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A nanny visa in Dubai is a domestic worker visa: nanny or babysitter is one of 19 domestic jobs on the official list. As an expat sponsor, MOHRE wants proof of at least AED 25,000 a month in family income. The work permit takes 2 working days and lasts 1 year. Dubai firms publish about AED 6,000 to AED 7,000 for the visa.
We looked for rules written only for nannies on the MOHRE and u.ae pages. There are none. Everything below comes from the general domestic worker rules, applied to a person who cares for your children.
What changes when the worker is a nanny
The visa route is the same as for a housemaid. Three things are different in practice.
The job title on the contract. MOHRE's standard contract must state the type of work. The official list keeps nanny or babysitter apart from housemaid, cook, home nurse and private tutor. If she will mostly teach, or care for a child with medical needs, think about which title fits. Get it right before you sign.
Her hours. Children do not keep office hours. u.ae rules give every domestic worker 12 hours of rest a day, 8 of them in a row, and one paid rest day each week. That rules out a nanny who does the night feeds and the full day too. Plan cover, or split the work.
Her age. Many families want an experienced nanny. MOHRE accepts workers from 18 to 60. Someone over 60 can only be taken on if she is already in the UAE and her last domestic worker residence was cancelled in the past 3 months.
The sponsor's side
You must show family income of AED 25,000 a month or more, with a salary certificate and three months of bank statements. Some websites quote AED 6,000. MOHRE does not. You also need your tenancy contract or title deed, and your marriage contract and spouse's visa if you are married.
Your nanny gets a 1-year permit if you are a resident. Golden visa holders can get 1 or 2 years. See domestic workers on a golden visa.
Costs at a glance
| Line | Amount |
|---|---|
| ICP application, issuance and smart service | AED 100 each, issuance per year |
| If she is already in the UAE | AED 500 status adjustment |
| Guarantee for a domestic worker | AED 5,000 |
| Medical test, normal service | AED 270 |
| Emirates ID | AED 100 per year plus AED 100 |
| MOHRE permit and contract | Amount not readable on MOHRE's page |
| Insurance | Your cost as employer |
Source: ICP issuing residency and Emirates ID pages, checked ; Dubai medical fitness charges resolution. The full breakdown is on maid visa cost, because a nanny pays the same lines.
What Dubai agencies charge
For the visa alone, Dubai firms publish about AED 6,000 to AED 7,000. For a realistic first year with agency fees and insurance, published figures run from about AED 15,000 to AED 35,000 (published prices and guides of 2 Dubai firms, checked ). Neither figure includes her salary. We found no Dubai agency that prices nannies separately from other domestic workers.
Documents checklist
- Your passport, residence and Emirates ID
- Salary certificate and last 3 months of bank statements
- Tenancy contract or title deed
- Marriage contract and spouse's visa, if married
- Her passport copy, at least 3 months valid
- Her colour photo
- If she is in the UAE: her tourist visa and her previous visa cancellation
Steps and timing
- Check your income papers against the AED 25,000 rule.
- Agree her duties, hours and rest day in writing.
- Apply for the work permit through MOHRE, a licensed domestic worker service centre or Tawseel. MOHRE states 2 working days.
- Book her medical fitness test and buy her insurance.
- Sign the MOHRE standard contract. MOHRE states 1 working day once the medical result is valid.
- Complete the residence, which ICP states at 2 days, and her Emirates ID.
If she comes from abroad on her entry permit, finish the residence steps within 60 days of entry. If she is already in the country on a visit visa, read changing visa status inside the UAE first, since ICP adds AED 500 for that. Added up, the official stages take about a week when the papers are in order.
A trial period with a centre
Hiring through a licensed domestic worker service centre gives you some cover if the match does not work. u.ae rules say that if the agency breaks its contract with you, it must replace the worker or refund the recruitment fee. The detail of trial and flexible packages sits in a MOHRE resolution we only saw in summary. Read the centre's contract for how long the trial lasts and what you get back.
Agencies may not charge the nanny for the job. If she says she paid one, walk away from that agency.
Why nanny visa files get held up
- Family income below AED 25,000 a month on the bank statements.
- Her previous work permit is still active.
- She is over 60 and does not meet the exemption.
- No insurance policy in your name.
- She starts caring for the children on a visit visa. That is work without a permit.
Her rights
Salary paid within 10 days of the due date. At least 30 days of leave a year. A return ticket home every 2 years. She keeps her own passport. Check her travel against the children's school calendar early, so leave and renewal do not clash. Our maid visa renewal page covers the yearly renewal, which works the same for a nanny.
How it works with us
Send us her passport copy and a short note on where she is now, by WhatsApp or the form on this page. A visa adviser checks your income papers and her age and visa position, then tells you whether she enters from abroad or changes status inside the UAE. You get one total price before paying. The team handles the MOHRE permit, the medical booking, the contract and the residence, and lets you know when her Emirates ID is done. DubaiVisaDesk.com is a private visa service. MOHRE and ICP make the decision.
If the permit is refused, the authorities do not pay back their fees. Before you pay, your adviser writes down for you what part of our total, if any, you would get back.
Official sources
- u.ae domestic helpers: occupation list, contract contents, rest, leave, agency duties
- MOHRE new work permit for domestic workers: income, age, documents, 2 working days
- MOHRE domestic worker contract: contract stage, insurance duty
- MOHRE guidance portal for domestic workers: leave rules
- ICP issuing residency: fee lines and guarantee
MOHRE pages checked , ICP and u.ae . Confirm fees on the official page before you pay.
