Short answer: a domestic worker's visa in the UAE involves two separate records — the residency visa (issued by ICP federally, or by GDRFA if the visa was issued in Dubai) and the domestic worker permit and contract held by MOHRE. Checking "the visa" usually means checking the residency file, but if you are an employer you should confirm both.
Which check do you actually need?
| What you want to know | Where to check | What you need |
|---|---|---|
| Is her residency valid, and when does it expire? | ICP smart services (or GDRFA for Dubai-issued visas) | Passport number + nationality, or Emirates ID number |
| Is the domestic worker permit/contract registered? | MOHRE domestic workers services | Employer details and the worker's passport |
| Is the Emirates ID issued or still printing? | ICP Emirates ID status | Application (PRAN) or Emirates ID number |
| Is a new visa or a status change still processing? | ICP / GDRFA application status | Application or transaction number |
Most families only need the first row. If you hired through a Tadbeer centre, the centre can pull the same records for you.
1. Check residency and expiry (the usual check)
This is the check that answers "when does my maid's visa expire".
- Open the ICP smart services portal (or GDRFA if the visa was issued in Dubai).
- Choose the passport-information or file-validity enquiry.
- Enter the passport number and nationality, or the Emirates ID number if she already has one.
- Read the expiry date on the residency file.
Check this before the expiry date, not after. Renewal is the sponsor's responsibility, and an expired residency is the employer's problem, not the worker's.
Checking by passport number
If the worker has not yet received her Emirates ID — common in the first weeks after arrival — the passport number plus nationality is the only identifier that will return a result. Enter the passport exactly as printed, with no spaces.
Checking by Emirates ID
Once the Emirates ID is issued, the ID number is the more reliable identifier: it stays constant even when the passport is replaced. A new passport does not change the residency file, but you may need to update the passport details on file.
2. Check the domestic worker permit with MOHRE
Domestic workers in the UAE are covered by their own law — Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022 on Domestic Workers — and their contracts sit with MOHRE, not with the standard private-sector labour system. A residency visa can be valid while the domestic work contract is not properly registered, which is why this second check matters for employers.
Through MOHRE's domestic worker services you can confirm the contract is registered, see the recorded job title, and check whether a cancellation or absconding report has been filed.
3. Check the Emirates ID separately
The Emirates ID is a different record from the visa. After a residency is stamped, the Emirates ID is produced separately, and the card can still be printing while the residency is already valid. ICP publishes an ID status check that takes the application number or the ID number.
4. Check a visa or status change in progress
If you are mid-process — a new entry permit, a change of status inside the country, or a sponsor transfer — the record you want is the application status, not the residency file, because the residency does not exist yet. Use the transaction or application number from the receipt the typing centre or Tadbeer centre gave you.
What each result means
- Valid / Active — residency is in force. Note the expiry date and renew before it.
- Expired — the residency has lapsed. Overstay consequences accrue to the sponsor; act immediately rather than waiting.
- Cancelled — the visa was cancelled, usually after a contract ended or a transfer. She has a grace period to exit or transfer.
- Under process — the application is still moving; nothing is wrong.
- No record found — almost always a data-entry issue. Re-check the passport number, nationality and spelling before assuming a problem.
If you get "no record found"
This is the single most common outcome and it is rarely a real problem. In order of likelihood: the passport number was mistyped, the nationality selected does not match the passport, the visa was issued through GDRFA Dubai but you searched a federal ICP service (or the reverse), or the record is genuinely too new to appear. Try the other identifier before escalating.
Before you hire: check the agency too
A valid visa tells you about one worker. It does not tell you whether the office arranging her is licensed. In the UAE, domestic worker recruitment is restricted to MOHRE-licensed Tadbeer centres — verify the centre before paying anything.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
How do I check my maid's visa status in Dubai?
Use ICP smart services, or GDRFA if the visa was issued in Dubai, and search by passport number and nationality or by Emirates ID number. The result shows whether the residency is valid and when it expires.
Can I check a maid's visa with only a passport number?
Yes. Passport number plus nationality is the standard identifier and is the only option before the Emirates ID is issued. Enter the passport exactly as printed.
How do I check when my maid's visa expires?
The residency enquiry returns the expiry date directly. Check well before that date — renewal is the sponsor's responsibility and an expired residency creates liability for the employer.
Is the domestic worker permit the same as the residency visa?
No. They are two separate records. The residency visa is held by ICP or GDRFA; the domestic work contract and permit sit with MOHRE under Federal Decree-Law No. 9 of 2022. Both should be valid.
What if the visa check shows "no record found"?
Usually a data-entry issue rather than a missing visa. Re-check the passport number and nationality, and make sure you are querying the right authority — GDRFA for Dubai-issued visas, ICP for federally issued ones.
Who is responsible for renewing a domestic worker's visa?
The sponsoring employer. The worker cannot renew her own residency, and the cost and the legal consequences of letting it expire both sit with the sponsor.