Can I Bring My Nanny to the UK? Understanding UK Visa Options for Domestic Workers

Moving to the UK with family is an exciting prospect, and for many, the support of a trusted nanny is invaluable. However, if you're considering bringing your nanny from overseas, it's crucial to understand the intricate and often restrictive landscape of UK immigration rules for domestic workers.

As UK Immigration Lawyers, we frequently receive queries from families in similar situations, eager to navigate the options. While the desire to maintain continuity of care for your children is completely understandable, the reality of UK visa pathways for nannies has become significantly more challenging, particularly for long-term stays.

The Overseas Domestic Worker Visa: A Temporary Solution

The primary visa route for domestic workers accompanying their employers to the UK is the Overseas Domestic Worker Visa. It's important to be clear about its limitations:

• Temporary Stay: This visa allows your nanny to stay in the UK for a maximum of 6 months.

• No Extension, No Settlement: Crucially, this visa cannot be extended from within the UK and does not lead to settlement (Indefinite Leave to Remain). Your nanny must leave the UK at the end of the 6-month period, or when you leave, whichever is sooner. While re-application from outside the UK is technically possible, repeated use for extended periods will likely face significant scrutiny from the Home Office.

• Eligibility Requirements: To qualify, your nanny must:

  • Be 19 years or over.

  • Have worked for you as a domestic worker in a private household for at least one year immediately before the application.

  • Intend to travel to the UK with you, your partner, or your children.

  • Intend to work as a full-time domestic worker in your UK household.

  • Be able to support herself without recourse to public funds.

  • You, as the employer, must agree in writing to her employment terms in the UK, ensuring she will be paid at least the National Minimum Wage.

• Employer Requirements: This visa is generally suitable for British citizens who usually live outside the UK and do not intend to remain for more than 6 months, or foreign citizens visiting the UK for a temporary period. If you are relocating permanently to the UK, this route is not designed for long-term residency for your nanny.

The Skilled Worker Visa: A Closed Door for Nannies

Many families naturally wonder if the Skilled Worker visa route could be an option. However, recent changes in UK immigration policy have effectively closed this pathway for nannies:

• Occupation Code Removal: In April 2024, the Home Office removed "nannies" as an occupation eligible for Skilled Worker sponsorship.

• Prohibition on "Personal Capacity" Sponsorship: Furthermore, in December 2024, guidance was updated to specifically prohibit Skilled Worker sponsors from sponsoring individuals working in a "personal capacity" within the home of an owner or employee. This explicitly covers roles like nannies working for private families.

• Sponsor Licence: Even if the occupation code were still viable, for a Skilled Worker visa, the employer (in this case, your private household) would need to obtain and maintain a sponsor licence from the Home Office. This is a complex and costly process, primarily designed for businesses, and is generally not feasible for private individuals.

Therefore, for those seeking to bring a nanny for a year or more, the Skilled Worker visa is currently not a viable option.

What Are the Alternatives for Long-Term Nanny Support?

Given these restrictions, securing a long-term visa for a nanny whose sole purpose is to work for your private family in the UK is extremely challenging through the standard immigration routes. Families in this situation often need to consider other possibilities:

• Nanny's Individual Eligibility: Does your nanny have any other personal eligibility for a UK visa, independent of her role as your domestic worker? This could include:

  • Youth Mobility Scheme: If she is from an eligible country and meets the age criteria (usually 18-30).

  • Family Routes: If she has a partner or other close family members in the UK who could sponsor her under a family visa route.

  • Ancestry Visa: If she has a grandparent born in the UK.

  • Student Visa: If she genuinely intends to study in the UK. However, note that a student visa has strict limitations on working hours during term time.

• UK-based Nanny Agencies: Some professional nanny agencies in the UK may hold sponsor licences for other types of roles (e.g., childminders working for the agency rather than directly for a family), which could potentially provide a pathway. However, this often means your nanny would be employed by the agency and their role might not be exclusively dedicated to your household.

• Hiring a UK-Based Nanny: The most straightforward solution for long-term childcare is often to hire a nanny who already has the right to work and reside in the UK.

Seeking Expert Guidance

The UK immigration rules are complex and subject to frequent changes. While the information provided here offers a general overview, every case is unique.

As UK Immigration Lawyers, we specialise in providing tailored advice based on your specific circumstances. During a consultation, we can discuss your individual situation, explore any potential avenues that might be available to you or your nanny, and outline the associated costs.

General Information Notice: Please note that the content provided here is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for legal immigration advice. We are not responsible for any actions taken based on this free information.

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