Effortlessly Sponsor Your UAE Domestic Workers: The Definitive Guide

The UAE has fully updated its legal framework governing domestic workers under Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 (amended by Decree-Law No. 21 of 2023). Sponsoring a domestic worker—ranging from housemaids to private tutors, cooks, and chauffeurs—is managed entirely through digital platforms like the Work Bundle via the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MoHRE).

Eligibility Requirements to Sponsor

Expatriate & Family Sponsorship

• Minimum Monthly Income: An expatriate sponsor must have a minimum combined family monthly income of AED 25,000 from legally documented sources.

• Property & Housing: The sponsor must reside in a home with at least two bedrooms to ensure adequate private space for the worker.

• Family Status Restrictions: Sponsorship is typically restricted to families. Single bachelors are generally not eligible to sponsor female domestic helpers unless a strict medical exemption applies.

UAE Nationals

• Minimum Monthly Income: For UAE citizens, the lower threshold is set at a minimum monthly income of AED 10,000.

Special Categories & Exemptions

• Golden Visa Holders: Golden Visa residents can sponsor domestic workers without any minimum salary caps or numeric limits on the number of workers.

• Professionals: Senior designations such as judges, specialized medical professionals, and legal counselors.

• Medical Cases: Patients with verified medical coverage, provided their family has a monthly income exceeding AED 15,000.

• Corporate Sponsorship: Government-approved companies and commercial establishments may sponsor domestic workers directly on behalf of their employees.

🛠️ Step-by-Step Sponsorship Process

1. Select an Approved Channel: Use MoHRE-authorized Tadbeer centers or official government platforms (like the DubaiNow app / Work Bundle).

2. Apply for Entry Permit: Secure an initial entry visa allowing the worker to legally enter the UAE.

3. Medical Fitness & Security Check: Arrange a mandatory UAE-approved medical examination (infectious disease screening) and biometrics for the worker.

4. Execute the Official Contract: Sign the standardized, mandatory digital MoHRE employment contract detailing all terms.

5. Secure Emirates ID & Visa Stamping: Complete the legal residency registration.

6. Enroll in WPS: Set up the worker's payroll profile through the central Wages Protection System (WPS).

⚖️ Key Legal Rights and Mandates

Rest Periods and Benefits

• Weekly Rest: One fully paid weekly rest day. If required to work, the employee must receive a day in lieu or overtime pay.

• Daily Rest: A minimum of 12 hours of rest per day, which must include at least 8 consecutive hours.

• Annual Leave: A minimum of 30 calendar days of paid annual leave.

• Travel Ticket: One round-trip flight ticket home to their home country every two years, fully funded by the sponsor.

• Sick Leave: Up to 30 days of sick leave per year (the first 15 days are fully paid; the remaining 15 days are unpaid).

• Severance Pay: An end-of-service gratuity calculated at 14 days’ basic salary for every year of completed continuous service.

Core Legal Prohibitions

• Recruitment Fees: It is illegal to charge or deduct recruitment agency fees from the worker. The sponsor must fully bear these expenses.

• Withholding Documents: Sponsors are strictly banned from confiscating or denying workers access to their personal passports and identification documents.

• Age Limit: The worker must be between the ages of 18 and 60.

• Job Scope: Assigning tasks outside the standard professions listed on their official contract is prohibited.

• Zero Tolerance Policies: Severe, immediate legal action applies to cases of discrimination, sexual harassment, verbal/physical abuse, forced labor, or human trafficking.

🚨 Critical Compliance Rules

• Real-Time Wage Tracking: All salaries must transit digitally through the Wages Protection System (WPS). Cash payments are no longer compliant, and delays trigger automatic electronic warnings to the ministry.

• Mandatory Healthcare: Sponsors must provide full, continuous health insurance coverage, completely paid out of pocket.

• Reporting Absences: If a worker leaves or goes missing without a legitimate reason, the sponsor must officially notify MoHRE within 5 days. Filing a false absconding report to evade end-of-service payments carries heavy financial penalties.

• Free Legal Recourse: Domestic workers have full legal aid channels and are completely exempt from paying court fees at every single stage of litigation. Disputes are sent to MoHRE for amicable settlement before heading to specialized labor tribunals.

#UAE #UAELaborLaw #DomesticWorkersRights #MoHRE #Dubai #AbuDhabi #WorkersProtection #Tadbeer

Domestic maids from India to UAE

Documents Required

•     Embassy Permit letter, in the prescribed format, duly typed and affixed with signature of employer [original and a photocopy].
•      Two copies of the Employment Contract (one original and one photocopy). The original should be attested by Shariah Court, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (It must be typed)
•     Original employment Visa and two photocopies thereof.
•     Photocopy of the passport of the Employer.
•     Income/Salary Certificate of the employer in original.
•  
•     Undertaking from the Employer regarding good treatment of the FHSW, in the prescribed format.

    Guarantee from an Indian national in the format prescribed for the good treatment of the FHSW and fulfillment of the terms of the contract by the employer and also accepting responsibility to bear the cost of return passage by air, if necessary. The guarantor is required to sign the undertaking / guarantee in the presence of the Labour Officer.

•     Photocopy of the passport of the employee.
•     Photocopy of the passport of the guarantor.
•     The age of the maid should be 30 and above.
•     Minimum salary of the maid should be Dhs.1100/- per month in addition to free food & accommodation.
•     Security Deposit – The employer will have to deposit an amount of AED. 9200/-[UAE Dirham Nine thousand and two hundred only] with the Embassy as a Security Deposit. This deposit is refundable on termination of the contract subject to conditions being fulfilled
•     Mobile Phone – A prepaid mobile phone must be provided to the FHSW by the employer.
• Government of India Guidelines for recruitment of domestic female workers in all ECR Countries.

Extracts from the order issued by Government of India in the year 2007

A Foreign Employer may undertake direct recruitment of Indian personnel by obtaining a permit under Chapter IV of the Emigration Act, 1983. Applications for this purpose may be submitted either to the local/nearest Indian Mission or to the Office of the Protector General of Emigrants, Ministry of Overseas Indian Affairs, Akbar Bhavan, Chankyapuri, New Delhi in Form VI along with the documents/information mentioned therein. Besides, the foreign employer will deposit a Bank Guarantee (BG) of US$ 2,500 with the Indian Mission before issue of permit. The BG will be released to the FE after the Mission satisfies itself that the contract period is over and all dues of the worker have been paid by the employer.

Foreign employer shall also have to furnish bank guarantee of ten thousand rupees for every person intended to be recruited subject to minimum of one lakh rupees and maximum of twenty lakh rupees, valid for a period of one year over and above the duration of the employment contract.

Documents Required for Unskilled/Women Workers (Individuals)

Unskilled workers and women (not below 30 years of age) seeking employment abroad shall continue to furnish (in original) the following documents at the time of obtaining emigration clearance:

•     Passport valid for a minimum period of six months with valid Visa.
•     Employment contract from the foreign employer duly attested by the Indian Mission or Permission letter from the concerned Indian Mission/Post.
•     Challan towards deposits of prescribed fee.
•     Insurance policy Under Pravasi Bharatiya Bima Yojana (PBBY).

Frequently Asked Questions

    Who can sponsor a maid in UAE?
    Any one earning an income more than AED 10,000 per month can sponsor a maid.

    How can I select and bring a maid from India?
    You may select a maid through the registered recruiting agents or through your acquaintances. After selecting the maid, obtain the details of the maid, apply for an employment visa and thereafter approach the Embassy or the Consulate.
 
    How can I apply for a maid visa?
    You have to apply to the local immigration for housemaid visa. If you fulfill their requirements visa will be issued to you. Details of the requirements may be checked with the Immigration.

    What should I do after collecting the forms?
    After collecting the application fulfill the following conditions stipulated by the Embassy

•         Embassy Permit letter, in the prescribed format, duly filled in and affixed with signature of employer [original and a photocopy].
•         Two copies of the Employment Contract (one original and one photocopy). The original should be attested by Shariah Court, Ministry of Justice and Ministry of Foreign Affairs (It must be typed) Original employment Visa and two photocopies thereof.
•         Photocopy of the passport of the Employer.
•         Income/Salary Certificate of the employer in original. Minimum income of the employer must be AED. 10,000/- per month.
•         Undertaking from the Employer regarding good treatment of the FHSW, in the prescribed format.
•         Undertaking/Guarantee from an Indian national in the format prescribed for the good treatment of the FHSW and fulfillment of the terms of the contract by the employer and also accepting responsibility to bear the cost of return passage by air, if necessary. The guarantor is required to sign the undertaking / guarantee in the presence of the Labour Officer.
•         Photocopy of the passport of the employee.
•         Photocopy of the passport of the guarantor.
•     Other conditions:
•         Mobile Phone - A mobile phone and SIM card must be provided to the FHSW by the employer.
•         Security Deposit – The employer will have to deposit an amount of AED. 9200/-[UAE Dirham Nine thousand and two hundred only] with the Embassy as a Security Deposit. This deposit is refundable on termination of the contract subject to conditions being fulfilled. The security deposit would not be required if the recruitment is done through a Registered Recruiting Agent in India.
•         The Security Deposit will be governed by the following conditions :
•             On termination of the contract at any time by mutual consent, the full amount of the Security Deposit will be refunded to the employer on the latter submitting an application in writing and appearing at the Embassy in person along with the FHSW.
•  
•             However, should the FHSW complain of dues or if the Embassy has to incur any expenditure on her accommodation, food, local transportation and airfare to India, these expenses will be deducted from the Security Deposit and the balance amount refunded to the employer.

    What is the basic salary of the maid?
    The minimum basic salary of the maid should be Dhs.1100/- [not negotiable]

    Why is a guarantor necessary?
    In case where the sponsor is not reachable, the guarantor will be approached if there is a complaint from the maid.
 
    Why the sponsor has to deposit an amount of Dhs.9200/- with the Embassy?
    In case there is a dispute between the sponsor and maid and the sponsor is not willing to pay the salary, the same is deducted from the security deposit.

    What shall I do after getting the attested contract from the Embassy?
    You may send the documents to the proposed maid and ask her to go to the nearest Protector of Emigrants office and get the emigration clearance stamp. After getting clearance, she can book the ticket and travel.
 
    Is it mandatory to register the maid with the Embassy after she reaches UAE?
    Yes. You have to bring the maid to the Embassy and register her name before stamping the residence visa.
 
    What is the procedure to get back the security deposit?
    Bring the maid to the Embassy before her departure to India. The maid has to sign a document stating that she received all her dues. After her exit from UAE, bring the form showing the exit stamp so that we can process the application for releasing the security deposit.
 
    Can I transfer the security deposit to a second maid if I send back the first one?
    Yes, you can.If you have completed the formalities before sending the first maid as stated above and have proof that she has exited the country, the amount can be transferred to the second maids name.

    What should I bring when I come to collect the security deposit?
    You have to bring the original receipt showing the deposit and copy of your identity card.

    What shall I do if the maid wants to go back to India before the contract is over?
    Bring the maid to the Embassy before her departure to India. The maid has to sign a document stating that she received all her dues. Thereafter she can leave the country.
 
    Should I inform the Embassy when I renew the maid visa?
    No need to inform the Embassy when you renew the visa.