Sponsoring a Housemaid by an Expatriate Sponsor-Dubai

What are the procedures to sponsor a Housemaid/Nanny in Dubai/UAE?

Maid visa applications to be processed through Tadbeer centre. You can also approach Tadbeer Centre to hire a housemaid according to your requirements.

An expatriate can sponsor a housemaid if the following conditions are met:

Salary: Sponsor’s monthly salary should not be less than Dh25,000.

Yearly Fees: Sponsor should pay Dh5850 as an annual fee at Immigration Department. Payment through Tadbeer Centre. (every year to be repeated. including typing charge).

File opening charge: Dh303 should be paid through Tadbeer centre. If you had paid before, system will not ask again.

The housemaid and the Sponsor/spouse should not be related
The Sponsor should be a resident in the UAE living with his/her family
Medical Insurance should be renewed yearly. Approximate Dh600 per year.

Age Criteria: If the maid is from India, proposed Maid’s age should not be less than 30 years. This the rule of Indian Consulate.
As per the rule of MOHRE, If the maid’s age is above 60, a manual application should be filled in Arabic by the sponsor and attach it with the online application to exempt from the age limit.

All charges, including Deposits, Guarantees, Courier and file opening fees will be processed through Tadbeer centre at the time of application. Refund can be processed only to the sponsor’s Bank Account. IBAN (International Bank Account Number) of the Sponsor (applicant) is required.

You need to visit the immigration (GDRFA) only if such SMS received. You will receive application status SMS about approval or modification. White colour Visa will be mailed to applicant’s E-mail address after approval. If you need pink colour visa, you can visit any GDRFA Dubai branch after receiving approval SMS. No extra fee. Passengers from certain countries need pink colour visa for Emigration clearance.

New Entry Permit for Housemaid Sponsored by an Expatriate

STEPS TO FOLLOW

Make No relation Certificate from your Consulate (This is applicable only if the Maid is from same nationality of the Sponsor). Click here for Indian Consulate Related procedures.

Below mentioned documents are required.

Maid’s and Sponsor’s passport copy (colour)
Colour photograph with white background of Maid and Sponsor each.
Original passport of sponsor and spouse (for scanning).
Original Emirates ID of sponsor.
Original attested marriage Certificate of the sponsor with legal translation in Arabic.
Original Labour Contract. You can print it from Typing Centre or MOHRE website.
Original Salary Certificate, if the sponsor is a Government/Semi-government/Free zone Employee.

Investor: If the sponsor is an Investor/Partner: Original Court Agreement showing his shareholding, copy of the Trade License and Partners List (for LLC).

Tenancy Contract: Original Tenancy Contract consisting of minimum two bedrooms. It has to be attested through Ejari online system of Real Estate Regulatory Authority (RERA). If you are living out of Dubai, bring Municipality attested Tenancy Contract and Electricity bill.

Original Electricity and Water Bill in the name of applicant or spouse.

Affidavit from the Consulate stating that the Maid is not related with the Sponsor and spouse. Separate Affidavit to be made for both Sponsor and spouse. (This is applicable only if the Maid is from same nationality of the Sponsor). Click here for Indian Consulate Related procedures.

IBAN (International Bank Account Number) of the Sponsor (applicant).

Maid’s Salary Agreement will be sent to your mail along with her visa. You should mention her salary at the time of typing Entry Permit application. This contract should be signed by the maid after her entry and to be submitted at the time of visa stamping.

Male Servant: You can apply for male servant/cook also if you meet above mentioned requirements.

If the Maid is inside UAE on cancelled visa or Visit / Tourist Visa, Dh1400 to be paid extra for Status Change (Dh680 to issue visa inside the country and Dh720 for status amendment). In this case no need Indian Consulate related procedures after get issued the visa. But No Relation Certificate from Consulate is must if the Maid is from same nationality of the Sponsor. This certificate is required by UAE Immigration Department at the time of applying for entry visa.

Special approval is required to get maid visa if she is inside country on Tourist Visa.

FINE Travel/Tourism Agency: It is heard that, fine is imposed on Travel/Tourism agency if any Tourist under their sponsorship, changed status to maid/servant visa.

After got visa issued, prepare Maid’s Employment Contract from the concerned Consulate. (Eg: India, Sri Lanka) and send it to her home country for immigration clearance.

Read more about eMigrate for Indian maids.
Click here for the procedures of after entry
Maid’s Visa will be issued same day if the requirements are completed.
Maximum age limit to apply for Maid Visa is 58 years old (varies case to case).
Bachelors are not eligible to sponsor a Maid.
If a family needs more than one maid, the DGDRFA reserves the right to decide depending on the size of the family, income levels, etc.

Wages of MaidsCurrently, maids can be obtained only from India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Nepal, Bangladesh, Indonesia and Ethiopia, each of which has its own stipulations for minimum wages, age and other working conditions.
For example, Indian maids command a minimum salary of Dh1,100. A prepaid mobile phone with SIM card should be given to the housemaid upon arrival.

The rate for Filipina is Dh1460 ($400), Sri Lankan Dh825, Indonesian Dh800, Nepali Dh900 and Bangladeshi Dh750.
Maids from African countries like Ethiopia, Uganda and Kenya are other options.
To sponsor a Nepalese Maid, the employer also needs a Police Clearance Certificate.

Medical, Bio-Metric & Entry Visa from India: If the maid is in India, some applicants will get visa approval reference number only from Immigration. Using this reference number maid has to complete pre-arrival Medical from GAMCA and approach UAE Consulate in Thiruvananthapuram or Embassy in Delhi for bio-metric capture and Entry Visa stamping in the passport.

Medical from Home Country: Maids from Ethiopia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka are required to take a medical fitness test in their home countries before applying for the visa.

Refundable Deposit at Embassy/Consulate: India: Dh9200, Nepal: Dh5000, Sri Lanka: Dh3675. Philippine, Bangladesh, and Indonesian missions do not require security deposits.

Affidavit / No relation Certificate from Indian ConsulateIf the sponsor is an Indian, Affidavit can be made from Indian Consulate/ Embassy. Required documents:

Passport copy of Sponsor, Spouse and Maid.
Original passports of Sponsor and Spouse.
Affidavit Form can be collected from Consulate and filled by hand.
Fees Dh60. Attested Affidavit will be delivered the same time.

Indian Consulate Timing: Sunday to Thursday 8am-12noon. Location: Bur Dubai, Karama, near Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Illegal Maid: Dh50,000 is what you may have to cough up in fines for hiring an illegal maid.

Dos and don’ts to avoid trouble with maids

Give the maid a true picture of what to expect before she comes to work for you. Make her understand she is not coming for a holiday abroad
Choose a maid who does not have an ailing husband or small kids back home. They may have genuine concerns and can easily become homesick
Wait for a month before you stamp the visa on the passport. That gives you enough time to study her behaviour and commitment to work.
Don’t let your housemaid go out unaccompanied for a long period of time. You are inviting trouble.
Always keep monthly salary slips and make your maid signs on them on their pay day. You may need to show proof at the embassy (GN).

Dubai Immigration Help Line No. 800 5111

Public can register complaints with the Department by calling 04-7074878 or 04-7074889.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: How much is the expense for Maid Visa?
A: Expense before entry: Dh3500, out of which Dh2000 is refundable from Immigration after Maid’s visa cancellation.
Expense after entry: Dh6800 for Medical, ID, Visa Stamping and Medical Insurance.
Apart from this, Dh1400 should be paid for status change if the maid is inside UAE on Visit or Tourist or cancelled visa stage.

Q: Within how many days Maid has to enter UAE from the date of her visa get issued?
A: Within 60 days from the date of issue.

Q: Within how many days Maid has to complete Medical, ID and Visa Stamping?
A: Within 60 days from the date of entry / status change.

Q: For how many years Maid visa is stamped?
A: One year if the sponsor is expatriate and two years if the sponsor is UAE national.

Q: How much is the expense for Maid Visa renewal?
A: Dh7040 for Medical, ID, Visa Stamping and Medical Insurance

Sharjah Immigration Office Address: South of King Faisal Street (take SZR to Sharjah, exit on King Faisal Street, then turn right when you see the big mosque. Go one major block and it is on the corner – turn left and then an immediate right into the district). Tel. No.: 06 572 67 77. Click here for other immigration branch address.

Hiring an Absconding Maid
The person who hires an absconding maid faces a Dh50,000 fine as per Article 34 of the Foreigners’ Entry and Residency Law, or otherwise faces a maximum jail term of six months. Absconding maids will be jailed and deported.” (The employer will be fined Dh100,000 if he/she hires two such absconders).

If the sponsor is an Indian Resident, more procedures to be completed from Indian Consulate/Embassy for immigration clearance.

Housemaid’s New Visa Stamping Sponsored by an Expatriate

Visa renewal of Housemaid Sponsored by an Expatriate