Complete Guide to Apply for UAE Domestic Helper Visa in 2024

Are you a foreign domestic helper who wishes to earn more than your current wages?

Many homes in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) need the service of nannies, cooks, and drivers, among others. To make your dream a reality, you need the UAE domestic helper visa.

A female domestic helper showing her employer's daughter how to prepare food in the kitchen

Overview

A domestic helper visa is also called a domestic worker or overseas domestic helper visa. It’s designed for unskilled individuals who want to work as nannies, drivers, cooks, and gardeners for their employers abroad. Without this visa, they can’t work as a domestic helper overseas. In other words, they need to apply for and possess a domestic helper visa to be able to provide personal care for their employer and their family.

Like other visas, the holders of the UAE domestic helper visa can only work in their clients’ home countries for a certain period. For instance, in the UK, it is six months. Once the months are exhausted, the holders are expected to return to their home countries as they cannot extend their visa according to the UK Government. Having said that, those who have applied for a domestic helper visa before April 5, 2012, are allowed to extend their stay and even apply for settlement as stated in the UK Government website.

However, the UAE domestic helper visa is valid for one year and is renewed annually.

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for UAE Domestic Helper Visa?

Aside from being a domestic helper or worker, you must meet certain conditions to qualify to apply for the UAE domestic helper visa. It’s important to note that these requirements vary from country to country. But almost all the countries where the services of domestic workers or helpers are sought require the following:

• The minimum age to apply for a domestic helper visa is 18 years old. Applicants who are below 19 will not be considered for the visa even if they meet other requirements.

• You must plan to return to your home country after the expiration of your visa.

• To apply for a domestic helper visa, you must have worked for your employer for at least one year. However, some countries accept applications from those who have worked for their employers for six to eight months.

• You must be working in the same household where your employer lives. In other words, you and your employer can’t live separately.

• You must intend to work as a full-time domestic helper or worker. However, some employers prefer to employ a part-time domestic helper or worker.

• You must intend to travel to your employer’s home country.

• You must have the financial strength to fund some of your expenses in your employer’s home country without seeking financial support from the public.

Supporting Documents for a Domestic Helper Visa

Remember that meeting the eligibility conditions is not enough to apply for the UAE domestic helper visa. You must possess the following documents and upload them while submitting your application.

• You must submit your current passport. If you don’t have one, you can submit other valid travel identifications. What’s not acceptable is not submitting any.

• You must submit your bank statements or payslips for the last six months. This is to confirm if you are financially capable of funding your expenses in your employer’s country without needing support from outside sources.

• You submit a completed Appendix Domestic Worker Statement bearing your signature and employer’s. The reason for this is to be sure that you and your employer have reached an agreement on the nature of your job.

• You’ll have to submit a letter issued to you by your employer bearing the nature of your job and how long you have worked with them. And that your employment is permanent.

It’s important to note that not all countries offering a domestic helper visa require these supporting documents. Therefore, we advise you to find out about the required documents for your destination country before you begin your visa application.

What Are the Rights of a Domestic Helper?

As a foreign domestic helper, you need to know your rights before you apply for a domestic helper visa to join your employer in their country. Knowing your rights will help you prevent abuses, as multiple reports have indicated that some employers abuse their househelps.

How do you know your rights? That’s not difficult. You have to ask your employer before you enter an agreement to join them in their country. If they list out your rights for you and you feel that some things are missing or you are not comfortable with them, you have the right to ask questions.

However, the following are some of the most pronounced rights of domestic helpers who work abroad. We advise you to go through them and remember to look out for them when you’re signing an agreement with your employer:

Contract of Employment

A contract of employment is a written piece or document bearing the signatures of an employee and their employer. The document contains the terms and conditions of the job, including the nature of the work, the pay, and work hours, among others. Once you and your employer reach an agreement, neither you nor your employer can change it for any reason except you both agree to revisit it for your benefit.

Hours of Work

You and your employer are to sign an agreement on the work hour and break time. Yes, you are not a machine–you need a break. It’s your right to complain if your employer tries to increase the hours to their advantage without increasing.

Annual leave and public holidays

You’re a domestic helper and not a slave. So, you’re entitled to an annual leave and public holidays. The former will afford you the opportunity to travel to your home country and see your people. The number of days you can use on your leave will be determined by you and your employer during the signing of the contract.

Sick Pay

Like everyone, domestic helpers get sick due to the stress they go through on the job. When this happens, you are entitled to sick pay. Ensure you and your employer agree on the days of sick pay. It could be five days or more.

Dismissal and Notice

Domestic helpers are also dismissed like other workers who breach the employment agreement. But before they are dismissed, they are notified. Dismissed domestic helpers are entitled to some payments. God forbid, if this happens, ensure you ask your employer to pay you off, as you both must have discussed it before you agreed to work with them.

Dignity and Privacy

Your employer must respect your dignity and privacy. They must treat you respectfully and give you a room in their apartment where you will live for the months or years you want to work with them. If your employers do not respect you and fail to provide you with a room, report them to the appropriate authorities. In addition, your employer cannot prevent you from joining a trade union of your choice in the country.

What Are the Responsibilities of a Domestic Helper?

The support domestic helpers provide in the households of their employers cannot be underestimated. So, as a domestic helper who wants to migrate abroad because of higher wages and other implicit benefits, the following are the responsibilities of domestic workers overseas:

1. Housekeeping and Cleaning

Housekeeping includes sweeping, washing, mopping, vacuuming, and dusting, among others. This is one of the primary duties of domestic workers. Their job is to keep the house clean and liveable.

2. Meal Preparation and Cooking

Domestic helpers prepare meals for their employers and their employers. Overseas domestic workers who are involved in this are usually outstanding when it comes to the preparation of meals and cooking. They ensure their employers and their families enjoy nice food at least thrice per day.

3. Laundry and Ironing

Domestic helpers abroad wash, dry, and iron their employers and their family’s clothes, linens, and other fabrics. They understand how important these items are to their employers, so they handle them with care, ensuring they are not torn and burnt while washing and ironing them.

4. ChildCare Assistance

Some employers ask their domestic workers to help them take care of their children when they are at home and not around. They feed, play with, and help the kids with their homework. If the house help is on a full-time job, they also help their employers drop their children at schools and go back to fetch them after closing hours.

5. Grocery Shopping and Errands

Domestic helpers go shopping errands for their employers when needed. They ensure the house is fully stocked with necessary groceries. Other responsibilities of domestic workers include caring for elders’ pets and maintaining the household, among others.

How Much Does the Domestic Helper Visa Application Cost?

A lot of domestic workers seeking the UAE domestic helper visa ask this specific question. It’s a good question and much expected. However, the cost of a Domestic Helper Visa varies from country to country. The application fee in the US is different from the amount charged in the Netherlands. In the UAE, the application fee ranges from AED 6438 to AED 8500.

What are the Types of UAE Domestic Helper Visa?

Different types of the UAE Domestic Helper visas, and their application fees vary. In this section, we’ll highlight some of these visas.

United Arab Emirates (UAE):

1. Domestic Worker Visa (for housemaids, nannies, cooks)

2. Domestic Helper Visa (for special needs caregivers)

How Much is the Minimum Wage of a Domestic Helper Abroad?

There is no uniform minimum for overseas domestic helpers. Each country has its minimum wage, and employers are expected to pay their domestic staff at that rate. For instance, the UK minimum wage is around £9.50 per hour, and the salary is between £1,600 and 2,500 per month. Domestic workers in this country are likely to receive the minimum wage and salary, respectively.

What Are the Application Guidelines for the UAE Domestic Helper Visa?

The following are the steps to apply for a Domestic Helper Visa. Ensure you follow these steps when submitting your application and make sure you upload all the supporting documents:

1. Complete the Online Application Form: Enter your correction details online form for the Domestic Helper visa.

2. Make Your Payment: Pay the application fee online, ensuring you enter the correct amount.

3. Upload Required Documents: Gather and upload all the necessary documents as specified in the application guidelines.

4. Book and Attend a Biometric Appointment: Schedule a biometric appointment at your nearest visa application center (VAC) to have your fingerprints scanned and your photo taken.

Conclusion

The UAE domestic Helper visa is a visa for foreign unskilled workers who want to work as a domestic helper in the United Arab Emirates. To apply for this visa, foreign applicants must meet certain conditions and follow specific application guidelines. If you would like to apply for this visa, we advise you to start your application now.

FAQs

What visa do I need to be a domestic helper in the USA?

Personal or domestic employees who accompany or follow an employer to the United States are eligible for B-1 visas.

How long does it take to get a visa for a domestic helper in Hong Kong?

It typically takes about four to six weeks to process an application for a Domestic Helper visa once all necessary documents are received.

How long is domestic helper leave in 2024?

To clarify, the helper is entitled to the following days off based on their years of employment: 7 days in the first year, 7 days in the second year, 8 days in the third year, 9 days in the fourth year, 10 days in the fifth year, and so forth, increasing until it reaches a maximum of 14 days.

Complete Guide to Apply for UAE Domestic Helper Visa in 2024

Overview

What Are the Eligibility Criteria for UAE Domestic Helper Visa?

Supporting Documents for a Domestic Helper Visa