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Updated November 2023

Managing daily chores may present a challenge for the typical household in Dubai. Families need assistance to help them handle things like cooking, cleaning, babysitting, and so on. To address this, the UAE government facilitates its residents by way of allowing them to employ domestic workers.

Conversely, people from different parts of the world who have the skills and inclination to take on such tasks are also being facilitated to legally work and live in Dubai as domestic workers by way of the maid visa. Keep on reading to learn more about the maid visa, including its requirements, eligibility, cost, application procedure, and more.

Table of Contents

What is the maid visa Dubai?

A maid visa is a visa permitting hired domestic workers from other countries to stay in the UAE within the duration of their contract.

A maid visa, also known as a domestic worker visa or a tadbeer visa, is part of a government service called the tadbeer program which aims to facilitate both workers and employers in the UAE. The service also looks to ensure that the welfare of the domestic worker is guaranteed.

The maid visa can only be applied for by the employers provided the contract between the domestic worker and employer has been established.

UAE maid visa validity

The UAE tadbeer visa has a validity of one year and must be renewed each year.

UAE maid visa eligibility requirements

The sponsors need to meet the following criteria to be eligible for the domestic worker visa:

have a monthly salary of no less than AED 10,000 and AED 25,000 for residents and expats respectively
must be married
must be the head of the family

There are also requirements that need to be met by the workers:

must not be younger than 18 years of age
must be from the Philippines, Indonesia, India, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

Maid visa Dubai required documents

It is compulsory for both the workers and the sponsors to provide the required documents. However, note that the requirements may vary depending on the category.

For domestic workers:

original passport
current visa copy (visit visa or canceled visa)
passport-size photo with white background

For sponsors/employers:

passport
visa page copy
original Emirates ID

For GCC nationals:

passport
visa page copy of the husband and wife
title deed or tenancy contract/Ejari
salary certificate

Expat sponsors should provide the following documents:

passports of the sponsor and the spouse
color photograph with white background
attested marriage certificate with legal translation in Arabic
labor contract
salary certificate
a tenancy contract showing a minimum of two bedrooms attested through the Ejari online system
original electricity and water bill under the name of the sponsor or spouse
proof that the maid is not related to the sponsor and spouse
international bank account number

Maid visa Dubai conditions and obligations

The Federal Decree-Law No. (9) of 2022 by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation regarding domestic workers which came into force as of 15 December 2022, establishes a comprehensive framework to regulate labour relations for the recruitment and employment of domestic workers in the UAE.

According to the new law, recruitment or temporary employment of domestic workers is only allowed if a relevant license from the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE) is obtained. Here are the other conditions and obligations that must be followed according to the new law:

Recruitment agencies’ obligations:

The domestic worker must not be recruited from their country unless they are informed of the nature of the work, salary and other benefits and evidence of their fitness, health conditions, psychological and occupational status.
Necessary medical examinations for the domestic worker must be conducted within a period not exceeding (30) days before entering the country.
Recruitment agencies must provide an alternative worker or refund the recruitment fees to the employer if the contract was breached or the worker was found incompetent or shows an improper personal attitude.
The domestic worker must be educated about the custom and system of the UAE society
Recruitment agencies should give awareness to the domestic worker about the worker’s rights and direct them to the proper channels in the event that their rights or freedom are violated
Recruitment agencies must not demand or receive any commission or financial reward from the workers to bring them to work in the UAE or for carrying out the process to start working in the country
The employer must be provided with any documentation that proves the payment of wages to the worker

Employers’ obligations:

Provide the worker with the requirements for performing the agreed-upon duties, including appropriate accommodation, food & clothing.
Treat the domestic worker properly, preserve their dignity and physical integrity, and pay their salary based on the agreed employment contract.
Bear the costs of any medical care for the worker, or provide health insurance following the applicable legislation.
Provide compensation for work injuries and occupational diseases.

Domestic workers’ obligations:

Workers must perform the work as per the guidance and supervision of the employer and the employment contract and not interrupt work without an acceptable excuse
Maintain a high standard of care and diligence while performing their duties
Consider the culture and traditions of the UAE society and adhere to public decency and the employer’s instructions in implementing the work agreed upon unless it violates the contract, the law, or public morals or if it exposes them to danger or legal accountability
Respect the privacy of the workplace, preserve the employer’s property, work tools, and everything in their custody
Provide necessary aid and assistance in the event of disasters and hazards that threaten the workplace and its occupants

How to apply for the UAE maid visa?

Sponsors are able to apply for the tadbeer visa through the tadbeer visa services by following these steps:

go to tadbeervisa.com and find the desired service
visit the tadbeer office
submit the required documents
pay the visa fee
obtain the visa documents

Please note that you can also use services from other agencies to issue your maid visa. You should check whether the company you choose is certified by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

What is the cost of maid visa Dubai?

The cost of a domestic worker visa varies across visa issuance service agencies. For UAE residents and GCC nationals, the cost would be around AED 4,400 for 1 year of validity.

For expats, the cost would be around AED 9,600 for 1 year of validity or AED 10,000 for two-year validity.

Maid visa Dubai renewal

The UAE maid visa can be renewed once its validity is almost over. The procedure is similar but with different costs. Generally, the cost is much lower than the cost of the initial issuance.

Maid visa renewal costs AED 2,496 for UAE residents and GCC nationals, while the cost for expat sponsors is AED 7,030.

UAE maid visa cancellation

Once the contract or the visa period is almost over and no visa renewal is expected, the sponsors have a responsibility to take care of the cancellation of the visa. Both the sponsors and the workers need to provide their passports and a copy of their visas as well as the Emirates ID for the sponsors.

The cost of the cancellation would be AED 251 if the workers are still inside the country and AED 264 if the workers have been outside of the country for more than 3 months.

Following the cancellation, the workers can stay in the country for up to 30 days to find another sponsor/company or to switch to a tourist visa. After 30 days, they would be required to leave the country to avoid fines.

Maid visa Dubai for golden visa holders

As per the latest announcement by the authorities, Golden Visa holders have the privilege to sponsor an unlimited number of domestic workers. To learn more about the Golden Visa, please consult our dedicated article below.