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Aupair Visa United Arab Emirates - Au Pair Program in United Arab Emirates

No visa is required for citizens of Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE, Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to visit Dubai or the UAE. It is best to check the new visa system information on the DNRD website.

Nationals of "Israel" may not enter the UAE.

Domestic Workers:

Domestic helper laws are set by the General Directorate of Resident and Foreign Affairs Dubai and cover maids, nannies, male house helpers and drivers.

All employees need sponsors, who act as guarantors for your work and residency visa. Sponsors could be individuals or companies.

To work in the UAE as a domestic worker, you must be from: Bangladesh, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, the Philippines or Sri Lanka and between the ages of 30 and 60.

Minimum wage:

  • Bangladesh: AED 750+
  • India: AED 1,100+
  • Indonesia: AED 800+
  • Philippines: AED 1,400+
  • Sri Lanka: AED 825+

Salary must be paid in full at the end of every month. Workers are also entitled to one month's leave per contract period. If leave is not taken, worker must be compensated for that time. Some countries, such as India, require that the worker be supplied with a mobile phone. For specific and up to date information, contact the Embassy.

Domestic Workers may not work for more than one family or take on any part-time work. There are severe fines (between AED 50,000 and 70,000) and a risk of prison for the sponsor. Workers also face fines, prison, and deportation if caught.

A visa can be obtained by the head of the family (sponsor), whose salary is not less than AED 6000 a month or AED 5000 + accommodation.

Single men are not eligible to sponsor a domestic worker.

Women with children who don't have a husband in the UAE might be able to sponsor a maid or nanny as head of the family, but it is more difficult to obtain approval than a married couple.

To sponsor a worker, you will need to have a UAE residency visa (work or residence permits alone are not sufficient).

The sponsor is responsible for their helper's actions. It is illegal for maids to: consume alcohol, live with a man unless she is married, or get pregnant if she is not married.

More than one maid per family is allowed, but will depend on salary and size of family. The immigration department must approve these situations.

There is a standardized labor contract for domestic workers, and their sponsors which is issued by the immigration or residence department at the time of visa application. The contract is valid for one year with options to renew and covers vacation, air tickets, medical care and procedures, in case of breach of contract. At the end of the contract, the employer will have to provide the worker with a one-way ticket to his/her home country. If the contract is renewed by mutual agreement, the employer must provide a return ticket to the worker so that he/she can resume their employment.

Procedure: Apply in the following order:

  • Residence Visa (employment permit to enter country)
  • Medical Fitness Report (after maid enters)
  • Residence Stamp on Worker's Passport & Issue of Domestic Worker Card Documents Required for Residence Visa:
  • For private employees a labour contract of sponsor is required, along with an accommodation contract showing a minimum 2 bedroom apartment.
  • Typed application form from authorized typing office
  • Sponsor's passport
  • Copy of maid's passport
  • Passport photos of maid (minimum 3 required)
  • Affidavit from embassy/consulate certifying non-relationship, if worker is from same country

Once the worker's residency visa is approved, they receive a residency visa stamp in their passport as well as a Domestic Worker Card that they should carry at all times.

Costs for a family to sponsor a domestic worker:

  • Residency visa: AED 5,100
  • Refundable deposit: AED 2,000
  • Application, various service fees and medical test: AED 1,500
  • Government health card: AED 300

Additional information and costs, can be found here.

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