“How much does a maid visa cost in Dubai?” is one of the most-asked questions by families hiring domestic help, and the honest answer is that it depends on two things: whether it is a new visa or a renewal, and which route you take to get it. The spread is wide, from around AED 8,000 to well over AED 20,000, so it is worth understanding what actually drives the number before you commit.
This guide breaks down the real cost of a two-year maid visa in the UAE in 2026: what a new visa costs by route, what is actually included in that price, what a renewal costs (which is meaningfully cheaper), the late-renewal fines, and the exclusive all-in option available to Rufy families. Where a government fee is not fixed publicly, we say so and point you to where to confirm it.
What a new 2-year maid visa costs
A new maid visa bundles several government and service fees, and the total depends heavily on the route and the worker’s nationality (recruitment costs differ). Here is how the main routes compare for a two-year visa.
| Route | Typical 2-year cost | Deposit |
|---|---|---|
| Rufy × HomeCare (exclusive) | AED 7,999 all-in | None |
| Other agencies / Tadbeer package | From about AED 8,500 | Often AED 5,000 |
| Private (self) sponsorship | About AED 15,000 to 22,000 | Around AED 2,000 |
The private-sponsorship range is wide mainly because recruitment cost varies by nationality, and because you pay each fee piecemeal across several government portals. Our real cost of hiring a maid guide and the maid cost calculator break the full picture down, and if you are still choosing a route, our Tadbeer vs private sponsorship comparison helps.
What is actually included in the cost
The headline number hides several separate items. Knowing them helps you compare quotes and spot anything missing or double-counted.
- The MOHRE domestic-worker employment contract and work permit.
- The residence visa stamping and the Emirates ID, handled through ICP / GDRFA.
- The medical fitness test, required before the residence visa is issued.
- Insurance, which is two separate things: the mandatory worker-protection scheme (Taa-meen, a low annual premium that replaced the old AED 3,000 refundable deposit back in 2018), and health insurance for the worker.
- The WPS setup so the salary is paid through the approved wage-protection channel.
Because the AED 3,000 deposit was replaced by the small insurance premium years ago, treat any quote that still lists a large refundable deposit with caution, and ask what it is really for.
What a renewal costs
Renewing an existing maid visa is noticeably cheaper than a new one, because there is no recruitment fee or flight. The steps are: renew the MOHRE domestic-worker contract, complete a medical fitness test, keep the mandatory insurance in place, then stamp the residence visa and update the Emirates ID through ICP / GDRFA. The worker needs to be in the country.
| Route | Typical renewal cost |
|---|---|
| Tadbeer-managed renewal | About AED 3,000 to 5,500, all-in |
| Self / piecemeal renewal | Around AED 7,000 across the portals |
The government components (the MOHRE contract renewal, the residency stamping and the Emirates ID) are set by the authorities, so confirm the current figures with MOHRE and ICP at renewal time rather than relying on a fixed number.
Late-renewal fines
Renew before the visa expires. As of 11 February 2026, the UAE unified the overstay and late-renewal fine at a flat AED 50 per day, with no cap, across all emirates. The older figures you may still see quoted (AED 25 per day with a maximum) are out of date. The fine is per day, so a lapse that drags on gets expensive quickly, which is the whole reason to renew a little early.
The cheaper route: an exclusive AED 7,999 all-in visa
It is the same two-year visa, at a discounted, fixed price. Through our certified partner HomeCare, a licensed Tadbeer centre, Rufy families get the full two-year maid visa for AED 7,999 all-in, with zero deposit, done entirely online over WhatsApp and issued in under eight days. The price covers the whole legal package: the Emirates ID, mandatory health insurance, the WPS payroll card, full PRO services (paperwork, embassy processing and ban-lifting), ILOE cover and a travel NOC service.
Because HomeCare remains the legal sponsor, the paperwork and liability stay with them rather than you. Set against roughly AED 17,000 for private sponsorship or AED 8,500-plus at typical agencies, it is a genuine saving on an identical visa. You can see exactly what is included on the visa services page.
If you are ending the arrangement instead
If the visa is not being renewed because the worker is leaving your sponsorship, you are looking at a cancellation rather than a renewal. Our guide to cancelling a maid visa in the UAE walks through the process, the grace period and how to avoid penalties.
