Housemaid Visa in Abu Dhabi: Cost, Requirements and Sponsorship Process

Housemaid visa Abu Dhabi applications depend on whether the household or a licensed centre legally employs the worker. This determines the required documents, costs and ongoing responsibilities.

Eligible households may sponsor directly, while licensed centres can provide recruitment or temporary employment services. The worker needs permission to work in the household; a residence visa alone is insufficient. Check eligibility, the worker’s current status, contract terms and total cost before applying.

Housemaid Visa Abu Dhabi: Quick Answers

Question	Answer
Who handles the process?	MoHRE handles the domestic worker employment side, while ICP handles residence and Emirates ID procedures in Abu Dhabi.
Can an expat sponsor a housemaid?	Yes, subject to the current sponsor eligibility and income requirements.
How long is the visa valid?	It depends on the sponsor category and the issued permit.
How much does it cost?	Costs vary by sponsor type, duration and service route; check the current MoHRE and ICP fee breakdown below.
Can someone on another visa start household work immediately?	No. The appropriate work authorisation and residence status must be completed first.

What Is a Housemaid Visa in Abu Dhabi?

Housemaid visa is the common term for the work permit and residence arrangements that allow a domestic worker to work in a household.

Two authorities handle the application in Abu Dhabi:

• Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE): The domestic worker permit and employment contract.
• Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs and Port Security (ICP): Residence and the linked Emirates ID application. Its residence service places domestic workers in the Domestic Workers Package and requires a MoHRE work permit.

The term maid visa Abu Dhabi usually refers to household employment. The worker’s approved occupation and contract should match their actual duties, so agree on the role before applying or paying recruitment fees.

Who Can Sponsor a Housemaid in Abu Dhabi?

Eligibility depends on the sponsor’s status. UAE nationals, GCC nationals and expatriate residents may have different document requirements, permit durations and fees.

1. Requirements for an Expatriate Resident

MoHRE’s domestic worker permit service requires a valid UAE residence permit. For an employed expatriate sponsor, it calls for a recent salary certificate showing family income of at least AED 25,000 per month. Investors may need different income evidence.

Before applying, check that:

• Your residence permit and Emirates ID are valid.
• You have the income and accommodation documents required for your category.
• Any existing domestic worker sponsorship has been accounted for.

The AED 25,000 threshold concerns the sponsor’s eligibility. It is not the housemaid’s salary. If accommodation evidence is requested, check that the address on your tenancy contract matches your application details. Confirm any additional conditions for your circumstances with MoHRE or the licensed centre handling your application.

2. Requirements for the Domestic Worker

The worker must be at least 18 and meet the identity, medical and residence requirements for the approved occupation. UAE domestic worker law prohibits employing anyone under 18.

Worker’s situation	What to check
Outside the UAE	The entry procedure required before residence issuance.
Already employed in the UAE	Whether the existing contract and permit must be cancelled or transferred.
In the UAE on another visa	Whether a status change is required; that visa alone does not authorise household work.

ICP’s residence service states that the worker’s passport must be valid for at least six months. Other supporting documents depend on the application category.

Choose the Right Sponsorship Route Before Applying

First, establish who will legally employ the worker. If you find a prospective worker among cleaner and housekeeper listings, check their current permit status before choosing a sponsorship route. A licensed centre may recruit for your household or provide a service arrangement. The contract, rather than the package name, identifies each party’s responsibilities.

What to check	Household sponsorship	Centre arrangement
Legal employer	The household named in the approved contract.	Check the centre’s employment and service agreements.
Application	The sponsor uses an official channel or an authorised service provider.	The centre handles the steps included in its package.
Wages and insurance	The household meets its employer obligations.	The agreements must specify who pays and manages each item.
Total price	Official charges plus any separate recruitment or processing costs.	An itemised package price, including recurring charges and replacement terms.

MoHRE lists its website and smart app as domestic worker application channels. If using a centre, check its current authorisation for domestic worker services in Abu Dhabi on MoHRE’s approved service centres list.

Questions to Ask a Centre Before Paying

Get written answers to three questions:

1. Who will be the worker’s legal employer and sponsor?
2. What does the price include, and which charges recur at renewal? Check medical fitness, Emirates ID and health insurance.
3. What happens if the worker is medically unfit or the placement ends early?

Keep the itemised quotation and service agreement so you can compare the full cost and terms.

Housemaid Visa Abu Dhabi Cost: How Much Should You Budget?

The total housemaid visa Abu Dhabi cost varies according to the sponsor category, permit duration, the worker’s current immigration status and whether recruitment or service-centre charges apply.

Quick answer: There is no single government fee that applies to every housemaid visa application in Abu Dhabi. As of September 2026, ICP and MoHRE publish separate charges for different stages and sponsor categories. Some charges apply only in specific circumstances, so they should not automatically be added together as a single “total visa cost”.

For an expatriate resident sponsoring a domestic worker outside Dubai, MoHRE currently lists AED 5,215 for the one-year Resident/Employer category. Separate ICP charges may also apply depending on the residence transaction and the worker’s status.

Fee	Current published amount	When it applies	Official source
MoHRE domestic worker permit – Resident/Employer	AED 5,215 for one year	Expatriate Resident/Employer category in emirates outside Dubai, including Abu Dhabi	MoHRE
ICP application fee	AED 100	When submitting the applicable residence application	ICP
Residence permit issuance	AED 100 per year	For residence issuance	ICP
Domestic worker recruitment guarantee for a foreign-resident sponsor	AED 5,000 per year	When applicable to a foreign-resident sponsor/employer	ICP
Financial security deposit fee	AED 20	When the relevant guarantee or deposit transaction applies	ICP
Smart service fee	AED 100	For the applicable ICP smart service transaction	ICP
Status adjustment	AED 500	Only when an in-country status adjustment is required	ICP
Medical fitness	Varies	At the required medical examination stage	Approved medical provider
Health insurance	Varies	Required according to the applicable insurance rules and policy	Approved insurer
Recruitment or service-centre fees	Varies	If using a licensed recruitment or service provider	Licensed provider

These figures should not be added together automatically. For example, the AED 500 status-adjustment charge applies only when a worker needs an in-country status change, while recruitment, medical, insurance and service-centre charges depend on the chosen route.

Before paying, request an itemised quotation that separates:

• MoHRE permit and employment-contract charges
• ICP residence and related government charges
• Emirates ID-related charges
• Medical fitness costs
• Health insurance
• Recruitment or service-centre fees
• Any refundable or recurring guarantees
• Charges that apply only to an in-country status change

This makes it easier to compare the first-year cost with future renewal costs and avoids counting the same government or service charge twice.

A First-Year Budget Example

Assume an agreed wage of AED 2,500 per month. This is an illustration, not a legal minimum or market average.

Budget item	Calculation
Annual wage	AED 2,500 × 12 = AED 30,000
Permit, residence and Emirates ID	Add the applicable itemised charges
Medical fitness and health insurance	Add the examination and policy prices
Recruitment or centre services	Add only services you purchase
Food and accommodation	Budget for the household’s actual costs

The annual wage already includes payment during paid leave; do not add the same wage twice. Budget separately if you plan to hire temporary cover during the worker’s leave, and compare first-year and renewal-year quotes.

Do not include recruitment charges as deductions from the worker’s agreed wage. Check the licensed centre’s written agreement for the fees payable by the household and the applicable refund terms.

Documents Needed for a Housemaid Visa Application

Prepare the sponsor’s and worker’s documents separately before submitting the application.

Sponsor	Domestic worker
Passport, Emirates ID and valid residence details, where applicable	Passport and photograph
Recent salary certificate or other accepted income evidence	Current UAE permit and residence details, if applicable
Accommodation evidence, if requested	Previous contract or cancellation documents, if applicable
Signed application and contract documents	Medical fitness result and health insurance details at the required stage

The list varies depending on whether the worker is arriving from abroad or changing status in the UAE. Check names, passport numbers and dates of birth across all forms; errors after issuance may require a separate MoHRE permit amendment. Confirm whether any overseas document needs MOFA attestation for your application.

How to Apply for a Housemaid Visa in Abu Dhabi

The steps depend on whether the worker is outside the UAE or already holds a permit or residence in the country.

1. Confirm eligibility and the worker’s status

Check your sponsor category, income evidence and any existing domestic worker sponsorship. Establish whether the worker is abroad, employed in the UAE or present on another visa before starting a new application.

2. Agree on the employment terms

Set out the worker’s duties, wage, accommodation, rest and leave. The agreed role should match the occupation in the permit and contract.

3. Choose an application channel

MoHRE’s domestic worker work permit service covers applications for workers inside and outside the UAE. If you use a licensed centre, request an itemised quote separating official fees from recruitment and service charges.

4. Submit the permit and contract application

Provide both parties’ details and review the occupation, wage, contract period and working conditions before approval. The worker should be able to review the job offer and corresponding contract. MoHRE’s implementing regulations set out this obligation for recruitment offices.

5. Complete entry or status-change procedures

Arrange the required entry permission for a worker abroad. For a worker already in the UAE, check whether an in-country status change applies. ICP’s residence service lists AED 500 for a required status change; it is not a charge for every application.

6. Complete medical, insurance and residence steps

Arrange medical fitness and health insurance at the required stages, then complete residence and the linked Emirates ID application through ICP’s Domestic Workers Package. Keep the application references until both are issued.

7. Check the approvals before work begins

Verify the worker’s name, occupation, sponsor and validity dates on the issued documents. Provide a copy of the contract and keep a clear record of wage payments. A submitted application alone does not authorise work.

What Should the Housemaid Employment Contract Cover?

The contract should record the terms both parties have agreed, including:

• Role and workplace: The approved occupation, duties and accommodation.
• Pay: The basic wage, any additional benefits, and when and how payment is made.
• Time off: Daily and weekly rest, and annual leave.
• Medical care: Insurance and the employer’s responsibilities.
• Contract end: How notice, final payments and permit cancellation will be handled.

If a centre is involved, check its separate recruitment agreement and charges. Do not rely on a verbal arrangement that differs from the signed contract; changes to the role or wage may require an amendment to the approved documents.

The term domestic worker visa uae can refer to different household occupations. The contract should identify the approved role and actual duties rather than treating a nanny, cook and housemaid as interchangeable.

Rules for Housemaid Visa in UAE: Rights and Employer Duties

Domestic workers are covered by Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022, its amendments and implementing regulations. These govern the employment contract, working conditions, transfers and disputes.

1. Rest and Leave

A domestic worker is entitled to at least 12 hours of daily rest, including eight uninterrupted hours, and a weekly rest day. If the worker is required to work on that day, the regulations provide for an alternative day off or payment. The law also provides at least 30 days of paid annual leave per year of service.

2. Wages and Living Conditions

Pay the wage stated in the contract on time and keep a payment record. The employer must provide the required accommodation, food and medical care. The sponsor’s income requirement is separate from the worker’s contracted wage.

3. Work for Other Households

A domestic worker generally may work only for the employer or beneficiary named in the approved arrangement, subject to the exceptions in the implementing regulations. A household needing occasional help should use an authorised service arrangement.

4. Insurance and Safety

Keep the worker’s required health insurance valid. MoHRE states that the employer bears the insurance cost when issuing or renewing residence under the applicable scheme. The employer must also provide appropriate protection against hazards associated with the worker’s duties.

How Long Is a Housemaid Visa Valid, and How Is It Renewed?

Check the dates on the issued work permit and residence. MoHRE lists one-year and two-year categories for domestic worker transactions outside Dubai; the applicable duration depends on the sponsor and service.

For renewal:

1. Check the permit, residence, Emirates ID and insurance expiry dates.
2. Confirm the sponsor still meets the eligibility requirements and review the contract terms.
3. Complete the required medical and insurance steps.
4. Renew the MoHRE documents, then the linked ICP residence and Emirates ID.
5. Keep the updated documents and receipts.

ICP requires the original residence conditions to remain satisfied at renewal. Check the itemised charges for your application.

When comparing maid visa uae renewal prices, use a quote for your sponsor category and Abu Dhabi application. Charges for a different emirate or sponsor may not apply.

What If the Worker Changes Employers or the Contract Ends?

Leaving a household does not automatically cancel a work permit or residence. The parties must complete the applicable MoHRE and ICP procedures.

The domestic worker law permits a transfer when contractual conditions and the original employer’s rights are addressed. If MoHRE requests a no-objection letter for a particular transfer, confirm who must issue it; the letter does not replace the permit and residence procedures. The law also provides routes for a worker to leave in specified circumstances. Refer unresolved disputes to MoHRE rather than leaving the permit status unsettled.

Record the final working day, outstanding wages and leave, other applicable entitlements, and the cancellation or transfer transaction. Calculate any end-of-service amount under the domestic worker rules applicable to the case, not a formula for company employees.

Mistakes That Delay a Housemaid Visa in Abu Dhabi

Mistake	What to do
Applying while the worker has an active permit	Confirm whether cancellation or transfer is required first.
Entering the wrong wage, occupation or identity details	Review the application and contract with the worker before approval.
Using an unlicensed recruitment provider	Check the centre’s current approval with MoHRE.
Treating an application receipt as permission to work	Wait until the required permit and status approvals are complete.

Keep the approval notices and issued documents for your records.

Before Sponsoring a Housemaid in Abu Dhabi

Confirm the legal employer, both parties’ eligibility and the full first-year cost before applying. Review the contract together and follow the current MoHRE and ICP procedures.

Frequently Asked Questions

sources

• MoHRE: Issuance of a New Work Permit – Domestic Workers
• MoHRE: Approved Domestic Workers Services Centres
• ICP: Issuing Residency Permit
• ICP: Renewal of Residency Permits
• MoHRE: Domestic Workers Law and Implementing Regulations