If you are in the Philippines and applying for household work in the UAE for the first time, this article is for you.
The legal route takes longer than the shortcuts people will offer you. It is also the only version where you have rights when you arrive.
Why the process exists
Filipino workers taking jobs abroad go through a government process before they travel. It is not paperwork for its own sake.
That process is what records where you are going, who employs you and on what terms. It is what your embassy uses if you ever need help. Without it you are simply a person in a foreign country with no trace of the arrangement that brought you there.
Direct hiring — an employer arranging things with you privately, with no licensed agency — is restricted for this reason. Someone offering to skip the process is offering to remove your safety net, not to save you time.
How it works, step by step
1. You apply through a licensed agency. Your application goes through an agency authorised to deploy workers, working with a licensed office on the UAE side.
2. Your documents are checked. Passport, clearances, medical fitness.
3. You receive a contract. In writing, before you sign anything. Salary, role, employer.
4. Your government clearance is issued. This is the step that makes your deployment legal and recorded.
5. Your UAE visa is processed. By the employer, at the employer's cost.
6. You travel. Your ticket is paid for by the employer.
How long it takes
| Your situation | Approximate time |
|---|---|
| Already inside the UAE, contract ended | About 1 day |
| Coming from the Philippines with a valid visa | About 2 days |
| Travelling overseas for the first time | About 2 weeks |
First-time deployment takes around two weeks, and most of that is clearance and visa processing rather than anything either you or we control.
If your paperwork is already in order, it moves faster. If it is not, no office can compress it, and one that promises to is not processing it at all.
What you can earn
| Role | Monthly salary (AED) |
|---|---|
| Housemaid | 1,500 – 1,800 |
| Nanny | 1,500 – 1,800 |
| Cook | 1,500 – 1,800 |
| Caregiver | 1,800 – 2,500 |
| Private driver | 2,500 – 3,000 |
Your salary is paid into a bank account in your own name. This is required in the UAE, and it means there is a record of every payment you receive.
Caregiver and driver positions pay more but have stricter requirements. Driving positions need a valid UAE licence, which is obtained here.
What to send us
Message us on WhatsApp with:
- A photo of your passport
- One personal photo
- A short video introducing yourself — about one minute, in English
The video is optional. It is shown only to families considering you for a position and is never published anywhere. If you would prefer not to send one, tell us and we will continue without it.
Any certificates or references from previous work are worth sending too.
What no legitimate office will ask you for
Money. Not a placement fee, not a processing fee, not a deposit. The employer carries these costs. This is the law both here and in the Philippines.
Your original passport, before a contract exists. Send a photo when you apply. Keep the document.
A decision today. Real recruitment involves waiting. Pressure is a tactic, not a timeline.
Travel on a visit visa. If anyone suggests flying you in and sorting the paperwork out afterwards, refuse. You would arrive with no work permit and no protection.
If you have questions first
You do not have to be ready to apply to message us. If you want to understand the process before deciding anything, ask. Applying is free and there is no obligation at any stage.
ALQUBTAN Agency — Al Ain and Ajman, United Arab Emirates. Trade licence CN-4012763.