What UK families should know to hire a housekeeper from abroad: right to work checks, visas and payroll.

Hiring an International Housekeeper in the UK

Hiring a housekeeper from abroad in the UK: right-to-work checks, visas and good practice.

Quick answer: whatever their nationality, you must check every employee's right to work in the UK before they start, and keep evidence. Beyond that, employment follows the same rules — minimum wage, PAYE payroll, contract, holiday and pension.

Many households employ help from abroad. The key extra step is a legal one: the right-to-work check.

The right-to-work check

  • Check before the first day and keep a copy of the evidence.
  • Use the online check where a share code applies, or approved documents.
  • The duty applies to everyone you employ, not only non-UK nationals.

The same obligations

Once the right to work is confirmed, employment follows the ordinary rules: minimum wage, PAYE payroll, a written contract, 5.6 weeks' holiday and pension auto-enrolment where eligible.

Practical tips

  • Clarify the working language and instructions.
  • Check references, as for any hire.
  • Put everything in the contract.

Official sources

Conclusion

Do the right-to-work check first, then apply the usual rules: employing someone from abroad is straightforward and secure.

See also

FAQ

Do I have to check the right to work?

Yes — every employer must carry out and record a right-to-work check before employment starts. It's a legal requirement and protects you from penalties.

Can I sponsor a visa for a housekeeper?

Sponsoring a domestic worker is complex and tightly limited. In practice most families hire people who already have the right to work in the UK.