A Filipino worker or a British national in the United Kingdom (UK) who wants to hire a domestic worker from the Philippines is advised to secure: (1) visa approval for the domestic worker from the British embassy in Manila; and (2) POEA approval of the employment contract and other pre-departure requirements.

A. Visa Requirements

A Filipino worker or a British national in the UK may be qualified to hire a domestic worker from the Philippines provided that all the requirements for the issuance of an overseas domestic worker visa to the UK are substantially complied with.

A domestic worker visa category includes nannies, cooks, gardeners, chauffer, and other household workers.

Under the UK Immigration rules, one of the important requirements is that the applicant for a domestic worker visa must have previously worked with the employer for at least one (1) year prior to the date of application. It is thus necessary to show that there is a connection between the applicant and the employer.

The applicant must also satisfy the other following requirements: (1) must be aged 18-65; (2) intends to travel to the UK in the company of the employer or the latter’s spouse or minor child; (3) intends to work full-time with the employer; (4) can maintain and accommodate herself/himself, as certified by the employer, without recourse to public funds.

An entry visa issued by the British embassy/consulate is necessary to enable the domestic worker to come and work in the UK without need of a work permit.

To facilitate the visa application, the following steps and procedures are suggested:

  1. Secure and accomplish the following forms from the British Embassy: (i) Visa Application Form (VAF 1 Non-Settlement); (ii) Employer’s undertaking to provide worker’s maintenance and accommodation with statement of the main terms and conditions of employment. You may download the forms from www.ukvisas.gov.uk.
  2. Prepare a contract of employment in UK. Sample form can be obtained from the Labor Section, Philippine Embassy or may be downloaded from the Forms section. Prior to verification and authentication by the Labor Attache and Consular Officer respectively of the Philippine Embassy, the employment contract must first be notarized by a UK Solicitor/Notary Public, and legalized by the UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office.
  3. Send the above application form, letter-undertaking and employment contract to your domestic worker-applicant in the Philippines together with the following supporting documents (non-exhaustive):
    • Financial evidence from the employer showing ability to support and accommodate worker in the UK, such as: (a) up to date bank statements at least 6 months prior to date of application; (b) tenancy agreement or proof of homeownership; (c) confirmation of how many people are presently renting or living in the property;
    • Documentary evidence showing that domestic worker-applicant have worked in the employer’s household continuously for 12 months prior to application, such as employment contract, payment of SSS contributions, if any, proof of salary payments, school certification (if acting as guardian), and others;
  4. The domestic worker-applicant must submit the above completed visa application form and supporting documents to the British embassy together with his/her passport, recent passport sized color photo (45mm X 35mm), and visa fee (non-refundable).

Please note that the aforementioned documents are by no means exhaustive. You may submit all possible documents available to you to support the application. Moreover, said documents are subject to evaluation by the entry clearance officer at the British embassy/consulate who has the discretion to grant or refuse said application.

B. POEA Requirements

Upon the issuance of visa, the domestic worker must submit to the processes of the POEA for purposes of documentation and approval of his/her travel documents, including issuance of exit clearance (OEC).

Domestic workers are normally processed as name hires (household workers) at the POEA.

The following requirements/documents must be accomplished / submitted:

  1. Contract of Employment signed by the worker and employer, duly verified by the Labor Attache and authenticated by the Consular Section of the Philippine Embassy with prior notarization from the Solicitor/Notary Public in UK and legalization from the Foreign & Commonwealth Office, UK;
  2. Proof of Visa
  3. Valid Passport
  4. 1 2×2 Picture
  5. Medical Result
  6. PDOS Certificate
  7. Payment of POEA Processing fee and OWWA contribution
  8. Others