How to sponsor a house maid in Dubai (UAE)

Full-time nannies and maids, like expatriates, must be sponsored to live in Dubai and the UAE. They are usually sponsored by the male head of the family as it can be more difficult for a woman to sponsor them if they themselves are on their husband’s visa. There are two types of full-time maids and nannies – live-in, where the maid lives at the sponsoring family’s home and live-out, for whom accommodation provided away from the family home. In both instances, the sponsor still holds the same legal responsibilities. In order to qualify to sponsor a maid as an expat, you need to fulfil the specific eligibility criteria.

Here are some key things you need to know:

Eligibility Requirements

• The sponsor must have a monthly salary greater than AED 6,000 (or greater than AED 5,000 if accommodation is paid for by the employer)

• Only families can sponsor a nanny. Bachelors are not allowed to sponsor a house maid.

• If the maid is from your home country, you will need to provide an affidavit from your embassy certifying that you are not related.

• The ability to provide adequate accommodation. You can only sponsor house maids from the following countries: India, Sri Lanka, Philippines, Ethiopia, Bangladesh, and Indonesia

Sponsorship documents

• House maid’s passport

• 6 photos with white background (house maid)

• Marital status, religion and name of parents

• Home country address and telephone number

• Sponsor’s Passport

• Typed application form

• Affidavit from embassy/consulate certifying non-relationship, if maid from the same country

• Emirates ID copy, UAE address and telephone number (if already in the UAE)

• Visa cancellation papers from the previous sponsor (if already in the UAE)

• For those entering the UAE, you will need a residence Visa, a medical fitness report, residence stamp and a typed application form

• Medical fitness report and health card application