Which maid-visa route should you ask about?

“Maid visa” commonly describes several connected domestic-worker employment and immigration tasks. GDRFA's 16 July 2026 announcement describes integrated services including the employment contract, insurance, work permits, visas, status adjustment, medical fitness, residence and Emirates ID. Opened 9 November 2026.

Before requesting a quote, describe your situation using the following worksheet. Ask who will employ and sponsor the worker.

SituationQuestion for the handling authority or licensed provider
Household intends to sponsor the workerWhich sponsor category applies, and what evidence of eligibility is required?
Provider offers a managed employment arrangementWho is the legal employer and sponsor, and what services does the contract include?
Worker is outside the UAEWhich entry and later residence stages apply?
Worker already holds UAE statusWhich current permit, cancellation, transfer or status-adjustment questions must be resolved?
Existing arrangement needs renewal or cancellationWhich service applies to the current permit and employment contract?

Ask the handling authority to confirm the income threshold, accepted accommodation evidence, permit duration and nationality-specific documents for your case before arranging travel. The general duty to provide appropriate accommodation is separate from whether your particular room or tenancy evidence is accepted for the application.

How do you apply through DubaiNow?

GDRFA's published package instructions, dated 11 December 2024 and checked 9 November 2026, describe the following sequence.

  1. Open the domestic-worker residency service in DubaiNow and complete the unified package form.
  2. Enter the worker's details and provide identity and passport information requested for the application.
  3. Complete the electronic employment-contract signing step.
  4. Complete the medical examination. The announcement describes results being sent through the application.
  5. Follow the application through to the Emirates ID and residence outputs, checking the issued details.

Ask Amer which route applies to your sponsor category before preparing the application.

Digital Dubai's launch announcement, also checked 9 November 2026, describes issuance, renewal and cancellation within the bundle. Select the task that matches your existing records and ask the handling party which linked steps apply.

Which published maid-visa fees should you check?

The ICP Issuing Residency Permit card, checked 9 November 2026, publishes these lines. They provide a federal reference for asking about a charge. A Dubai applicant still needs an applicable itemised quote.

ICP's published componentAEDScope to confirm
Application100Applicable application and collection channel
Residence issuance100 per yearDuration actually being issued
Domestic-worker recruitment guarantee for a foreign-resident sponsor5,000 per yearWhether and how this applies to your route
Financial security deposit fee20What the line covers in your application
Status adjustment500Whether your existing status requires this step
Smart-service fee100Applicable transaction and collection

The card's conditions call the AED 5,000 an amount collected for recruitment for each year of issuance, while the fee heading calls it a guarantee. Ask the collecting authority whether that component applies to your Dubai route and get its classification and refund conditions in writing. Keep every quoted component separate until its applicability is confirmed.

What should an all-in quote include?

Ask the handling party to complete a single quote sheet with the payer, service, amount, validity, exclusions and refund conditions for every line.

Cost groupWhat to clarify
Government processingWork permit, entry or status adjustment, residence and ID components that apply
Insurance and medicalRequired policies, coverage period, examination and any separately charged services
Recruitment or provider servicesRecruitment scope, processing services, tax and any recurring charge
Worker employmentAgreed wages, accommodation, meals, leave, travel and other contractual obligations
End of arrangementCancellation, transfer, outstanding entitlements and any refundable amount

Request current amounts for insurance, medical checks, ID, provider charges and wages; those figures aren’t confirmed.

Fictional quote comparison. Provider A gives one processing price with medical and insurance excluded. Provider B gives a higher figure with both included. Request the missing amounts and matching coverage periods before comparing their totals. An unknown component stays unknown.

If accommodation evidence is requested, use our Ejari renewal guide to organise the tenancy record and our tenancy cancellation guide when an old tenancy needs its own review. Ask Amer which record the domestic-worker application actually requires.

Which employment and accommodation terms matter?

The UAE Government's domestic-worker guidance, indexed official text checked 9 November 2026, describes an approved employment contract and appropriate accommodation, safety, respectful treatment and the worker keeping their own identification documents. Confirm your sponsor eligibility and accommodation evidence separately with the handling authority.

Use these questions before relying on the housing part of a quote:

TaskWritten answer to obtain
Identify the employerWho employs and sponsors the worker under the proposed arrangement?
Identify the workplaceWhich address and duties will the approved contract record?
Prepare accommodationWhat room, facilities and daily privacy/rest arrangements are proposed?
Confirm application evidenceWhich tenancy or accommodation records does the handling authority require for this case?
Resolve a property questionWho can confirm the room's approved use and any alteration permission?

The nanny, maid and driver room worksheet helps assess the home; it cannot certify visa eligibility. Fictional example: a family has a floor plan marked “maid's room” but no confirmation of the housing document needed for its application. Ask the official handling channel which evidence is required, while separately checking the room's approved use and actual condition. Buying a larger home does not itself resolve those application questions.

The UAE Government's domestic-worker guidance identifies Federal Decree-Law 9 of 2022, amended by 21 of 2023, and protections covering age, forced labour, discrimination, harm and tasks outside the contract. Official indexed text checked 9 November 2026.

Agree the role and employment terms clearly with the worker and obtain the applicable official contract. For the home itself, document the proposed accommodation and daily arrangements. Our Mudon Al Naseem home-viewing checklist gives a separate example of checking room layout and written home conditions. The Dubai remote-work area guide helps households consider work-at-home needs during a property search.

Who can help if the application stalls?

Use GDRFA's official Amer contact page. It lists 8005111 within the UAE and +971 4 313 9999 internationally, checked 9 November 2026. Keep the application reference and the exact request or error available for the authorised support channel.

Ask which service is incomplete, which party must act, what document is missing and which charge is due. Ask for the expected timing once the missing item is supplied. Keep personal documents in the official channel and your own records.

FAQ

Is there one official all-inclusive maid visa price for Dubai?

Ask for a written quote for your sponsor category and worker’s status, including excluded and recurring costs. The federal fee components alone won’t give you the total.

Is the AED 5,000 guarantee automatically refundable?

Refund conditions aren’t confirmed. Ask the collecting authority for the written conditions attached to the applicable charge.

Can I use another household's or another emirate's quote?

Use it as a list of questions. Request a quote for your own sponsor category, worker status, duration and handling channel.

How long will my application take?

The individual end-to-end duration is unknown. Ask the handling authority for the next required action and the expected timing after all applicable documents and linked steps are complete.