Domestic Worker Visa
Sponsor your nanny or maid.We'll handle the maid visa.
Get your domestic worker's UAE residency visa processed 100% online. Skip the typing centres and let our experts handle the GDRFA and MOHRE paperwork.
Domestic worker visa
We handle it end-to-end
- Entry permit & status change
- DHA medical + Emirates ID
- MOHRE labour contract
- GDRFA residency stamping
100% online · stamping in 5–7 working days
Important: salary & accommodation rules
To sponsor a maid in Dubai, the sponsor needs a minimum monthly salary of AED 25,000 (or AED 22,000 with company-provided accommodation). Bachelors cannot sponsor a domestic worker — you must be living with your family, in a home with at least two bedrooms.
How it works
The maid visa journey.
The complete legal roadmap for securing your domestic worker's UAE residency — handled online, start to finish.
1
Entry permit
We apply for the initial employment entry permit (the "pink visa") that lets your maid enter the UAE or begin a status change.
2
Status change
If the maid is already inside the UAE on a visit visa, we process the official status change to an employment visa.
3
Medical fitness
We type the medical application. The maid attends a DHA medical centre for the standard blood test and x-ray.
4
Emirates ID & biometrics
We submit the Emirates ID application. For a first EID, she visits an ICP centre for fingerprinting.
5
MOHRE labour contract
We draft and submit the official Ministry of Human Resources & Emiratisation (MOHRE) domestic worker contract.
Visa stamping
The digital residency visa is issued by GDRFA and the physical Emirates ID is couriered to you.
Paperwork
Documents required.
Have clear colour copies of each ready — blurry scans are the most common reason for a GDRFA rejection.
Sponsor (employer)
- Passport & visa copy
- Emirates ID copy
- Salary certificate / labour contract
- Ejari tenancy contract (min. 2 bedrooms)
Domestic worker
- Passport copy
- Recent photograph (white background)
- Tourist / visit visa copy (if inside the UAE)
- Entry stamp (if already arrived)
From our desk
Absconding Domestic Worker: Sponsor StepsAbsconding domestic worker in the UAE: report after more than 7 days — GDRFA in Dubai, MOHRE (AED 315) elsewhere. Steps, liabilities, visa cancellation.Razeeb Abdulla · 15 Oct 2026
Tadbeer Maid Visa 2026: Cost & How It WorksTadbeer maid visa explained: the centre sponsors your maid for 2 years for about AED 7,000–9,000 plus AED 100–150 a month. Packages, cost, vs own visa.Razeeb Abdulla · 15 Oct 2026
Nanny Visa Dubai 2026: Cost & RequirementsNanny visa in Dubai: the same domestic-worker visa as a maid — Tadbeer AED 7,000–9,000 for 2 years or your own visa with AED 25,000+ income. Steps, salary.Razeeb Abdulla · 15 Oct 2026
Recent articles
Recent Maid & Nanny Visa articles
Absconding Domestic Worker: Sponsor StepsAbsconding domestic worker in the UAE: report after more than 7 days — GDRFA in Dubai, MOHRE (AED 315) elsewhere. Steps, liabilities, visa cancellation.Razeeb Abdulla · 15 Oct 2026Tadbeer Maid Visa 2026: Cost & How It WorksTadbeer maid visa explained: the centre sponsors your maid for 2 years for about AED 7,000–9,000 plus AED 100–150 a month. Packages, cost, vs own visa.Razeeb Abdulla · 15 Oct 2026Nanny Visa Dubai 2026: Cost & RequirementsNanny visa in Dubai: the same domestic-worker visa as a maid — Tadbeer AED 7,000–9,000 for 2 years or your own visa with AED 25,000+ income. Steps, salary.Razeeb Abdulla · 15 Oct 2026
Good to know
Maid visa questions.
The rules that trip people up most when sponsoring domestic help in the UAE.
Maid & Nanny Visa — frequently asked questions
What salary do I need to sponsor a maid in Dubai?
Expat families are generally expected to show household income of around AED 25,000 per month, though thresholds can vary by case and channel. We pre-check your eligibility before you commit to anything.
Can a bachelor sponsor a maid?
Single men generally cannot sponsor a female domestic worker in Dubai — sponsorship is intended for families. Exceptions exist for documented medical needs, subject to approval.
How much does a maid visa cost?
A licensed-centre package for a 2-year visa starts around AED 8,500–9,000 including the permit, medical, Emirates ID and basic insurance. Direct family sponsorship typically runs AED 15,000–17,000 plus a refundable AED 2,000 deposit. We quote your exact case up front.
Do I have to hire through a Tadbeer centre?
Recruitment of domestic workers runs through MOHRE-licensed Tadbeer service centres, which process the contract, work permit, visa, medical and Emirates ID as one package. We coordinate the whole process for you from start to finish.
Is there a minimum salary I must pay my maid?
Yes — minimums are set by the worker's embassy and depend on nationality. The Philippines raised its minimum to USD 500 (about AED 1,835) per month from October 2025; Indian workers are typically AED 1,200+. Salaries must be paid monthly through the bank.
How long is a maid visa valid and when should I renew?
The residence visa is issued for two years. Start the renewal at least 30 days before expiry — it needs a fresh medical test, insurance and Emirates ID renewal, which we run as one job.
What are my legal obligations as a sponsor?
Under the UAE Domestic Workers Law: monthly salary paid through the bank (WPS), at least 12 hours of daily rest, one paid day off per week, 30 days of paid annual leave, paid sick leave, and the cost of a return ticket home at the end of service.
Is health insurance mandatory for domestic workers?
Yes — since January 2025 every domestic worker must have health insurance, starting from about AED 320 per year for the basic MOHRE-compliant plan. We include it in the visa package.
Is part-time house help legal in Dubai?
Only through licensed centres that employ the worker on their own visa and hire her out hourly, daily or monthly. Using a maid who is sponsored by another family is illegal, and both households can be fined.
What are the fines for an illegal maid arrangement?
Employing a domestic worker without a valid work permit — including on a tourist visa or someone else's sponsorship — carries fines from AED 50,000 up to AED 200,000. If a worker absconds, file a report with MOHRE promptly; if employment ends, cancel the visa properly to avoid liability.
How much does a maid visa cost in Dubai?
About AED 8,000 for a 1-year visa on your own sponsorship, or AED 7,000–9,000 for a 2-year visa through a Tadbeer centre, plus a monthly fee of AED 100–150. The maid's salary, flight and any recruitment fee come on top.
Is Tadbeer cheaper than sponsoring a maid myself?
Yes. Own sponsorship costs about AED 8,000 for a 1-year visa, while Tadbeer costs AED 7,000–9,000 for a 2-year visa, so own sponsorship is almost double. Tadbeer also needs no income threshold and far fewer documents, in exchange for a monthly fee of AED 100–150. For most families we recommend Tadbeer.
What documents do I need to sponsor a maid?
Passports, visas and Emirates IDs of the sponsor and spouse, the attested marriage certificate, salary proof showing more than AED 25,000 together, the tenancy contract and a utility bill, and the maid's passport and photo; a no-relationship certificate if she has your nationality.
Is the maid visa process in Abu Dhabi different from Dubai?
Mostly no. The income rule, the MOHRE work permit, the health insurance and the medical test apply in both. The main difference is the residence authority: ICP issues the residence in Abu Dhabi, GDRFA in Dubai. Abu Dhabi also uses its own medical centres and Tawtheeq tenancy contracts.
Which authority handles the maid visa in Abu Dhabi?
Two authorities. MOHRE issues the domestic worker's work permit and contract, and ICP issues the residence visa and the Emirates ID. Since October 2025 both are handled in one application on the Work Bundle platform.
How much does a maid visa cost in Abu Dhabi?
About AED 8,000 for a 1-year visa on your own sponsorship. Through a Tadbeer centre it is about AED 7,000–9,000 for a 2-year visa, plus AED 100–150 a month. The amount shown in the system when you apply is final.
Is there Tadbeer in Abu Dhabi?
Yes. Tadbeer centres are licensed by MOHRE and operate in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain and the other emirates. The maid can be sponsored by the centre, so you do not need the AED 25,000 income.
How early can I renew my maid's visa in Dubai?
Start in the last few weeks before the expiry date. Renewing one to six months early, for example because of travel, needs special approval from the immigration authority.
What if my maid's visa has already expired?
Renew it as soon as possible. Once the visa and its grace period have run out, an overstay fine of AED 50 a day is added, and it is paid with the renewal. The Emirates ID fine is AED 20 a day after 30 days, up to AED 1,000.
What documents are needed for maid visa renewal in Dubai?
The maid's passport (valid at least 3 months) and a colour photo, her previous Emirates ID, the sponsor's Emirates ID, a copy of the health insurance and the employment contract signed by both sides. Own sponsors may also be asked for income proof and an Ejari.
How much does maid visa renewal cost in Dubai?
The renewal repeats the insurance, medical, Emirates ID and residence steps but no new entry permit, so it usually costs less than the first visa, which is about AED 8,000 for 1 year. The amount shown in the system is final.
How do I sponsor a nanny in Dubai?
Either through a Tadbeer centre, which sponsors the nanny on a 2-year visa for about AED 7,000–9,000 plus AED 100–150 a month, or on your own visa if your household income is above AED 25,000 a month.
How much does a nanny visa cost in Dubai?
About AED 7,000–9,000 for 2 years through Tadbeer, or about AED 8,000 for a 1-year visa on your own sponsorship. Golden Visa holders pay about AED 15,000 for a 2-year own visa.
Is a nanny visa different from a maid visa?
No. A nanny gets the same domestic-worker visa as a housemaid; only the job title on the permit and contract changes to nanny or babysitter.
Can I hire a nanny through Tadbeer?
Yes. Tadbeer centres provide nannies as well as housemaids. The centre is the sponsor, and you pay the salary through the centre each month.
What is the Tadbeer maid visa?
It is a domestic-worker visa where a Tadbeer centre, licensed by MOHRE, is the maid's sponsor. The centre handles the visa, medical test, Emirates ID, insurance and renewal; you pay the visa price and send the maid's salary to the centre every month.
How much does the Tadbeer maid visa cost?
About AED 7,000–9,000 for a 2-year visa, depending on the centre, plus a monthly fee of AED 100–150. Over two years that is about AED 9,400–12,600 before the maid's salary.
Is Tadbeer mandatory for hiring a maid in the UAE?
No. You can hire through a Tadbeer centre, a MOHRE-licensed private recruitment agency, or sponsor a maid on your own visa if your household income is above AED 25,000. Hiring from an unlicensed source is not allowed.
What should I do if my maid absconds in Dubai?
Check she is safe, try to reach her and keep records. If she is still missing after more than 7 days, file an absconding report with GDRFA through an Amer centre or GDRFA. If she is on a Tadbeer visa, tell the centre, which reports it.
How many days before I can report an absconding domestic worker?
MOHRE's service page says the worker must be absent for more than 7 days, with her location unknown and no way to contact her.
How much does an absconding report cost?
Outside Dubai MOHRE lists AED 315, and business centres may add a commission of up to AED 72. In Dubai the report goes through GDRFA and you pay the fee shown when you apply.
How long does an absconding report take?
About 2 working days for MOHRE and ICP to check it. You receive the decision by SMS and email.
Ready to sponsor your domestic worker?
Send us a message and we'll check your eligibility, then handle the GDRFA & MOHRE paperwork from start to finish — no typing-centre visit needed.