Child minders for relatives: VAT24

Published 11 December 2013

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This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/child-minders-for-relatives-vat24/child-minders-for-relatives-vat24

1. VAT24.1 When can a person seeking entry as a child minder qualify as a visitor?

It is acceptable for visitors to act as a temporary child minder for relatives where:

the applicant is a close relative of one of the child’s parents, for example, parent, brother, sister, in-law. (More distant relatives are acceptable only if they have formed part of the family unit overseas or are the closest surviving relatives of the parent);
neither parent is able to supervise the daytime care of the child;
it is not simply an arrangement to enable both parents to take gainful employment (that is, the arrangement should be to help in a temporary situation only);
neither parent is in a category leading to settlement;
the applicant will not receive a salary (except provision of board, accommodation and pocket money);
the applicant intends to remain in the UK for not more than 6 months.

But if it is suspected that the arrangement amounts to employment, paid or unpaid, the application should be refused on those grounds.

Child minders may qualify for entry clearance as overseas domestic workers. (See WRK2.1).

Visitors coming to act as temporary child minders for relatives would be treated as family visitors. For more information see the Appeals section.