Domestic worker arrival checklist
What to have ready before a domestic worker lands — pickup, documents, medical and registration steps, a local SIM, and a calm first-day briefing.
The short answer
Before arrival, confirm the flight, prepare a document pack (passport copy, contract, permit references, medical appointment details) and arrange pickup with clear identification. On arrival, handle the destination's medical and registration steps promptly, set up a local SIM and any needed cards, and run a first-day briefing covering the home, routines, emergency numbers and the communication channel. A written arrival plan turns a stressful first day into a structured one.
The arrival sequence
Confirm travel
Flight number, arrival time, terminal and any delay alerts.
Prepare the document pack
Passport copy, contract, permit and medical references in one folder.
Pickup and identification
Agree a meeting point and how both sides identify each other.
Medical and registration
Attend the destination's medical and registration steps promptly.
SIM and essentials
Set up a local SIM, address details and any cards needed for daily life.
First-day briefing
Home tour, emergency numbers, routines and the written reference sheet.
What to prepare before the flight lands
The quality of arrival day is set before it. Confirm travel details, prepare the room, and assemble the document pack so the first 24 hours are about settling in, not hunting for papers.
- Flight, terminal and time confirmed; delay alerts set
- Room prepared: clean, furnished, lockable, with keys
- Document pack ready: passport copy, contract, permit references, medical appointment details
- Emergency numbers written down
- First-day briefing sheet drafted in the working language
Pickup and identification
Airports are overwhelming for a first-time arrival. Agree a meeting point and a way for both sides to identify each other — for example, the employer waits at a named meeting point with a name board or a WhatsApp call.
| Step | Detail |
|---|---|
| Meeting point | Agree a named spot — arrivals hall, hotel lobby, or a specific gate |
| Identification | Name board, agreed clothing or a WhatsApp video call |
| Backup plan | Whom to call and what to do if one side is delayed |
| Transport | Car ready; agree stops on the way home if needed |
Pickup plan, dated September 2026.
Documents and the medical step
Arrival is when the official steps scheduled during hiring get completed: the destination's medical screening and registration appointments. Book or confirm these before arrival where possible — delays here push back the permit and residence timeline.
- Passport and visa documents handed over and filed, with transparent handling
- Medical appointment confirmed and attended
- Registration steps actioned per the destination's process
- Copies stored in the document file; originals handled per local practice
Local SIM and daily-life essentials
A domestic worker cannot function — or contact anyone — without a working phone. Set up a local SIM on the first day, along with the basics of daily life: the house address in writing, a contact card, and access to money for personal needs as agreed.
- Local SIM with data, activated and tested
- Home address written in the worker's language
- Employer and emergency numbers saved in the phone
- Agreed arrangements for personal money and purchases
The first-day briefing
The first day sets the tone. Keep it calm: a home tour, the room, the bathroom, the kitchen, emergency exits — and then rest. Do not dump every rule on day one; cover the essentials, leave the written reference sheet in the room, and continue orientation over the week.
- Welcome and room handover with keys
- Home tour: bathroom, kitchen, laundry, emergency exits
- Emergency numbers and alarm procedures
- Meal and rest arrangements for the first days
- Communication channel confirmed — typically WhatsApp
- Written reference sheet left in the room
- Rest time respected — long journeys are exhausting
Arrival checklist
Tick off each item as the arrival sequence completes.
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Common questions
The employer or a trusted representative with the document pack and the agreed identification method. A stranger with a name board is a common confusion point — use a WhatsApp call or a pre-agreed meeting spot.
Passport copy, signed contract, permit references and medical appointment details. The official medical and registration steps follow the destination's process.
As soon as the destination's process allows — ideally booked before arrival. Delays push back the permit and residence timeline.
The employer usually sets up the SIM as part of arrival, since the worker needs it to function from day one. Confirm the arrangement in advance to avoid an awkward first-day question.
Room and keys, home tour, emergency numbers, meal arrangements, and the communication channel. Keep the rest for the week-long orientation.
The pickup plan should include a backup: whom to call, what to do with a missed meeting point, and how WhatsApp keeps both sides in contact.
What we can evidence on this page
Ployer does not publish fabricated reviews or self-awarded star ratings. Where evidence exists it is shown with its source and date; where it does not exist yet, it is stated plainly.
- Official service pages — Claims about permits, medical and documents are grounded in official GCC government service pages, checked on 2026-09-21.
- Dated review — Content was reviewed by the Ployer Compliance & Editorial Review team on 2026-09-21.
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- Verifiable platform behaviour — References to the Ployer workflow describe features that are visible on the platform itself.
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