Domestic worker requirements in the UAE: the full checklist
Everything a private household in the UAE needs to know before hiring a domestic worker — the regulated framework, documents, indicative costs and the Ployer workflow.
The short answer
In the UAE, hiring a domestic worker is regulated through MOHRE, authorised service providers and Tadbeer service centres. The employer sponsors the worker, registers the employment through the official channel, and completes entry permit, medical fitness, residence visa and Emirates ID steps. Requirements, fees and timelines change — confirm current MOHRE, Tadbeer and ICP rules before starting.
The UAE hiring process at a glance
Define the role
Helper, nanny, cook, driver or caregiver — with duties, hours and accommodation.
Find and compare candidates
Review verified skills, experience, languages and availability before deciding.
Verify and interview
Check key facts and speak with the worker before committing.
Register the employment offer
Register the contract through the MOHRE-regulated channel or a Tadbeer service centre.
Entry permit, medical and residence visa
Complete the ICP entry permit, the UAE medical fitness test and the residence visa steps.
Arrival and onboarding
Welcome the worker, complete Emirates ID formalities and keep documents in one place.
Who is this guide for?
This guide is for private households in the UAE — Emirati families, expatriate residents and sponsors — who want to hire a domestic worker lawfully and safely. It also helps family offices that employ domestic staff understand the same regulated framework.
- Employers hiring a domestic worker for the first time
- Households replacing a departing worker
- Expatriate residents bringing in a worker from abroad
- Families sponsoring a worker already present in the UAE
What does Ployer provide?
Ployer is the workflow layer around the official process. Employers describe the role once, compare verified candidate profiles, shortlist, interview, and then follow a UAE-specific checklist that keeps contract registration, medical, visas, documents and arrival on track.
- Structured role intake — helper, nanny, cook, driver or caregiver
- Verified skills passports with experience and language information
- Deterministic eligibility scoring against your requirements
- Document vault with statuses for passport, medical and contract files
- Onboarding journey tracking from offer to work start
- WhatsApp connection so workers and sponsors can stay in touch
How does the process work in the UAE?
Domestic worker employment in the UAE is regulated by the Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). The framework covers authorised service providers and Tadbeer service centres, and employment contracts are registered through official channels. After registration, the worker needs a UAE entry permit, a medical fitness test, a residence visa and an Emirates ID — processed through ICP.
- Confirm you are eligible to sponsor a domestic worker under the current MOHRE rules.
- Select the worker and agree duties, salary, accommodation and contract terms in writing.
- Register the employment offer and contract through the official MOHRE-regulated channel or a Tadbeer service centre.
- Apply for the UAE entry permit through ICP once the offer is registered.
- Complete the medical fitness test in the UAE after arrival.
- Complete the residence visa and Emirates ID steps, then keep every document on record.
Which documents are required?
The exact document list depends on the worker's source country and your route, but the core set is consistent across the UAE framework.
| Document | Who provides it | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Passport (valid well beyond the contract period) | Worker | Identity and visa processing |
| Registered employment offer / contract | Employer + worker | Terms, duties, salary, accommodation |
| UAE entry permit | ICP | Legal entry into the UAE |
| Medical fitness certificate | Approved health centre | Required for the residence visa |
| Residence visa | ICP | Legal stay and work |
| Emirates ID | ICP | Official UAE identity card |
| Passport photos | Worker | Visa and Emirates ID documents |
Core UAE domestic worker document set. Additional documents may apply depending on source-country requirements.
How much can it cost?
Total cost splits into official government fees, medical charges, travel, and any service or recruitment fees. Figures below are indicative ranges in AED for planning; the current official fee schedule should be confirmed with MOHRE, Tadbeer and ICP before starting.
| Cost item | Indicative range (AED) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Offer registration / Tadbeer service fees | AED 100 – AED 2,000+ | Varies by route and service centre; confirm current schedule |
| Medical fitness test | AED 100 – AED 500 | Approved health centre in the UAE |
| Entry permit and residence visa | AED 100 – AED 500 | ICP official fees; confirm current schedule |
| Emirates ID | AED 100 – AED 200 | ICP issuance fee; confirm current schedule |
| Travel (airfare) | Varies by source country | Usually employer-funded |
| Monthly salary | AED 1,800 – AED 4,000 | Indicative; depends on role, experience and duties |
Indicative planning ranges in AED as of September 2026. Always confirm current official fees with MOHRE, Tadbeer and ICP.
How long can it take?
A straightforward case in the UAE can complete in roughly four to ten weeks from offer registration to arrival, depending on source-country processing, medical appointments and document readiness.
| Stage | Typical duration | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Offer registration decision | A few days to 2 weeks | Channel used, completeness of documents |
| Entry permit | A few days to 3 weeks | Source-country clearance, application completeness |
| Medical fitness test | 1 – 3 days | Health centre availability |
| Residence visa and Emirates ID | 1 – 3 weeks | ICP appointments, document readiness |
| Travel and arrival | 1 – 2 weeks | Flights and worker availability |
Indicative planning durations. Delays most often come from missing documents and source-country steps.
What should employers check?
- Confirm current MOHRE, Tadbeer and ICP requirements and fees before starting
- Verify the worker's identity and documents before payment
- Put duties, hours, salary, accommodation and leave in a written contract
- Keep the worker's passport handling transparent — do not retain it without consent
- Arrange the medical fitness test promptly to avoid visa delays
- Record every document and its status in one place
- Use only lawful recruitment channels; avoid anyone promising visa or permit guarantees
What protections do workers receive?
The UAE's regulated framework exists so domestic workers are employed through recorded, accountable arrangements. Ployer supports this by keeping the employment route explicit: written terms, tracked documents, clear responsibilities, and a guided process on both sides.
- Written contract with clear duties and salary
- Recorded medical and visa processing
- Employer accountability through the regulated framework
- Clear communication channel between worker and sponsor (including WhatsApp)
What happens after selection?
Once a worker is selected and the official steps are complete, the relationship moves into management: arrival, onboarding, documents, leave, salary and any replacement needs. Ployer tracks this as an onboarding journey with eight steps, and supports replacement workflows if the arrangement does not last.
- Offer accepted → contract registered → entry permit applied
- Visa received → travel booked
- Arrival → medical fitness → residence visa → Emirates ID
- Replacement support if the worker leaves early
UAE requirements checklist
Tick off each item as it is completed. Keep this list with your application folder.
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Common questions
The Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) regulates domestic worker employment. The framework covers authorised service providers and Tadbeer service centres, and contracts are registered through official channels.
Hiring is done through the regulated MOHRE framework — directly via authorised channels or through a Tadbeer service centre. Confirm the current route that fits your situation with MOHRE or the nearest Tadbeer centre.
Core documents include the worker's passport, a registered employment contract, a UAE entry permit, a medical fitness certificate, a residence visa and an Emirates ID. Source-country requirements may add more.
Verification in the Ployer workflow means structured identity and document checks, experience and language claims visible on the profile, and document statuses tracked in a vault. Final regulatory verification happens through the official process.
Yes. Ployer supports structured interviews before commitment, so you can confirm duties, expectations and fit before starting the official process.
Duties, working hours, salary, accommodation, leave and notice terms, agreed in writing and registered through the official channel. Confirm the current standard contract requirements with MOHRE or Tadbeer.
Typically four to ten weeks from offer registration to arrival in a straightforward case, depending on source-country processing, medical appointments and document readiness.
No. Entry permits, visas and Emirates ID are issued by ICP and MOHRE under their own rules. Ployer structures and tracks the workflow but never guarantees an official decision.
Worker documents are stored privately in an account-level vault and are only accessible to authorised parties. Public profiles never expose passport or sensitive personal information.
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 sources dated — All official UAE sources (MOHRE, ICP, u.ae) were referenced with a review date of 21 September 2026.
- Last checked 2026-09-21 — Facts, links and figures on this page were last reviewed on 21 September 2026.
- Named author/reviewer — Authored by the Ployer Editorial Team and reviewed by Ployer Compliance & Editorial Review.
- No fabricated ratings — No invented reviews, statistics or unsupported service claims appear on this page.
- Worker privacy — Worker documents are held in a private vault; public profiles never expose passports or sensitive data.
Related guides
Official sources and references
- MOHRE — domestic worker laws and resolutions
- Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) — official site
- ICP — Federal Authority for Identity, Citizenship, Customs & Ports Security
- UAE official portal (u.ae)
Tell us who you need.
Describe the role once — Ployer structures the requirements, shows verified matches and tracks the UAE workflow.