Overview of domestic worker sponsorship in the UAE
Moving to the UAE opens the door to opportunity, especially in career advancement. Skilled professionals are moving to Dubai to find a better life, which is usually attributed to a better salary. Sometimes, these careers come with long days that leave little time for domestic duties.
In Dubai’s high-octane professional environment, many choose to hire a domestic worker to take care of the cooking, cleaning, and keeping the family home in order. To that end, we at Remitly would like to help make your transition to life in the UAE as simple as possible. We’ve put together an overview of the legal requirements around hiring a domestic worker, and take you through the steps involved.
Benefits of sponsoring domestic workers
Sponsoring a domestic worker in the UAE comes with various practical and personal benefits that enhance household efficiency and overall quality of life. For families with demanding work schedules or young children, having a trusted helper at home can provide crucial support in managing daily chores, childcare, and elderly care. This added assistance allows you as a sponsor to maintain a balanced lifestyle, reduce stress, and focus on other things like your career, decoding the UAE banking system, or finding a school for your children.
In addition to being convenient, sponsoring a domestic worker helps build continuity and consistency in household management. Hiring help on an hourly or part-time basis will not offer the same comfort as full-time sponsorship, especially with household routines, preferences, and standards. Over time, sponsoring leads to a better living environment and a sense of mutual trust and reliability. On a legal and ethical level, sponsoring a domestic worker means taking responsibility for their visa, accommodation, and working conditions, which helps ensure fair treatment and compliance with UAE labour laws.
Understanding new laws and regulations
In October 2017, the UAE issued Federal Law No. 10 of 2017, a major step in regulation focused on the domestic labour sector and the protection of the rights of both workers and employers. The law covers 19 categories of domestic workers, including housemaids, nannies, private drivers, gardeners, cooks, guards, housekeepers, private nurses, personal trainers, tutors, and other similar roles. The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiritisation (MOHRE) continues to track the rights of domestic workers, releasing Federal Law No. 9 of 2022, which focuses on the amendments of the laws concerning domestic workers.
UAE Domestic Labour Law key points
The UAE Domestic Labour Law is based on the principle of informed consent. This means that domestic workers must be fully informed by contract the nature of the duties they are expected to perform, the place of work, the wages they will receive, and the rest periods to which they are entitled.
Federal Law No. 10 of 2017 introduced provisions to the Domestic Labour Law, stipulating one paid rest day per week and 12 hours of rest per day, including 8 hours of consecutive rest. Additionally, domestic workers are entitled to 30 days of paid annual leave, and a round-trip ticket to their home country every two years. The law also provides for 30 days of sick leave per year.
As the sponsor, you have a duty to ensure that your domestic worker is familiar with the terms and conditions of their employment contract. The worker is required to grant informed consent to their new employment before crossing national borders. Another key point to note is that UAE Domestic Labour Law expressly proscribes discrimination of employees on the basis of race, colour, gender, religion, or political opinion.
Eligibility and requirements for sponsors
The process of sponsoring domestic workers is quite a chore. So before you become embroiled in the paperwork, first and foremost, make sure you are eligible to be a sponsor. You will need to be a UAE resident with an Emirates ID and a valid residence visa. There are also financial requirements, and your salary will need to meet a minimum threshold set by the government.
Typically, domestic workers are sponsored by families. If you live alone, it may be difficult for you to justify the need for a domestic worker in any capacity. Keep in mind that you will need to offer suitable accommodation for the employee, and provide them with meals and clothing. What’s more, it’s your duty to furnish the place of work with the facilities needed by the domestic worker to perform their specific duties effectively.
Step-by-step guide to sponsoring a domestic worker
In chronological order, here are the steps to procure a domestic worker visa.
Open a sponsor file
If this is your first time sponsoring a dependent or a domestic worker, the first step is to open a sponsor file. You can expect to wait 24 hours for approval. Once the sponsor file is ready, you will be notified by text message.
Entry permit
If you are not a UAE citizen, you will be asked to pay a deposit of AED 2,000 when applying for an entry permit for your prospective domestic worker. Don’t be alarmed: this will be refunded to your bank account in due course. Remember to have your IBAN handy to indicate where you want the refund sent.
You will receive a text message alert once the entry permit has been approved. The Ministry of Interior—General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (MOI-GDRFA) will then email you the entry permit.
Change of status
The process is slightly different if the domestic worker you plan to hire is already located in the UAE—perhaps as a visitor or under a cancelled visa. In this case, they will be issued a ‘change of status’ document. You will need this document to apply for their residency visa. Take good note of the expiry date, as the change of status is valid for 60 days at most, and once it expires the residency visa application becomes invalid.
Once the document has been issued, you will be informed by email by MOI-GDRFA.
Medical Fitness Test
Before a residency visa can be issued, domestic workers must pass a medical fitness test in an approved government health centre. The medical fitness certificate is valid for 90 days.
Emirates ID
The domestic worker you sponsor will need an Emirates ID before their residency visa can be approved. This step adds another tight timeline. If they are applying for the first time, they will need to complete biometrics within 10 days, or the application will become invalid.
Medical insurance
This is mandatory for all domestic workers. You must submit your employee’s certificate of medical fitness and Emirates ID application. The insurance policy will be issued once the employment contract has been signed.
Employment contract
The employment contract must be compliant with the provisions of UAE Domestic Labour Law, as previously outlined. Crucially, domestic workers must agree to all employment contract terms based on the principle of informed consent.
Apply for a residency visa
You’ll be happy to hear that this is the final step in the process. Once the application for a residency visa has been approved, the stamp or sticker will be added to your domestic worker’s passport. A residency visa is valid for one year for expat sponsors; for Emirati or Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) sponsors, it is valid for two years.
Additional resources
While there is no doubt that a domestic helper can improve your quality of life at home, the process of procuring a domestic worker visa does take time. If you are exploring the job market in the UAE, it’s also a good time to become familiar with the steps involved in finding household help. Below are a few additional resources to help you with the process.
Useful contacts and government offices
The Ministry of Interior—General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (MOI-GDRFA) issues the various documents necessary for domestic worker sponsorship. You may find it useful to consult the government resource page on domestic workers.
Online platforms and assistance services
Tadbeer Services is a one-stop shop for entry permit documents. It is a public-private partnership mandated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) to provide visa-related services. If you’re interested in sponsoring a domestic worker, consider booking a consultation with Tadbeer.
FAQs
How to apply for a domestic helper in the UAE?
To sponsor a domestic worker visa, you must open a sponsor file and apply for a series of government-issued documents, including an entry permit, an Emirates ID, and a residency visa. The worker will also need to pass a medical fitness test, obtain medical insurance, and receive an employment contract that is compliant with UAE Domestic Labour Law.
What are the new rules for a housemaid visa in the UAE?
The sponsor must be a UAE resident, hold an Emirates ID, and have a valid residency visa. The sponsor’s salary must also meet a minimum threshold. Domestic worker laws are regulated by UAE Domestic Labour Law.
How much does it cost to sponsor a maid in Dubai?
The cost will vary depending on whether you choose to complete the paperwork yourself or hire an agency to help with the process. Many people choose to outsource this task to Tadbeer, the government-appointed one-stop shop. Tadbeer offers a fast-track package for a two-year domestic worker visa, including insurance, for an estimated cost of AED 8,500.