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A nanny visa in Dubai is a domestic worker visa. MOHRE lists nanny or babysitter among its 19 domestic occupations, so you need the same family income of at least AED 25,000 a month as for a maid. Published price lists put a 2-year visa package at about AED 8,500 to AED 17,000, and a realistic first year at AED 8,000 to 35,000 before salary.
A nanny is a domestic worker in UAE law
There is no separate nanny visa. MOHRE's and GDRFA's pages, checked , show no fee, age rule or document that applies only to nannies. Everything runs through the MOHRE domestic work permit, the standard contract and then the residence visa. The full sponsor document list sits on our maid visa page, so here we focus on what changes when the job is looking after your children.
Hiring inside the UAE or from abroad
| Question | Nanny already in the UAE | Nanny abroad |
|---|---|---|
| Visa paperwork | Tourist visa copy plus cancellation of her old visa | New permit and entry from abroad |
| Age | 18 to 60, older allowed if her domestic residence was cancelled within 3 months | 18 to 60, no exception |
| Who finds her | You, by referral or interview in person | Usually a licensed center or agency |
| Agency protection | Only if you hire through an agency | Replacement or refund if the agency breaches |
| Biggest risk | She is still on someone else's permit | She arrives and the match does not work |
A nanny who is already here has one big advantage: you can meet her with your children before you commit. Two checks matter. She must not hold a valid work permit, and MOHRE material we read says you may not employ a domestic worker sponsored by another person, although we have not yet confirmed that rule on a live MOHRE service page. Ask to see her cancellation paper before she starts. Moving her from a visit or tourist visa to your sponsorship inside the country is a status change, explained on our visa change page.
Hiring from abroad through one of the 42 domestic workers centers MOHRE lists in Dubai costs more upfront but gives you agency backing. The agency may not charge the nanny any commission, and if it breaks its side it must replace her or refund your recruitment fee. MOHRE's FAQ suggests that if you insist on a named worker you found yourself, you may give up the agency guarantee, so ask about this before you sign. To find a center close to home, see our Tadbeer centers near you list.
Planning a nanny's hours around childcare
A nanny has the same rights as any domestic worker, listed on the maid visa page: a paid weekly day off, 30 days' leave a year, a ticket home every 2 years, pay within 10 days of the due date, and her own passport kept by her. What is different with a nanny is the clock. MOHRE's rule of 12 hours' daily rest, with at least 8 in a row, collides with night feeds and early starts, so write the pattern down before she moves in:
- Nights. Decide who covers night wakings. If she does, plan the rest hours she gets back the next day.
- Your days off and travel. A family trip does not cancel her weekly rest day. If she travels with you, agree the hours in advance.
- Her leave. Two parents working full time need cover for her 30 days. Book it early, especially around school holidays.
- Sick leave. The sources disagree on pay for days 16 to 30, so agree the wording with the center or MOHRE before you sign.
Salary and the first-year budget
MOHRE publishes no minimum salary for nannies. One Dubai free zone relocation guide, checked in , put nanny salaries at about AED 1,500 to 3,500 a month. The figure you agree goes into the standard contract, so be precise about what it covers.
| Item | Usual range |
|---|---|
| Government fees: entry permit, medical, Emirates ID, stamping | AED 3,000 to 6,000 |
| Medical insurance, per year | AED 1,500 to 3,500 |
| Agency recruitment | AED 3,000 to 10,000 |
| Flight | AED 600 to 1,500 |
| First year, excluding salary | AED 8,000 to 35,000 |
| Each later year | AED 6,000 to 12,000 |
Source: published price lists of Dubai typing centers, PRO firms and free zones, checked . Other lists put insurance lower, at AED 700 to 1,500, so get a real quote for her age and nationality.
The medical fee is fixed by Dubai: AED 270 for the normal service, plus AED 50 because domestic workers also take a pregnancy test. Faster VIP slots cost more, see the medical test guide.
Part-time and trial options
Not every family needs a live-in nanny. MOHRE material on domestic workers centers, as summarised in UAE guides, describes flexible packages by the hour, day, week or month, temporary packages where the center stays the sponsor, and trial arrangements before you take over sponsorship. These package types and their price limits are not confirmed on a live MOHRE service page, and no amounts are published, so ask a licensed center for its terms and rates in writing. Paying an unlicensed babysitter in cash leaves you with no contract and no insurance if a child gets hurt.
When your family situation changes
Your nanny's visa hangs on your file. If you leave Dubai or end her contract, her permit and residence need cancelling, see visa cancellation. If you are bringing your own children or spouse over first, the family visa comes before the nanny, because MOHRE asks married sponsors for the spouse's visa.
Doing it yourself
A family with UAE Pass can file the permit on the MOHRE app, book the medical online and track the request on MOHRE's inquiry service. It is manageable if the nanny is already in the UAE and her old visa is cleanly cancelled. It gets slow when the previous sponsor has not cancelled, or when a bank statement month falls short.
Bringing your nanny onto your file
Tell us where the nanny is now. Send her passport copy, photo and old visa if she is in the UAE, plus your salary certificate and bank statements. The partner team checks that she is free to move, holds no valid permit and meets the age rule, which is where local hires usually go wrong. Then they type the MOHRE permit, book her medical, pregnancy test and Emirates ID biometrics, prepare the standard contract for you both to sign, and chase the file until the residence is stamped. You see one total price first, government fees and the service charge shown line by line.
