Planning a family trip to London for the summer and want to bring your nanny along? There is a specific visa for this purpose — the Overseas Domestic Worker visa. In this article, we break down the conditions, requirements, documents, and timelines so your trip to the United Kingdom with your nanny from the UAE goes smoothly.
What is the Overseas Domestic Worker visa and who is it for?
The Overseas Domestic Worker visa is a short-term visa for nannies, carers, housekeepers, drivers, and cooks who work in a private household outside the United Kingdom. It allows the employee to travel to the UK together with their employer for up to 6 months, provided that everyone returns to the UAE afterwards.
Key features of this visa
- Length of stay — up to 6 months
- No extension possible
- This route does not lead to settlement (indefinite leave to remain)
- Cannot travel on this visa without the employer
It is important to understand the difference: a Standard Visitor visa does not give the right to work in the destination country. If a nanny enters the UK on a tourist visa with the intention of performing their duties, this is a breach of immigration rules. Consequences include refusal of entry, deportation, and a ban on future visas.
Bringing your nanny to the UK From UAE on a Domestic Worker visa
For your nanny to qualify for the Overseas Domestic Worker visa, you need to prepare a document package that meets the requirements for both the worker and the employer simultaneously.
| Requirement | Details |
| Age | 19 years or older on the date of application |
| Length of service | At least 12 continuous months with the same employer immediately before applying |
| Accommodation | Works and lives in the employer’s household or in a home that the employer regularly uses |
| Purpose of trip | Travelling to the UK with the employer (or joining them) to continue working in their household |
| Intention to return | Plans to leave the UK after 6 months or at the same time as the employer |
Important: еhe 12-month employment requirement is not a recommendation — it is a strict rule. If your nanny has worked for you for less than a year, you cannot submit an application for a UK visa from the UAE.
Zarina, The Visa Services expert:
“If your nanny has worked for you for almost a year — for example, 10 months — we advise waiting for this period to be completed or supporting the application with a signed supplementary agreement that would allow the remaining 2 months to be counted towards the total employment period.”
Requirements for the employer
| Requirement | Details |
| Status | A British citizen permanently residing outside the UK and not planning to stay in the UK for more than 6 months. Or a foreign national coming to the UK as a visitor for no more than 6 months |
| Payment of wages | Undertakes to pay the nanny no less than the National Minimum Wage for the entire period of stay in the UK |
| Contract | A signed written employment agreement in the prescribed form (Appendix Domestic Worker Statement) |
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What documents are needed for a nanny visa to the United Kingdom?
The document package is the foundation of a successful application. Errors or omissions here are the most common reason for refusal. Essentially, the consulate examines two applicant profiles simultaneously — the employer and the nanny.
Your role as the employer is to provide a comprehensive package of documents proving your financial stability, good character, and the nature of your relationship with your employee. Use this checklist as your guide.
Employer’s letter
This is a key document in which you must confirm that the applicant has been working for you as a nanny/housekeeper for more than 12 months, and that you are taking them on the trip to the United Kingdom. They will continue to perform their duties during the trip. You undertake to pay them at least the UK National Minimum Wage for the duration of the trip and to cover all travel expenses in full.
Proof of your financial standing
Provide bank statements for the last 3-6 months so that the visa officer can confirm you can cover all travel and accommodation expenses for yourself and your staff. Nannies often receive cash wages, so the employer’s bank statement is mandatory.
No Objection Letter (NOC)
A letter of consent from you confirming that you are the sponsor of the trip and assume all associated obligations.
Documents confirming length of service
An employment contract of 12 months or more, a copy of the nanny’s work visa or Emirates ID, and payroll records.
Documents from the worker
The employee must prepare the following package:
- Valid passport. The expiry date must be no earlier than 6 months after the end of the trip.
- Valid UAE residence visa.
- Completed online application for the Domestic Worker in a Private Household visa on the UK government website.
How to apply for a nanny visa from the UAE in 2026: step-by-step guide
The visa application process for a nanny is not much different from the standard visa procedure but requires extra attention to the application form and document package.
Step 1. Check eligibility
Confirm that your nanny has worked for you for at least one year and is over 19 years of age.
Step 2. Gather documents
Prepare and verify all documents from the two lists above. Even one missing paper is a common reason for refusal.
Step 3. Complete the application form
The form must be completed by the worker themselves on the UK government website. It is important to answer all questions clearly and truthfully. As the employer, you assist with documentation and payment.
Step 4. Pay the fee and book biometrics
After submitting the application, you must pay the visa fee and book an appointment for biometric data collection (fingerprints and photo) at a visa application centre.
Step 5. Submit documents at the visa application centre
On the appointed day, the worker attends the visa application centre with all documents and their passport. After this, you wait for the decision.
Fees, processing times, and what is not included
Visa fee
For 2026, the visa fee for the Overseas Domestic Worker visa is £726 per person (check the current AED exchange rate on the day of payment).
Immigration Health Surcharge
For stays of up to 6 months, the IHS is not payable — this is an advantage of the short-term route.
Processing times
After completing the online application and paying the visa fee, you need to book a slot at the visa application centre. If the standard free slot is not suitable (long wait, inconvenient day), you can use the Premium lounge option to choose a more convenient day or pay for the Platinum lounge to have biometrics taken on the same day.
Standard processing time: up to 3 weeks after biometrics submission.
In some cases, priority services are available:
- Priority service — decision in 5 working days, cost £500
- Super Priority service — decision within 24 hours, additional £1,000 on top of the consular fee
Always check current fees on the official gov.uk website before applying — they may change.
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The nanny’s rights in the United Kingdom: what you need to know
Visa rules protect domestic workers, so it is important to be aware of them. Here are the key rights of a nanny during their stay in the UK.
| Right | Explanation |
| Minimum wage | The employer is obliged to pay no less than the National Minimum Wage for the entire period of stay in the UK |
| Passport remains with the worker | No one has the right to confiscate or withhold the nanny’s passport |
| Written employment contract | Terms of employment are recorded in the official Appendix Domestic Worker Statement document, signed by both parties |
| Right to change employer | Within the 6-month period, the nanny has the right to change employer (working in a private household) without notifying the Home Office |
| The trip does not lead to settlement | The visa does not grant the right to extension, change of status, or indefinite leave to remain. After 6 months, the worker must leave the UK |
Common mistakes to avoid when applying for a visa
Less than 12 months of employment
This condition is strict and does not allow exceptions. If your nanny has worked for you for 10 months, applying via this route is not possible.
Employer staying in the UK for more than 6 months
If you are already a resident or plan to remain in the UK for more than 6 months, you cannot bring your nanny on a Domestic Worker visa. This is only possible for short-term trips.
Applying for a tourist visa instead
Entering on a Standard Visitor visa with the intention to work is a violation that leads to refusal and a possible ban on future visas.
Incomplete document package
Missing the employer’s letter, financial documents, or the Appendix Domestic Worker Statement — almost guaranteed refusal.
Incorrectly drafted employment contract
Indicating pay below the UK National Minimum Wage or stating an incorrect number of days of stay.
Case study: The Visa Services
A family from Dubai (high-income expats) was planning a summer holiday in London with their one-year-old child. They invited their nanny to fly with them. They submitted a visa application for the nanny independently through the visa application centre in Dubai.
Result: They received a refusal with the reason: “The salary stated in the contract does not meet the minimum standards of the United Kingdom.”
The family could not understand why: the nanny receives 2,500 AED (approximately £500) per month in Dubai, plus full board and accommodation. For Dubai, this is a market rate for domestic staff. But the British visa officer considered this amount insufficient.
Our experts reviewed the contract and immediately identified the error. The contract stated the Dubai salary — 2,500 AED per month. The British visa officer compared it with the UK minimum wage (Living Wage — approximately £1,800 per month before tax) and decided that because the nanny’s salary was too low, she would remain in Britain to find work.
The family could not fix this on their own — they thought it was enough to show their bank statements with a sufficient balance. But for UKVI, the salary of the invited person — the nanny — is also important.
The Visa Services experts revised the strategy
- Increased the contract amount to 8,000 AED — this exceeds UK minimum standards but remains reasonable for the UAE.
- Signed a supplementary agreement with the new amount and a clear start date.
- In a covering letter, explained to the officer the difference in markets:
“In the UAE, domestic staff salaries include accommodation, meals, and transport. Including these benefits, the nanny’s real income is equivalent to £1,400–1,600, which is comparable to UK standards. She is returning to Dubai because she has a stable employer and housing here.” - Included the nanny’s own bank statement (showing that she regularly sends money home) — proof of her financial discipline and ties to her current place of work.
Result
Re-submission through the priority service in Dubai. The visa was approved within 72 hours. The nanny successfully travelled to London, returned to the UAE, and continues to work for the same family.
Faced with a visa refusal?
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Yes, but only on the Overseas Domestic Worker visa, provided that she has worked for your family for at least 12 months.
The Overseas Domestic Worker visa is required. A tourist visa is not suitable for working purposes.
A maximum of 6 months. Extension is not possible.
No. The worker must leave the United Kingdom at the same time as the employer or before the 6 months expire — whichever comes first.
Yes, absolutely. A minimum of 12 continuous months with the same employer before the date of application is mandatory.
