What documents are needed for a domestic worker?
The core document set for hiring a domestic worker in the GCC — passport, contract, permit, medical and photos — with the note that the exact list depends on the destination country.
The short answer
The core document set for a GCC domestic worker hire is: a passport valid well beyond the contract period, a signed employment contract, the work permit approval from the destination authority, a medical fitness screening result, and passport photos. Source-country and destination-specific requirements add more — exit clearances, training certificates or additional attestations. The exact list depends on the destination country, so confirm current requirements before starting.
Collecting the document set
Collect the worker's base documents
Passport, photos and any source-country documents.
Sign the contract
Duties, hours, salary, accommodation and leave in writing.
Apply for the permit
The destination's permit process defines its own document list.
Complete the medical step
Screening with an approved provider, per the destination's process.
Track and store
Keep every document with its status and expiry date in one file.
The core document set
Most GCC destinations need the same core set, with destination-specific extras on top. The table shows the core documents, who provides them and why they matter.
| Document | Who provides it | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Passport, valid well beyond the contract period | Worker | Identity, visa and permit processing |
| Signed employment contract | Employer + worker | Terms, duties, salary, accommodation, leave |
| Work permit approval | Destination authority | Authorises the employment |
| Medical fitness screening result | Approved medical provider | Required in most GCC destinations before permit or residence completion |
| Passport photos | Worker | Permit, visa and residence documents |
| Residence-related documents | Destination authority | Legal stay and work after arrival |
Core GCC document set, dated September 2026. The exact list depends on the destination country.
How the set varies by destination
Each GCC destination runs its own process, and the same document can have different rules: which medical provider is approved, whether the permit is electronic, whether source-country clearances are required, and how photos and copies must be submitted.
| Destination | Where the process runs | Typical extras to check |
|---|---|---|
| United Arab Emirates | MOHRE domestic worker resolutions and the UAE labour process | Medical and attestation steps per current rules |
| Saudi Arabia | Musaned hiring workflow | Source-country clearances and medical coordination |
| Bahrain | LMRA Domestic Employee Permit via the Expatriate Management System | Electronic permit steps, medical screening, NPRA visa |
| Kuwait, Oman, Qatar | Each country's domestic worker process | Permit, medical and contract rules per destination |
General destination notes, dated September 2026. Always confirm the current list with the destination authority.
The contract is a document too
The employment contract is part of the official document set, not a private extra. It records duties, hours, salary, accommodation, leave and notice — and in most GCC destinations it feeds the permit record. A contract that conflicts with the official application causes delays.
- Duties, hours, salary, accommodation and leave in writing
- Signed by both sides with copies kept
- Consistent with the permit application
- Updated in writing when terms change
How do you check the documents?
Document checking is the employer's first line of defence. The core checks are the same everywhere: the passport must be genuine, valid and the worker's own; the photos must match; and the medical result must come from an approved provider.
- Passport validity well beyond the contract period
- Passport genuinely belongs to the candidate
- Photos match the passport and the person
- Medical result from an approved provider
- Contract terms match the official application
How should documents be stored?
Store the document set privately, with statuses and expiry dates tracked. One list — document, status, expiry date — checked monthly prevents the two classic failures: an expired passport discovered mid-process, and a medical record that cannot be found.
- One file for the worker, private and complete
- Status and expiry dates tracked
- Passport handling transparent — do not retain it without consent
- Copies preferred for daily use; originals handled per local practice
Document collection checklist
Tick off each document as it is collected. Keep this list with the worker's file.
0 of 14 collected
Common questions
The core set: a passport valid well beyond the contract period, a signed contract, the work permit approval, a medical fitness result and passport photos. Destination rules add more.
Yes. Each destination runs its own process — the exact list, the approved medical providers, and the permit steps differ. Confirm the current list with the destination authority.
Both sides — employer and worker — with copies kept. The contract is part of the official set and feeds the permit record in most destinations.
Long enough to cover the contract period and any travel and permit steps — generally well beyond the contract end. Confirm the destination's minimum.
Keep handling transparent. Do not retain the passport without consent; copies are preferred for daily use and originals are handled per local practice.
It must come from an approved provider for the destination. Results from private clinics outside the approved list are not valid for the process.
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.
- Named author — Authored by the Ployer Editorial Team; corrections are tracked with review dates.
- No invented statistics — This page contains no fabricated figures, reviews or service guarantees.
- Verifiable platform behaviour — References to the Ployer workflow describe features that are visible on the platform itself.
Related guides
Tell us who you need.
Describe the role once — Ployer structures the requirements, shows verified matches and tracks the GCC workflow.