still meet the eligibility requirements. After five years, you may also be entitled to apply for indefinite leave to remain, which gives you the right to live, work and study in the UK for as long as you like. You must apply to extend or update your skilled work visa UK if you change jobs or employer.

To apply for ILR you must have spent continuous period of five years in the UK and must have spent no more than 180 days outside the UK in any 12 months. You must also meet the English language requirement, pass the Life in the UK test and meet the salary threshold requirement of at least £25,600 per year.

What is the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa?

Under this route, overseas domestic workers to enter the UK on a temporary basis to undertake domestic occupations for their respective employers. This route is not ideal for settlement, as it only permits the applicant to remain in the UK for a short period of time. 

Who can apply for the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa?

To be eligible for the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa, you must meet certain requirements – one of the main points being, that you must be working in an eligible domestic worker occupation. This may include the following: 

  • Cleaners 
  • Chauffeurs 
  • Cooks 
  • Providing personal care for the employer and their family 
  • Nannies 

There are also factors to take into consideration regarding your employer, which may affect your eligibility for this visa, so it is highly advised that you contact a member of our team to discuss your eligibility to ensure the best chance for your application. 

What are the requirements?

There are various requirements that must be met to make you eligible for this application. This includes: 

  • You must be 19 years or older. 
  • You can prove that you have worked for your employer for at least a year. 
  • You work in the same household as your employer or one they use regularly. 
  • You intend to travel to the UK with your employer, their partner, or children. 
  • You intend to work as a full-time domestic worker in a UK household that your employer will live in. 
  • You plan to leave the UK at the end of the 6 months. 
  • You are self-sufficient financially and can support yourself without the need to rely on public funds. 

 

Furthermore, there are requirements that must be met by the applicant’s employer – they must be either a: 

  • British citizen who usually lives outside the UK and who does not intend to remain in the UK for more than 6 months. 
  • Foreign citizen who is coming to the UK on a visit and who does not intend to remain for more than 6 months. 

What is the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa processing time?

The processing time for this visa route is typically within 3 weeks of your application date. Please note, you may be able to pay to get a faster decision on your visa application. For instance, if you opt for a priority service, your application will be processed within 5 days. If you use the super priority service, your application will be processed by the next working day.  

How to apply for the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa?

To apply for the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa, you will be required to complete an online application form on the Gov.uk website before you intend to travel. You may choose to apply for your visa up to 3 months before you come to the UK. As part of the process, you will be expected to provide supporting documentation and submit your biometric information – if applicable, you will need to attend a local visa application centre to submit this information in the form of your fingerprints and a photograph. 

How long does an Overseas Domestic Worker Visa last?

Under this route, you may remain in the UK with your employer for up to 6 months – however, at the end of this period you must return to your country of residence. It is important to note that you cannot extend an Overseas Domestic Worker Visa.  

On the other hand, there are exceptions if you chose to apply to settle for the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa, if you first applied for your visa on or before 5th April 2012 – note, that this was recognised under a different name at the time; ‘Domestic Workers in a Private Household Visa’. You can only apply to settle in the UK with indefinite leave to remain, if you meet the following: 

  • You applied for the Domestic Worker visa on or before 5th April 2012. 
  • You have been living in the UK legally for at least 5 years. 
  • You currently have permission to remain here as a domestic worker. 
  • You have been in the UK as a full-time domestic worker continuously throughout the 5-year period. 
  • You have maintained and accommodated yourself and any dependants without the need to rely on public funds throughout the 5- year period.  
  • You have sufficient knowledge of English. 
  • Passed the ‘Life in the UK’ test.  

Additionally, to settle in the UK under this route, you must provide the following: 

  • A letter from your employer confirming that they wish to employ you. 
  • Evidence that you can satisfy the knowledge of English and Life in the UK Test criteria. 

How much does it cost to get an Overseas Domestic Worker Visa?

For this route, it will cost the applicant £531 to obtain the visa – if you decide on a faster processing service, please note this will introduce additional fees to the application process. Note, that these services may not be available in all countries so it’s best to discuss this with a member of our team, to confirm your eligibility.  

Can my dependents be included as part of my Overseas Domestic Worker Visa?

Unfortunately, under the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa route it is not possible to bring dependents with you. The only exception on this route, is if you previously applied for the ‘Domestic Worker in a Private Household’ visa. If you obtained this visa, you could include your partner and children aged under 18 as your dependents on your application. 

How can I apply to include my dependents as part of my Overseas Domestic Worker Visa?

To include dependents as part of the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa, if they are aged over 18, they will need to apply separately.  

How can Bridge Partners Immigration help?

At Bridge Partners, our team can provide expert advice and guidance on the application process as well as discuss your eligibility for the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa. If you are keen to find out more about this visa route or have any questions regarding your suitability for this path, please do not hesitate to contact us today for more information.  

Frequently Asked Skilled Worker visa​ Application Questions

Someone can be eligible for a Skilled Worker visa if they have a job offer from a sponsoring company in the UK for a job that is on the list of skilled worker occupations. In addition, the skilled worker must have the required skills and experience to undergo the role in the company and have the required level of English language ability.   

The minimum salary for the Skilled Worker visa is either £25,600 per year, £10.10 per hour or the “going rate” for the particular occupation code, whichever is highest. For each job on the Home Office occupation list, there is a “going rate” which details the recommended annual and hourly salary that an individual must earn for the role. The rates are based on a 39-hour week of work. Those applying for the Skilled Worker visa need 50 points to do so. These are gained from sponsorship, skill level and English language requirements. However, 20 further tradable points can be given to those that meet the minimum salary requirement. 

You cannot move to the UK without a job offer from a company that has a UK sponsor licence, unless you apply for the Global Talent visa where this is not a requirement. When you are applying for a Skilled Worker visa you must provide a certificate of sponsorship reference number which proves that you have a job offer and therefore permission to work in the UK with a registered sponsor.  

The general Skilled Worker visa requirements are that you must have a job offer from a company that is a UK-registered sponsor and have a certificate of sponsorship that confirms that you have permission to work in the UK within a specific job role. You must be paid the required minimum salary for the occupation, have the required skill level and English language ability to do the job and have enough funds to support yourself in the UK.   

Once all the correct documentation has been submitted, it takes around 3 weeks for an application for a Skilled Worker visa to be processed by the Home Office when applying outside of the UK. For applications within the UK, the standard processing time is 8 weeks, although this can take around 9 weeks on average.  

For the Skilled Worker visa, you will need to provide a valid passport and proof that you have a job in the UK with details about your job role, salary, and employer information. You will also need the reference number for your certificate of sponsorship which proves that you have an approved job offer with a registered UK sponsor. In addition, you will need to provide bank statements that show you are able to support yourself in the UK and proof of the required qualifications needed for the role such as an English language test and degree certificate.

Yes, you can study whilst on a Skilled Worker visa. There is no restriction on the number of hours you can study as long as it does not interfere with your work. Another requirement is that workers who study must first get an Academic Technology Approval Scheme (ATAS) certificate for their studies and present it to the education provider.  

Skilled Workers are not allowed to run their own businesses.