Dubai Maid Visa 2025: Fees, Documents, and How to Apply

Around 5% of the population of the UAE are domestic workers – and demand is rising. With an easy process and with the maid visa cost Dubai being affordable, this demand will continue to rise. According to recent research, the UAE spends around three billion dollars annually on domestic help. 

If you’re interested in hiring domestic help and obtaining a maid visa in the UAE, take a deep dive into our latest guide to explore up-to-date costs and requirements. Let’s start with

Understanding Maid Visa Cost Dubai

The maid visa UAE cost comprises several components. It’s important to understand each part to budget accurately. 

• Visa Application Fees: This fee is paid to the GDRFA for processing the visa application. It can vary, but generally, it’s around AED 300-500.
• Medical Examination: The domestic worker must undergo a medical fitness test at a government-approved medical center. This typically costs around AED 300-350.
• Emirates ID: The Emirates ID is mandatory for all residents. The fee for this is approximately AED 370.
• Typing Center Fees: Typing centers handle the application process, usually ranging from AED 200-300.
• Security Deposit (if applicable): In some cases, a security deposit may be required, which can vary. This is usually refundable.
• Flight Ticket: The employer is responsible for the domestic workers flight ticket to the UAE. 
• Visa stamping: Visa stamping inside the passport of the domestic worker, which costs around 100-150 AED.
• Estimated Total Cost: The total maid visa cost Sharjah, excluding agency fees and flight tickets, can range from roughly AED 1,300 to AED 1,670.

If you are going through a domestic worker agency, you will need to account for this cost as well, adding it to the total maid visa cost Dubai.

Benefits of Hiring a Maid in Dubai or the UAE

For busy business owners and aspiring entrepreneurs, time is everything. Many choose to hire help, often in the form of a nanny or maid. In the UAE, understanding the maid visa cost Dubai is an important first step.

• Affordability of maid visa: While employers are required to pay domestic workers a minimum wage and most choose to pay more, the maid visa Dubai price is more affordable than most people assume.
• More time to focus on business: By delegating chores and cleaning to a domestic worker, you can reserve your time and energy for building a business that thrives and spending time with family and friends.
• Help create jobs with maid visa: Many individuals seeking employment as domestic help have families of their own to provide for. The demand for work is rising alongside the demand for help.
• Safe, lawful employment: This might seem like an obvious point, but many expats fail to realize that hiring a maid on a casual basis can land them in hot water. The Ministry of Labour fines individuals for employing workers that are not sponsored by you or workers paid on a cash-in-hand basis. By obtaining the maid visa yourself, you can be secure in the knowledge that you are employing help lawfully.

New regulations for hiring domestic workers in UAE

Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 came into force on December 15, 2022, and provides rules for housemaid visa in UAE. Under the new maid visa Dubai requirements, a domestic worker in the UAE can only be hired if a license is first secured from the MoHRE.

Domestic workers must be over the age of 18, have the necessary medical examinations and have a formal employment contract.

Categories exempted from the new regulation

According to UAE’s new domestic worker’s law, recruitment of maids and nannies is limited to licensed agencies. However, some residents are allowed to hire domestic help under their sponsorship, and these include those who hold Golden Visas. This category can sponsor an “unlimited number of domestic helpers”, including those looking for a nanny visa Dubai, housemaids, cooks, gardeners, family drivers, farm workers, private tutors, private nurses, personal trainers, personal assistants, and guards, among others. Find out more about maid visa cost for Golden Visa holders if you fall under this category.

Obligations of the employers towards domestic workers

As an employer, it is essential that you comply with the UAE’s rules regarding hiring a housemaid by providing:

• The facilities needed for the worker to perform their duties effectively
• Appropriate accommodation
• Meals and clothing
• Timely payment of remuneration
• Medical care or health insurance
• Respect and safety
• Compensation for work injuries and occupational diseases

You must also fully cover the maid visa cost Dubai in totality.

Obligations of the domestic worker

Domestic workers are required to follow the obligations outlined in employment contracts, in addition to the following:

• Perform their duties under the supervision of the employer and in compliance with the provisions of the employment contract
• Maintain a high standard of care and diligence while performing their duties
• Refrain from absenteeism without a valid reason
• Observe the customs and traditions of the UAE’s community
• Care for and maintain the items in their possession or dispose of them by following the necessary safekeeping procedures
• Respect the privacy of the workplace

The Process of Getting a Housemaid Visa Dubai

Step 1: Check eligibility

Before you start the process of getting a 1 year maid visa Dubai, you need to make sure you’re eligible to sponsor a home worker.

Step 2: Choose a method

Decide the method of bringing your workers to the UAE. The process can be done through a specialized agency, or you can initiate it yourself through Tadbeer centers. The centers offer different packages, you can pick the one that suits you.

Step 3: Prepare the documents

You’ll need to ensure you have obtained an entry permit for your maid. They will also need to undergo a medical examination within 30 days of entering the country to apply for an Emirates ID card. You will then need to submit a number of documents on their behalf, including:

• The completed application form.
• A copy of both the maid’s passport and the sponsor’s.
• Sponsor’s residence visas.
• Attested marriage certificate.
• Original Emirates ID
• An affidavit from the embassy or consulate of non-relationship is provided in case the maid is from the same country.
• Maid’s Medical Fitness Certificate issued in her country.
• A bank statement from the past three months.
• Proof of accommodation or a tenancy contract with a minimum of two bedrooms.
• A salary certificate of sponsorship in Arabic for government employees or a labour contract for private employees.
• A labour contract from the sponsor’s employer.
• Three passport photos
  

You should also note that all of these forms must be signed by an authorized typing centre before submission. You must also pay the total cost of maid visa cost Dubai.

Step 4: Bring your maid to Dubai

After finding the right candidate, you can start the process of sponsoring and bringing the worker to the UAE. This step includes several procedures:

• Applying for the maid’s work permit.
• Medical Fitness exam and Emirates ID registration.
• Receiving the Domestic Worker Identity Card.
  

Step 5: Get an Emirates ID

Get an Emirates ID handled for your maid through any authorized typist or the official government portals. This is a part of the maid visa cost Dubai you will have to incur.

Processing time and expected delays

The processing time for a maid visa UAE can vary, but generally, it can take anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks, once all required documents are submitted. Recent governmental streamlining is aimed to decrease those wait times. However, potential delays can occur due to incomplete documentation, medical test results, or high application volumes.

Expert Tips to Overcome Challenges for Maid Visa

Common challenges include incomplete paperwork and medical delays. Double-check all documents and payments for maid visa cost Dubai against official requirements and schedule medical tests promptly. Clear communication is key; consider using a translator or agency to avoid misunderstandings.

Renewing Your Maid Visa in Dubai

For maid visa renewal Dubai, you need to submit a renewal application and an online medical request form. These forms can be obtained from an authorized typist and submitted to any GDRFA office near you after paying the required fees for maid visa renewal cost Dubai.

If You Need To Cancel Your Maid Visa in Dubai

The process of canceling the maid visa is simple and fast. You can seek the help of a typing center or process it yourself online through the GDRFA website.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)