Common Mistakes to Avoid When Applying for a Maid Visa

Employing a maid can really simplify life in the UAE, whether you are living in Dubai, Abu Dhabi or another emirate.  A maid can help keep your house tidy and allow you to spend time with family, work or just relax. However, applying for a maid visa can seem daunting, and it is easy to make mistakes if you do not take time to understand it.  However, there is no need to panic – this guide will take you through the common mistakes made and how to avoid them.

1. Not Checking If You Can Hire a Maid

First up, you gotta make sure you’re allowed to sponsor a maid. The UAE has simple rules: you need to be married, living here, the main person in your house, and earning at least AED 6,000 a month if you give your maid a place to stay (or AED 10,000 if you don’t). You can only hire maids from certain countries, like the Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Indonesia, or Ethiopia. If you don’t check this first, you might start the process and get stuck. Save yourself the trouble—make sure you’re good to go before you begin.

2. Forgetting Your Papers

The maid visa process needs a bunch of documents, and missing even one can hold things up or get your application turned down. You’ll need your passport and visa copies, your maid’s passport and a few small photos, a salary certificate or work contract to show you make enough money, your Ejari contract to prove your home has at least two bedrooms, and a utility bill with your address. If your maid’s from your home country, you’ll also need a note from your embassy saying you’re not related. A big mistake is thinking you can grab these later—get them all ready upfront to keep things easy.

3. Missing Deadlines

Timing matters a lot for a maid visa in the UAE. Your maid needs a medical check within 30 days of arriving, and the Emirates ID application has to happen within 10 days of the medical test. If you miss these, you might have to start over, which wastes time and money. Pop reminders on your phone or make a checklist to stay on track. It’s way better than dealing with delays!

4. Choosing the Wrong Processing Speed

When you apply for the entry permit or medical tests, you can pick regular or faster processing. Regular is cheaper but takes longer (like a week for medical results). Faster options cost more (like AED 420 for 48-hour results or AED 520 for same-day). Some people pick the fastest option just because, but if you plan ahead, you can save money with regular processing. Only pay extra if you’re really in a hurry.

5. Not Planning for All the Costs

The maid visa costs can add up, and some folks forget to budget for everything. If you do it yourself, you’re looking at about AED 6,200–7,500. That includes the entry permit (AED 110–610), medical check (AED 325–520), Emirates ID (AED 140), insurance (AED 600–1,200), and visa stamping (AED 5,000–5,500). If you use an agency, add AED 7,000–12,000 for their fees. Not planning for these can stress you out. Write down all the costs ahead of time so you’re ready.

6. Skipping the Contract or Insurance

Some people think they can skip signing a proper contract or getting medical insurance for their maid to save some time or money. That’s a big no-no! The UAE requires a contract that covers your maid’s salary (usually AED 1,400–2,500), work hours, one day off a week, and 30 days of paid vacation a year. You also need medical insurance, which costs about AED 600–1,200 a year. Skipping these can get your application rejected or cause problems later. Make sure you’ve got both covered to stay on the right side of things.

7. Not Checking with the GDRFA

The General Directorate of Residency and Foreigners Affairs (GDRFA) completes the entire process of the maid visa, so everything has to go through them. Some people feel once they submit their papers to the GDRFA things are good, but mistakes happen and it could be a typo on the application or missing documents. It always pays to confirm with the GDRFA to avoid a delay or rejection. Every time you complete a step, verify that things are progressing. Typing centres or the GDRFA website will help track your status.

8. Thinking Agencies Get It All Right

While using an agency like Tadbeer they can simplify the maid visa process. But some agencies may let things slip or charge fees that you didn’t anticipate. Many new home owners make the mistake of not asking for a list of costs. They don’t check what the agency is completing on their behalf. If you do go through the agency process of course review a few options, ask many questions, read everything  and watch to confirm it is being done properly.

Why Getting It Right Is Worth It

Avoiding these mistakes will save you time, money, and potential headaches when applying for a UAE maid visa. A maid can help improve the quality of your home life, and give you the time to spend with family, travel to more interesting places, or just take a break with a light workload. With a maid, you also provide them a fair job with health insurance, and paid off days. Take the process step-by-step, be wise and organized, don’t be afraid to reach out to the GDRFA or typing centers, and you will be well on your way to a happier, organized life in UAE.