Documents Required for a Maid Visa in Dubai: Checklist

If you sponsor her yourself, the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) also asks for proof of income and marriage documents. If a licensed centre such as Expat Maids is the sponsor, the standard list does not include a salary certificate, bank statements or marriage documents.

This checklist brings every maid visa requirement in Dubai together in one place: sponsor documents, worker documents, visa status evidence and what is needed at each stage of the application.

Maid Visa Requirements in Dubai: Private vs Company Sponsorship

There are two common sponsorship routes in Dubai, and the documents differ between them.

Private sponsorship: you are the domestic worker’s employer and visa sponsor. MOHRE’s domestic worker work permit service sets out the documents.

Company sponsorship: a licensed centre such as Expat Maids sponsors the visa, and the domestic worker works in your household. The centre confirms the documents it needs from you.

The main difference is that MOHRE asks private sponsors for proof of income and family status, which the Expat Maids standard list does not include.

Sponsor Documents for a Maid Visa

If Expat Maids Sponsors the Visa

Prepare clear copies of:

• Your passport

• Your UAE residence visa

• Your Emirates ID

• A DEWA bill or Ejari/tenancy contract as proof of accommodation

That is the full standard list: no salary certificate, no bank statements and no marriage documents. Our team will advise if anything else is needed for your situation.

If You Sponsor the Domestic Worker Yourself

If you are an expatriate resident applying as the sponsor, MOHRE asks for:

• Passport copy and valid UAE residence visa

• Valid Emirates ID

• MOFA-attested marriage certificate and spouse’s residence visa

• Tenancy contract or title deed

• A recent salary certificate showing family income of at least AED 25,000 a month

• Bank statements for the previous three months showing the same income

• A written explanation if you already employ more than five domestic workers

MOHRE also requires the domestic worker to be covered by health insurance on the employer’s file before the work permit is issued.

Private sponsors in Dubai can also apply through GDRFA’s Domestic Worker Package on the DubaiNow app. Check the document list shown during the application, as requirements may vary by case.

Prefer to stay the sponsor but want help with the paperwork? Our typing services cover sponsor file opening, entry permits, change of status, the medical test and Emirates ID, health insurance and the residence visa.

Domestic Worker Visa Documents

Through Expat Maids

Your domestic worker provides:

• A clear, coloured scan of her passport, plus a copy of the passport cover

• High-resolution digital photos

• Her current visa: a visit visa or a cancellation document, if she is in the UAE

• A Police Clearance Certificate, if required for her nationality

• Her old Emirates ID or residence visa, if she has lived in the UAE before

If You Sponsor Her Privately

MOHRE asks for a copy of her passport, a colour photo, and her visit visa or cancellation document if she is in the UAE.

Checks for Every Application

Police Clearance Certificate: currently required for some nationalities, including Kenyan, Ugandan and Nepali nationals. The rules change, so we confirm this for each application.

Passport validity: MOHRE lists at least three months for the work permit, while the Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP) requires at least six months for the residence permit. Check that her passport has at least six months remaining before you start.

Age: she must be at least 18. MOHRE’s work permit service also sets an upper limit of 60, with an exemption for a worker already in the UAE whose domestic worker visa was cancelled within the last three months. If she is close to 60, check with our team before you apply.

Visa Status Evidence: What to Provide for Her Current Situation

Your domestic worker’s current visa status decides which supporting document she provides and which deadline applies.

In short: a visit visa sets her deadline at its expiry date, a cancellation sets it at the date on the document, and a new e-visa gives her 60 days to enter. For a side-by-side comparison, including the questions to ask, see Tourist Visa vs Cancelled Visa [LINK: Tourist Visa vs Cancelled Visa article].

Whatever her situation, she must not start working for you until her new work permit is issued. MOHRE does not allow trial employment followed by a change of status.

Documents Needed at Each Stage of the Maid Visa Application Process

Most paperwork is provided at the start. This table shows what is needed at each stage when you apply through Expat Maids, and who provides it.

Your domestic worker must remain in the UAE throughout the in-country process. Visas can be issued in as little as 5–7 working days, depending on the case. For a fuller walkthrough, see our guide to maid visa application steps in Dubai [LINK: Maid Visa Dubai 2026: Application Steps and Requirements].

How Expat Maids Handles the Paperwork

Expat Maids Workers Services Center, our sponsoring entity, is licensed by MOHRE. We sponsor a 2-year residence visa for your domestic worker and handle every government step, including typing, the medical test and Emirates ID registration. You do not need to visit any government offices, and we keep you updated throughout.

The 2-year visa package costs AED 10,999 paid once, or AED 8,499 upfront plus AED 150 a month, excluding 5% VAT. It covers the residence visa, work permit, health insurance, medical test, Emirates ID, a salary card with Wages Protection System (WPS) transfers, gratuity and HR support. See full details on our Visa Services page.

Summary: Your Maid Visa Document Checklist

For a typical Dubai household, prepare your passport, UAE residence visa, Emirates ID and proof of housing, plus your domestic worker’s passport, photo and visa status evidence. Private sponsors also need income and marriage documents under MOHRE’s requirements, and some nationalities need a Police Clearance Certificate. Before you start, check that her passport has at least six months of validity and, if she is in the UAE, note the deadline on her visa or cancellation document.