What documents do I need for a maid visa in Dubai?

Passport copies for both sponsor and worker, the sponsor's Emirates ID, a tenancy contract registered through Ejari or a title deed, recent passport size photographs of the worker, and the signed MOHRE unified standard employment contract required by Article 7(2) of Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022. Private direct sponsorship additionally requires a salary certificate or bank statements evidencing the applicable threshold, and is reported to require the marriage certificate, the spouse's visa copy, the employment contract, and a DEWA bill. The worker must also produce medical fitness clearance from a DHA approved centre and be covered by health insurance meeting at least the applicable minimum plan. Document lists are administrative and change, so confirm the current requirement with MOHRE or a licensed Tadbeer centre before submitting.

How long does the maid visa process take in Dubai?

Approximately 25 to 35 days for an overseas hire, from selecting the worker to a stamped residence visa, based on typical reported processing as of Q3 2026. The work permit application is lodged on day two or three, the entry permit typically issues between day seven and day fourteen, the worker arrives or changes status by around day 21, Emirates ID biometrics are captured by day 25, and the residence visa is stamped between day 25 and day 35. Renewal for a worker already in the country is far quicker, reported at five to seven working days once documents are submitted. Delays concentrate at the medical fitness result and the entry permit issuance, both of which are outside the sponsor's control once submitted, so avoid committing to a fixed start date.

Do I have to pay my maid through WPS in Dubai?

Not for a housemaid or a nanny. MOHRE announced on 13 April 2023 that Wage Protection System registration is optional for fourteen domestic worker professions, with housemaid and nanny both named on that optional list alongside housekeeper, cook, gardener, and personal driver. It is mandatory for only five: private agricultural engineer, personal public relations officer, personal healthcare provider, private tutor, and private trainer, effective from 1 April of that year. Some outlets re-reported the framework in April 2025 as though it were new, which is why dates vary across sources. Gulf News reported that the system also permits cash payment through banks, exchange houses, and financial institutions authorised by the Central Bank of the UAE. What is not optional is timing: Article 15(1) of Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 requires monthly salaries in UAE dirhams within a period not exceeding 10 days from the maturity date. Occupation lists are administrative, so confirm your worker's specific classification with MOHRE.

What is the minimum salary to sponsor a maid in Dubai?

AED 25,000 per month for an expatriate applying by private direct sponsorship, reportedly combinable across spouses as household income, with AED 10,000 reported for UAE nationals and AED 15,000 for medically necessitated cases. The threshold does not apply universally. Khaleej Times reported that hiring through a Tadbeer centre on a monthly package model, where the centre holds the sponsorship rather than the household, applies no salary certificate threshold. Most published guides state AED 25,000 as a flat rule and omit this distinction, which turns away families who had a legitimate route open to them. Thresholds are set administratively and change without much notice, so verify the current figure with MOHRE or a licensed Tadbeer centre before assuming you are ineligible.

Do Golden Visa holders get cheaper maid visas?

No, the fees are not reported to differ. What differs is volume. Standard UAE residents employing more than five domestic workers must submit a written explanation justifying each additional worker, per UAE government portal guidance. Golden Visa holders are widely reported as able to sponsor an unlimited number, and the practical flexibility is real, but the legal basis deserves precision: Cabinet Decision No. 65 of 2022 does not state a numerical cap, and the "unlimited" position is an inference from that silence rather than an express provision in the text. Approval speed is also reported to be faster. The same work permit charge, medical fitness test, Emirates ID fee, health insurance obligation, and Tadbeer package pricing apply either way. Confirm against current MOHRE or ICP guidance before planning multiple simultaneous sponsorships.

Can I renew my maid's visa without going through Tadbeer?

Yes, where you hold the sponsorship directly rather than through a centre. Renewal is processed through MOHRE and the residency authority, and is reported at approximately AED 5,500 to AED 7,000 with completion in five to seven working days once documents are submitted. You will need a fresh medical fitness test from a DHA approved centre, a current Emirates ID, a valid health insurance certificate meeting at least the applicable minimum plan, and a copy of the employment contract. If the sponsorship sits with a Tadbeer centre under a package arrangement, renewal runs through that centre. Start roughly 60 days before expiry, because Article 19(9) of Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 requires the worker's compensation to be paid within ten days of contract expiry, so a lapse creates a settlement obligation as well as an immigration problem.

Is the AED 2,000 deposit refundable?

Yes. The AED 2,000 security deposit required for expatriate sponsors applying through a Tadbeer centre is refundable on cancellation of the domestic worker visa. You will need to supply an IBAN so the refund can be processed to your account. Treat it as cash flow rather than as a cost when budgeting the maid visa cost in Dubai, but do budget for it, because it is payable up front alongside the package fee. Keep the receipt and the IBAN confirmation with your visa documentation, since the refund is claimed at the end of the sponsorship, potentially two years or more after payment.

Maid Visa Cost in Dubai 2026 | Hire from 195 AED | Every Fee Itemized, Full Requirements, Tadbeer & Renewal

Q: How much does a maid visa cost in Dubai in 2026?

Between approximately AED 8,500 and AED 22,000 for a two year sponsorship as of Q3 2026, with the position inside that range set mainly by the worker's nationality and the route chosen. Tadbeer packages are reported at AED 10,000 to AED 30,000 across all nationalities, spreading from AED 10,000 to AED 14,000 for Ethiopian or Kenyan placements up to AED 18,000 to AED 22,000 for Filipina helpers. Private direct sponsorship is quoted at approximately AED 17,000 plus a refundable AED 2,000 deposit. The work permit application itself is listed at AED 50 federal fee plus AED 50 service fee on the MOHRE domestic worker service, so government charges are a small share of the total. Advertised "from AED 7,850" pricing is an entry tier figure that excludes several mandatory charges. On ChooseMaid the 195 AED monthly subscription covers platform access only and is separate from all visa and salary costs.

The maid visa cost in Dubai in 2026 falls between roughly AED 8,500 and AED 22,000 for a two year sponsorship, and the single biggest driver of where you land in that range is not the government fee schedule but the worker's nationality and the route you choose. Published Tadbeer package prices cluster at AED 10,000 to AED 30,000 for a full two year package, while the widely advertised "from AED 7,850" figure is an entry level teaser that excludes several mandatory government charges. The visa itself is governed by Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers, as amended by Federal Decree-Law No. 21 of 2023, and processed through MOHRE.

This guide itemizes every fee, sets out the full requirements checklist, explains the AED 25,000 salary rule that most guides state incorrectly, walks the process step by step with realistic timelines, and covers renewal, transfer, Golden Visa holder rules, and the wage payment obligation that applies after the visa is issued. Figures are current as of Q3 2026.

What Is the Total Maid Visa Cost in Dubai in 2026?

The total maid visa cost in Dubai in 2026 runs from approximately AED 8,500 at the low end of Tadbeer package pricing to AED 22,000 or more for a Filipina worker on a premium package. Private direct sponsorship is quoted at approximately AED 17,000 plus a refundable AED 2,000 deposit. The figure covers a two year cycle, because the standard domestic worker contract under Article 7(3) of Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 runs for two years and is renewable.

Cost component	Typical range (AED)	Notes
Tadbeer package (2 years, all in)	10,000 to 30,000	Varies primarily by nationality
Private direct sponsorship	~17,000	Plus refundable deposit
Federal work permit application	50	MOHRE published charge
Refundable security deposit	2,000	Returned on visa cancellation
Health insurance (annual)	from 320	UAE Basic package rate
Medical fitness test	300 to 750	Varies by centre and speed
Emirates ID	100 per year of validity	Plus typing fees

Treat any single quoted total with caution until you have it in writing from a named Tadbeer centre for your worker's specific nationality. For the wider hiring budget beyond the visa, see our breakdown of how much hiring a maid costs in the UAE.

Maid visa, domestic worker visa and Tadbeer visa mean the same thing

Searches for this topic split across several labels that all describe one permit. Maid visa, domestic worker visa, housemaid visa, and Tadbeer visa are used interchangeably in the UAE market for the same MOHRE work permit and residence visa combination. Nanny visa cost in Dubai refers to the identical process, because Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 places housemaids, nannies, cooks, private drivers, gardeners, and home nurses in a single domestic worker category. The permit is the same whether you are hiring a nanny, a cook, a personal driver, or an elderly carer.

Why Do Published Maid Visa Cost Figures Disagree So Much?

Published maid visa cost figures for Dubai disagree because providers quote different scopes under the same label, and almost none state which scope they are using.

Published figure	What it appears to cover	Why it differs
From AED 7,850 + VAT	Entry tier Tadbeer promotional package	Excludes upgraded insurance, some government fees, and salary
AED 8,500 to AED 12,000	Standard Tadbeer package, lower cost nationalities	Nationality dependent recruitment cost
AED 10,000 to AED 30,000	Full two year package across all nationalities	Wide spread driven by source country
~AED 17,000	Private direct sponsorship, no Tadbeer service tier	Excludes Tadbeer margin, adds AED 2,000 deposit
AED 5,000 to AED 6,000	Residence visa stamping line item only	Not a total, a component

The practical takeaway is that "maid visa cost in Dubai" is not a single number and no honest source can give you one. Ask any provider for a written itemisation showing which government fees are included, whether insurance is the AED 320 basic tier or an upgraded plan, and whether the refundable deposit is inside or outside the quoted figure. Our dedicated guide to Tadbeer maid visa costs in Dubai goes deeper on the centre by centre spread.

Maid Visa Cost Breakdown: What Every Fee Actually Covers

The maid visa cost in Dubai is assembled from six categories of charge, and only two of them are fixed by government. The work permit application is listed at AED 50 federal fee plus AED 50 service fee on the MOHRE domestic worker service, so AED 100 in total. Health insurance has a published floor of AED 320 per year for the UAE Basic package.

Tadbeer centre fee. Covers contract processing under the MOHRE unified standard contract, worker orientation, document verification, and on premium tiers a replacement guarantee. This is the commercial margin and it is where centres differ most. Our explainer on what Tadbeer is and how it works covers the licensing framework.

Medical fitness test. Conducted at DHA approved centres in Dubai. Standard processing is quoted at AED 300 to AED 500, with premium same day services priced up to AED 750 at some centres as of 2026.

Emirates ID. Charged at AED 100 per year of visa validity, so a two year visa carries AED 200 in ID fees, plus typing charges of approximately AED 250 to AED 300.

Health insurance. Mandatory for domestic workers across the UAE since 1 January 2025 and required to issue or renew the residence visa. The UAE Basic package is published at approximately AED 320 per year. In Dubai specifically, the Dubai Health Authority requires workers earning below AED 4,000 per month to be enrolled in the Essential Benefit Plan. The employer pays in full and may not deduct any part from wages.

Refundable security deposit. AED 2,000, held against the sponsorship and returned on visa cancellation. Budget it as cash flow, not as a cost.

Typing and service fees. Document typing, translation, and attestation. Individually small, collectively a few hundred dirhams.

Do You Really Need a Salary of AED 25,000 to Sponsor a Maid in Dubai?

No, not on every route. The AED 25,000 monthly salary threshold is real but it applies to private direct sponsorship, where the sponsor holds the visa personally, and it is not a universal precondition for having a domestic worker in your home. Khaleej Times reported that the requirement can be bypassed by hiring through a Tadbeer centre on a monthly package model, where the centre holds the sponsorship and no salary certificate threshold is applied to the household.

Route	Reported salary threshold	Who holds sponsorship
Private direct sponsorship, expatriate	AED 25,000 per month, combinable across spouses	The household sponsor
Private direct sponsorship, UAE national	AED 10,000 per month	The household sponsor
Medically necessitated cases	AED 15,000 per month	The household sponsor
Tadbeer monthly package	No household salary threshold applied	The Tadbeer centre

Thresholds and document lists are set administratively and change without much notice, so confirm the current position with MOHRE or a licensed Tadbeer centre before committing. If sponsorship is the obstacle, our guide to hiring a maid in Dubai without a sponsor visa sets out the alternatives.

What Are the Maid Visa Requirements in Dubai?

Maid visa requirements in Dubai divide into three groups: what the sponsor must satisfy, what documents must be produced, and what the worker must satisfy.

Sponsor requirements

Valid UAE residence visa and Emirates ID, or UAE or GCC nationality
Salary threshold where applying by private direct sponsorship, per the table above
Adequate accommodation, commonly a minimum two bedroom property
No outstanding labour complaints against the sponsor
Written justification if employing more than five domestic workers

Documents required

Passport copies for both sponsor and worker
Sponsor's Emirates ID
Tenancy contract registered through Ejari, or title deed
Salary certificate or bank statements, for private sponsorship
Recent passport size photographs of the worker
Signed MOHRE unified standard employment contract
Marriage certificate and spouse visa copy, where applicable
DEWA bill, for private sponsorship

Worker requirements

Aged at least 18 (statutory, Article 4(3)); upper limit of 60 applied administratively
Medical fitness clearance from a DHA approved centre, including pregnancy screening for female applicants
Valid passport with sufficient remaining validity
Clear of infectious diseases as defined by UAE screening standards
Covered by health insurance meeting at least the applicable minimum plan

The contract itself is not optional or negotiable in form. Article 7(2) of the decree-law requires the MOHRE unified standard contract. Employers should read the obligations that attach under Articles 11 and 12 before signing, summarised in our guide to domestic worker laws in the UAE and the key responsibilities of a domestic helper.

Does the Worker's Nationality Change the Maid Visa Cost in Dubai?

Yes, and it is the largest single variable in the total. Tadbeer package prices in Dubai are reported to spread from AED 10,000 to AED 14,000 for Ethiopian or Kenyan placements against AED 18,000 to AED 22,000 for Filipina helpers as of 2026, a difference of up to AED 12,000 for a permit that is legally identical.

Source country grouping	Reported 2 year Tadbeer package (AED)	Principal driver
Ethiopia, Kenya	10,000 to 14,000	Lower recruitment and deployment cost
Philippines	18,000 to 22,000	Deployment rules and higher wage floor
Other source countries	Between the two bands	Varies by bilateral arrangement

Nationality should not be the only lens. Experience, references, and the specific duties you need matter more to the outcome than the passport. Our guides to finding a Filipino maid in Dubai and how to verify a maid before hiring cover the screening side of that decision.

What Does Maid Visa Renewal Cost Compared to a New Visa or a Transfer?

Maid visa renewal in Dubai is reported at approximately AED 5,500 to AED 7,000, materially cheaper than a new visa because the recruitment cost is absent and the worker is already in the country.

Scenario	Reported cost (AED)	Typical timeline	Why it differs
New visa, overseas recruitment	8,500 to 22,000	3 to 5 weeks	Includes recruitment and inbound travel
Renewal, same worker	5,500 to 7,000	5 to 7 working days	No recruitment; medical and ID repeat
Transfer from another sponsor	Between the two	2 to 4 weeks	Adds NOC and outgoing cancellation

Diarise the renewal well ahead of expiry. Article 19(9) of the decree-law requires the employer to pay the worker's compensation within ten days of contract expiry, so an unmanaged lapse creates a settlement obligation alongside the immigration problem. What you owe when a contract actually ends is covered in full in our guide to end of service benefits for domestic workers in the UAE.

Can Golden Visa Holders Sponsor More Domestic Workers in Dubai?

Golden Visa holders are widely reported to be able to sponsor an unlimited number of domestic workers, and the practical effect is real, but the legal basis is worth stating precisely. Cabinet Decision No. 65 of 2022, which sets the Golden Visa framework, does not state a numerical cap on domestic worker sponsorship. The "unlimited" position is an inference drawn from that silence rather than an express grant written into the text.

Sponsor type	Number of domestic workers	Basis
Standard UAE resident	More than five requires written justification	UAE government portal guidance, as reported
Golden Visa holder	No stated numerical cap	Cabinet Decision No. 65 of 2022 is silent on a cap

Fee treatment is not reported to differ for Golden Visa holders. The same work permit charge, medical, Emirates ID, insurance, and Tadbeer package pricing apply. What differs is the volume permitted and the reported speed of approval.

Do You Have to Pay Your Maid Through WPS in Dubai?

For a housemaid or a nanny, no. This is the most commonly misstated rule in UAE domestic worker content. MOHRE announced on 13 April 2023 that Wage Protection System registration is optional for fourteen domestic worker professions and mandatory for only five.

Occupation group	WPS registration	Examples from the official list
Optional (14 professions)	Employer's choice	Housemaid, nanny or babysitter, housekeeper, cook, gardener, personal driver
Mandatory (5 professions)	Required	Private tutor, private trainer, personal healthcare provider, personal public relations officer, private agricultural engineer

Two points of confusion are worth clearing up. First, the date: a number of outlets re-reported this framework in April 2025 as though it were new; the MOHRE announcement is dated 13 April 2023. Second, payment method: Gulf News reported that the system permits cash payment through banks, exchange houses, and financial institutions authorised by the Central Bank of the UAE, so electronic transfer is not the only compliant route.

What is not optional is the payment deadline. Article 15(1) of Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 requires monthly salaries in UAE dirhams within a period not exceeding 10 days from the maturity date. Salary benchmarks sit in our maid salary guide for Dubai.

What Is the Step by Step Maid Visa Process in Dubai?

The maid visa process in Dubai runs seven stages from selection to a stamped residence visa, and completes in approximately 25 to 35 days for an overseas hire.

Select your worker (Day 1). Identify the candidate, agree duties and salary, and confirm passport validity.
Submit the work permit application (Day 2 to 3). Lodged with MOHRE against the AED 50 federal fee plus AED 50 service fee, with the signed unified standard contract and supporting documents.
Entry permit issued (Day 7 to 14). Required before an overseas worker can travel. Workers already inside the UAE on a visit or cancelled status follow a status change route instead.
Worker arrives or changes status (Day 14 to 21).
Medical fitness test (Day 4 to 7 for in country applicants, or on arrival). At a DHA approved centre. Results typically return within two to five working days.
Emirates ID biometrics (Day 21 to 25). Captured at an ICP customer happiness centre after the application is typed.
Residence visa stamped (Day 25 to 35). Issued once medical clearance, insurance, and Emirates ID processing are complete.

Build slack into any date you have committed to. If your household needs cover before the visa completes, a live out maid or part time arrangement bridges the gap. Preparing properly for the arrival itself is covered in our first day checklist for a new maid or domestic helper.

ChooseMaid, Tadbeer or a Traditional Agency: What Does Each Route Cost?

The three routes to a maid visa in Dubai differ on who finds the worker and who carries the sponsorship, and the cost gap sits almost entirely in the finder's fee rather than in the visa.

Route	Who finds the worker	Who sponsors	Finder cost	Visa cost still payable
Direct hire via ChooseMaid	You, from verified profiles	You, via MOHRE or Tadbeer	195 AED monthly subscription	Yes, at standard rates
Tadbeer package	The centre	The centre or you	Bundled into package	Bundled into package
Traditional agency	The agency	Usually you	AED 5,000 to AED 15,000 reported	Yes, plus agency margin

If you are weighing the agency route against direct hire, our comparison of how to hire a maid in Dubai without an agency sets out what you take on yourself, and the ten best maid agencies in Dubai covers the market if you prefer a managed placement.

To be explicit: 195 AED is a platform subscription fee. It is not the maid's salary, it is not the maid visa cost in Dubai, and it does not replace any government charge. What the subscription includes is set out in what happens after you pay 195 AED on ChooseMaid, and the economics of the agency markup are broken down in why a maid agency charges AED 3,000. Current subscription terms are on the ChooseMaid pricing page, and the direct hire flow is explained on how it works.

What Do Sponsors Get Wrong About Maid Visa Costs?

Five errors account for most of the unpleasant surprises families encounter after committing to a maid visa in Dubai.

Comparing unlike packages. Always ask which government fees, which insurance tier, and whether the deposit is inside or outside the quoted number.
Treating the deposit as a cost. AED 2,000 is refundable on cancellation. Supply an IBAN and track it.
Budgeting the visa in isolation. Salary, insurance renewal, home leave ticket every two years under Article 10(4), and end of service exposure all sit outside the visa figure.
Accepting a flat AED 25,000 rule. The threshold attaches to private direct sponsorship, not to the Tadbeer package route.
Missing the renewal window. Start 60 days out. Medical, Emirates ID, and insurance all have to land before stamping.
Deducting insurance from wages. The employer pays health insurance in full. Deduction is not permitted, and Article 16 caps any lawful deduction at one quarter of salary.

Getting the Maid Visa Right

The maid visa cost in Dubai is not one number, and any source that gives you one without stating its scope is selling a package rather than answering the question. Budget AED 8,500 to AED 22,000 for a two year sponsorship, expect nationality to move you several thousand dirhams within that band, treat the AED 2,000 deposit as recoverable, and confirm every threshold against MOHRE before you assume a route is closed. The three rules most often stated incorrectly are worth restating: the AED 25,000 salary threshold attaches to private direct sponsorship rather than to every route, WPS registration is optional for housemaids and nannies, and the Golden Visa "unlimited" position rests on silence in Cabinet Decision No. 65 of 2022 rather than on an express grant.

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This article is general guidance and not immigration or legal advice. Maid visa fees, salary thresholds, document requirements, and occupation classifications in the UAE are set administratively and change without notice. Figures are attributed to their published sources and current as of Q3 2026. The 195 AED referenced throughout is a ChooseMaid platform subscription fee and is not a salary, a placement commission, or any part of the government visa cost. For your specific situation, confirm current requirements directly with the UAE Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE), the Federal Authority for Identity and Citizenship (ICP), or a licensed Tadbeer centre.