How to employ an overseas nanny in the UK
Those who live in the UK and have children often would want to employ a nanny or au pair from overseas.
Prior to Brexit, you could quite easily recruit EU nationals who were permitted to work in the UK without the need for a work visa. After Brexit this is no longer possible, and you need to either find someone who is local or who holds a visa category that allows them to work in the UK.
The visa categories that foreign nannies and au pair can use are Youth Mobility visa and Ancestry visa. Those visa holders can work as a nanny or au pair during their visa validity. However, unfortunately there are not that many of them who would like to work as a nanny or au pair. This is why UK families may need to look for other visa options if they plan to have an overseas nanny.
In certain circumstances until before April 2024 employers could obtain a sponsorship licence and employ a nanny or au pair on Skilled Worker work visa. However, this option is no longer available.
Those who obtained the skilled worker visa for their nanny before the recent changes, can continue sponsoring the nanny and extend their visa. However, on a positive note the new immigration rules applicable from 4th April 2024 do allow to obtain Skilled Worker visa for Soc Code 6114 Childminders (including jobs such as baby sitter, childminder, mother’s help, nurse maid).
UK ‘Skilled Worker’ sponsorship work visa for an overseas nanny or au pair
The previous UK Skilled Worker visa immigration rules specifically mentioned Au pair, Child care assistant, Child minder and Nanny, as the jobs that qualify for UK Skilled Worker visa. However, it is crucial to note that since April 2024 nanny Soc Code no longer qualify for the Skilled Worker visa. In the Appendix Skilled Occupations you will still find the ‘Soc Code 6122 Childminders and related occupations’ but it can only be used for skilled worker visa extension and Indefinite Leave to Remain applications for those who were already granted nanny skilled worker visas before 4th April 2024.
Instead, the new immigration rules applicable from 4th April 2024 do allow to obtain Skilled Worker visa for Soc Code 6114 Childminders (including jobs such as baby sitter, childminder, mother’s help, nurse maid).
| 6114 Childminders | • Baby sitter • Childminder • Mother’s help • Nurse maid |
Skilled Worker visa requirements
The UK immigration rules set out specific requirements for Skilled Worker visa. Main requirement is that the employer business needs to have a sponsor licence. Unfortunately individual household cannot be a sponsor under the Skilled Worker visa. It has to be a business.
An overseas worker needs to know English language to CEFR Level B1 and be of good character without criminal record.
Conclusions – UK sponsored work visa for nanny
The Skilled Worker visa option for nanny and au pairs is no longer available as of April 2024. However, extension and Indefinite Leave to Remain (ILR) applications are still possible for those nannies who already obtained the visa before the law changed.
The good news is that from 4th April 2024 there is an option to obtain Skilled Worker visa under Soc Code 6114 Childminders (including jobs such as baby sitter, childminder, mother’s help, nurse maid).
