A housemaid, driver, nanny or other domestic worker who lives in Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain or Oman can enter the UAE on an e-visa for companions of GCC nationals, as long as the GCC citizen they work for travels with them. The permit is valid for 60 days from issue and allows a 60-day stay, and the worker’s GCC residence permit must be valid for at least one year (ICP). Domestic workers sponsored by expat (non-citizen) GCC residents use a separate route, explained below. The application is made before travel, and the final decision belongs to UAE immigration (GDRFA in Dubai, ICP for the other emirates).
Start the domestic worker visa application or read on to check that your housemaid, driver or nanny qualifies first.
Who qualifies for the UAE visa for housemaids accompanying GCC nationals?
The UAE treats the domestic staff of GCC citizens as companions. ICP lists companions as “the wife, the children, domestic workers, and those in equivalent categories” (ICP visitor visa conditions). GDRFA Dubai describes the same service as a visa for family members of GCC nationals “as well as to their accompanying domestic workers falling within the applicable categories, provided that such persons hold a valid residence permit issued by one of the GCC Member States” (GDRFA).
In practice, your domestic worker fits this route when all of the following are true:
- The sponsor is a GCC citizen. The host must be a national of a GCC state (ICP companions service).
- The sponsor, or one of the sponsor’s family members, travels too. GDRFA requires the worker to be accompanied by the GCC national who heads the family or by one of the family members, although the officer at the port of entry may exempt the applicant from this (GDRFA). ICP says the host must be present when the companion arrives at any UAE entry point (ICP).
- The worker’s GCC residence permit is valid for at least one year (ICP).
- The worker’s passport is valid for at least six months (GDRFA; ICP).
- The worker isn’t subject to any restriction on entering the UAE (GDRFA).
Drivers, nannies and other household staff
We handle visas for housemaids, family drivers, nannies and other domestic workers. ICP’s wording covers domestic workers “and those in equivalent categories”, and GDRFA refers to domestic workers “falling within the applicable categories”. Neither authority publishes a list of which job titles count, and the profession printed on the residence permit is part of what immigration reviews, so if the title on the permit isn’t a household role, tell us before you book flights.
Domestic workers of expat GCC residents
If the employer is an expat living in a GCC country rather than a GCC citizen, the worker can’t use the companions visa above. Instead, GDRFA’s entry visa for GCC residents is granted to foreign nationals residing in a GCC state “as well as to their family members and accompanying domestic workers residing with them” (GDRFA). We handle these applications too. GDRFA’s published conditions are:
- The worker must hold a valid residence permit issued by one of the GCC states (GDRFA).
- The worker’s profession “must fall within the list of professions approved for the issuance of the visa, subject to assessment by the competent authority” (GDRFA).
- The worker must not be subject to any restriction on entering the UAE (GDRFA).
- Documents: a recent colour photo with a white background, a passport copy including its outer cover, valid for at least six months, and a copy of the residence permit or an electronic extract showing the profession and the validity of the permit (GDRFA).
GDRFA doesn’t publish a separate stay period for these workers, so don’t assume the 60-day companion rules below apply. Tell us who the employer is when you apply, so the application is filed under the right category.
Visa validity, length of stay and extensions
- Validity: the entry visa is valid for 60 days from the date of issue, and the holder must enter the UAE within that time (ICP).
- Stay: companions of GCC citizens may stay for 60 days (ICP).
- Extensions: ICP says the issuing authority may extend the visa “once or multiple times, provided that the total duration of stay does not exceed (120) days” (ICP). If the family’s plans change, see our visa extension service.
- Overstaying: ICP charges a fine of AED 50 for each day of stay after the visa expires or is cancelled (ICP).
Note the difference from GCC residents travelling on their own account: their visa is for 30 days of stay, not 60 (ICP).
Documents you need
For a worker travelling with a GCC citizen, have these ready when you apply through SmartGo E-Visa:
- A copy of the worker’s passport (valid for at least six months).
- A recent passport-size colour photo with a white background.
- A clear copy of both sides of the worker’s GCC residence permit. A phone photo is fine if you don’t have a scan.
- The residence permit’s issue date and expiry date.
- The worker’s mother’s full name.
- A copy of the sponsor’s ID card or passport (the GCC citizen they are travelling with).
- The worker’s address in the GCC country of residence.
These match what the authorities ask for. GDRFA asks for a photo, a passport copy including its outer cover, and “a copy of the residence permit or an electronic extract showing the profession and the validity of the residence permit” (GDRFA). ICP lists the passport, photo, a valid GCC residence permit with the companion’s sponsor file, and proof of identity of the GCC citizen (ICP).
How to apply, step by step
- Check the basics. Confirm whether the employer is a GCC citizen (who must travel too) or an expat resident, that the worker’s residence permit is valid, and that the passport has at least six months left.
- Fill in the form. Open the e-visa application and enter the worker’s details exactly as they appear on the passport.
- Upload the documents listed above, select normal or express processing at checkout, and pay.
- We review and submit. We check the file for mistakes and submit it to UAE immigration.
- Receive the e-visa. Once approved, the visa is sent to the email address and WhatsApp number you gave us. You can follow progress on the track your application page.
The visa must be issued before the worker travels: the UAE government portal says GCC residents and their companions must apply online and obtain the visa before arriving (u.ae). If the whole family is travelling, apply for everyone at the same time so the visas arrive together.
How long does processing take?
Normal processing takes 2–3 working days. If the trip is close, select express processing at checkout: it takes 24 hours, counted from a complete application; weekends and public holidays are not included, so an application submitted late in the week or just before a public holiday may complete after it. Express is available for domestic workers too. These are our processing times; official authorities publish their own. UAE immigration makes the decision, which isn’t something we control, and some applications take longer if the authority needs extra checks. Apply as soon as your travel dates are fixed, and see our guide to urgent UAE visas for GCC residents if you’re short on time.
Common reasons a domestic worker’s application is refused
- The sponsor isn’t travelling. Both GDRFA and ICP make the GCC citizen’s presence a condition (see above). If the worker is travelling alone, this route isn’t the right one.
- The residence permit has less than one year left, or it expires or is cancelled before the trip (ICP). Renew it first, then apply.
- The passport has less than six months’ validity.
- The wrong category. Workers of expat residents belong under the GCC-resident visa, not the companions visa (see above).
- Unclear or mismatched documents. A cropped residence permit, a missing back side, or a name spelt differently from the passport can delay or sink an application.
- An existing entry restriction on the worker (GDRFA).
Our fees aren’t refunded if immigration declines the application, so it’s worth checking these points first. Read more on why UAE visas for GCC residents get rejected and how to reapply after a rejection.
If the worker doesn’t qualify for either route
If the worker is travelling without the sponsor, or the profession isn’t accepted, a standard UAE tourist visa based on nationality may be the better route. We handle these for all nationalities on our sister site, evisa.smart-goev.ae. If the worker holds a valid US or Schengen visa or residency, you can apply through visaonline.smart-goev.ae, which accepts applications from all nationalities. Approval is decided by UAE immigration under its published rules. Both sister sites are part of the same private service and aren’t government portals.
Frequently asked questions
Can a housemaid or driver travel to the UAE without the GCC sponsor?
Not on this visa. GDRFA requires the worker to be accompanied by the GCC national or one of the family members, and ICP requires the host to be present on arrival. The officer at the port of entry can make an exception, but you shouldn’t plan on one. A worker travelling alone needs a different visa.
How long can a domestic worker stay in the UAE on this visa?
Up to 60 days from entry. The visa itself is valid for 60 days from issue, so the worker must enter within that time. ICP may extend the visa once or several times, as long as the total stay doesn’t go beyond 120 days.
What documents are needed for a housemaid’s UAE visa?
The worker’s passport copy, a recent photo with a white background, both sides of the worker’s GCC residence permit with its issue and expiry dates, the worker’s mother’s full name, their address in the GCC, and a copy of the GCC sponsor’s ID card or passport.
How long must the housemaid’s residence permit be valid?
At least one year, according to ICP. The worker’s passport must also be valid for at least six months. If either is close to expiry, renew it before you apply, because an application that doesn’t meet these rules is likely to be refused.
How long does the visa take to process?
With SmartGo E-Visa, normal processing takes 2–3 working days, and express processing, which you can select at checkout, takes 24 hours, counted from a complete application; weekends and public holidays are not included. UAE immigration makes the final decision, which isn’t something we control, and an application can take longer if the authority runs extra checks.
Can expat GCC residents get a UAE visa for their domestic worker?
Yes. GDRFA’s entry visa for GCC residents also covers accompanying domestic workers residing with them. The worker needs a valid GCC residence permit, a profession on the approved list (subject to assessment), a passport valid for at least six months and no entry restriction.
Is the fee refunded if the application is rejected?
No. Our fees aren’t refundable if UAE immigration declines the application. That’s why we recommend checking the sponsor, residence and passport rules on this page before you apply.
Is smart-gcc-goev.ae the official GDRFA website?
No. SmartGo E-Visa is a private visa assistance service and isn’t affiliated with GDRFA or ICP. You can also apply directly with the authorities. We handle the form, document checks and submission for you, and UAE immigration makes the decision.
Ready to travel together? Apply for your domestic worker’s UAE visa now, or contact us if you’re not sure which category fits.
SmartGo E-Visa is a private visa assistance service, not a government entity. Final decisions are made by GDRFA or ICP. Official rules last checked 26 October 2026.
Disclosure: SmartGo E-Visa (smart-gcc-goev.ae) is a private visa assistance service. We are not a government entity and are not affiliated with GDRFA, ICP or smart.gdrfad.gov.ae. We prepare and submit applications for you; UAE immigration makes every visa decision.