What are the rules?

The rules about hiring a maid are often conditional. It is best to first talk to the PRO (mandoob) at your employers office. In general, the rules to hire a live-in full time maid are:

1. You cannot hire a maid from the same nationality as either spouse in your family.
2. Several nationalities are banned from working as live in maids (these often change, but recently have included Indonesia, Ethiopia, and others)
3. You must sponsor a live in maid. Casual or temporary maids hired directly by you are not legal.
4. You can alternately hire a contract maid (full time, casual, or part time) by finding a lady who already lives in Qatar on a valid visa (family visa, etc) OR from a licensed manpower/housemaid agency in Qatar.
5. Qatar labour laws do not currently apply to domestic workers (though this may soon change). However, most maids Embassies do have regulations regarding a maids employment terms.
6. As a maids sponsor you are responsible for their wellbeing and actions. If the maid has run away (absconded) or you are aware of any unlawful activity, you should notify authorities as soon as possible to avoid liability.
7. You are responsible for providing a maids room and food, on-time salary payments, a return flight home at end of contract, annual vacation days, routine rest days, and decent employment conditions.
8. Single men cannot hire a maid.

What is the process?

The rules often change, and there may be conditions pending on employment circumstances and nationality of both the applicant and maid. In general the steps to hiring a maid are as follows:

1. Apply at the MOI for APPROVAL to hire a maid. You must provide a copy of your employment contract, marriage certificate, an NOC from your employer, bank statements determining sufficient income (±12,000QAR/mo), passports and residence permits of all family members. You will pay a fee (±1500QAR for approval, and 300QAr for visa issuance) upon confirmation of your approval. It often takes a few weeks before you receive a response or approval from the MOI.
2. FIND a maid. Your options are to use an agency or find a local maid looking to transfer her sponsorship. You may also 'direct hire' a maid from another country (however the rules and process for this are complex and vary pending on specific details of hiring).
3. Transfer/sponsor the maid you choose by submitting the transfer form and required documentation to the MOI. This takes only 1-3 days once you have paperwork ready. Fees to transfer sponsorship are 1000QAR for the first time a maid changes sponsors (1500QAR for second time, 2000 QAR for third time).
4. Process any required paperwork (for maids who are newly arrived in Qatar: medical exam, fingerprints, residence permit, health insurance, life/disability insurance, registered employment contract). You have approximately 4 weeks to complete this step, and total fees are about 500QAR. If you are transferring a local maid, you will likely only need to deal with insurance and employment contracts.

**You can also see our handy infographic on how to hire a maid in Qatar. 

How much does it cost?

After you have paid the 1500QAR fee for approval to hire a maid, the typical agency fees are in the range of 12,000-18,000QAR. If you find a local nanny on your own and hire a PRO or agency to process the paperwork, costs will be ~1500QAR. If you find a local nanny whom is able to be sponsored and you are confident enough to submit the paperwork yourself, the total fees should be around 500-1000QAR.

How can I help her adjust?

We're glad you asked. It's all about trust and respect and consideration. Read our Maid On-boarding document. It's important that employers try to make a comfortable home for their nanny or maid. Provide her with food or an adequate allowance for groceries and necessities. Most employers also provide or pay an allowance that covers: basic mobile data, internet, a furnished room with TV and private bathroom.

We recommend you make an orientation with your nanny or maid, clearly setting out expected tasks, working hours, family expectations, and tour of your home and the facilities. Let your maid or nanny know the laws and her rights and responsibilities. It is important to set the tone of your relationship and establish the boundaries so everyone can work in a respectful and collaborative environment.

Employers and their maids will also benefit from introducing the maid or nanny to other maids in the area, family friends, and the location of nearby conveniences. Try to see the world from your maids perspective and understand her fears, anxieties, and needs. A maid or nanny that is comfortable and welcome in your home will likely provide better care for your family.

What is an NOC?

An NOC (no objection certificate), also called 'employer release' is a simple declaration from a maids current sponsor that he consents to her finding a new employer/sponsor. You must provide an NOC to the MOI when finalizing your sponsorship of a maid. It is usually written in English, but must also have an Arabic translation. A maids current employer can have the NOC prepared by a typist adjacent to the MOI Gharafa office. 

 

How to transfer a local maid?

You can also download the sponsorship transfer form from the MOI website. To transfer a maids sponsorship you will need to provide the MOI copies of: 

1. new sponsors passport (yours), maids passport
2. I.D cards (residence permit) for current sponsor, new sponsor, and maid
3. NOC from your employer stating their approval for you to hire a maid
4. Your employment contract
5. NOC from the current sponsor

Which nationalities are for hire?

There are some restrictions on which nationalities can work as a maid. In general, the most common maid nationalities are:

• Bangladeshi
• Filipino
• Sri Lankan
• Kenyan
• Ethiopian
• Nepali

Can I direct hire?

Yes, it is possible to hire a maid directly from another country, but is complex and all depends on many conditions. It is best to speak to an agency or PRO about how to do this. We do not advise this process unless you have a very strong reason to do so.

Where can I get info on...?

• Where to go (map) 
• Labor Law 
• Sponsorship Laws   
• Qatar New Immigration Law (summary)
• On-boarding a live-in maid   
• Philippines Embassy department contact #'s
• Ministry of Interior english page 
• MOI Immigration       
• Philippines Embassy in Doha homepage      
• Qatar Human Rights Committee
• Qatar Exit Permit Grievance Committee
• Visa and permit fees at MOI
• HMC medical exam for maids in Qatar

Is this an agency?

We are not an agency. We are an online service that helps connect great helpers (maids and nannies) to jobs with great families. Everything is completely free for maids, always. We are not a middle man. You will contact employers directly and discuss your work contract, visa details, and salary directly with employers

A list of agencies can be found here.

Is this an agency?

We are not an agency. We are an online service that helps connect great helpers (maids and nannies) to jobs with great families. Everything is completely free for maids, always. We are not a middle man. You will contact employers directly and discuss your work contract, visa details, and salary directly with employers

A list of agencies can be found here.

How much is the salary?

We do not hire you. You set a contract and salary directly with the employer. Many of the jobs posted by families offer between 1800-2500 QAR, and one or two days off per week (for an experienced maid who already lives in Qatar). The choice to take a job or a salary is always yours.

How do I apply to jobs?

Remember that employers are waiting for you to apply to jobs. Sign-up to create your free account and send messages and apply to jobs direct to employer. Already have an account? Just Log-in and go to the 'Jobs' page and begin applying. Remember, maids who login often and apply to jobs frequently will usually get the best jobs!

Is my online payment info secure?

Absolutely. Your one-time membership is processed by a secure globally recognized banking platform (www.stripe.com). We do not store your payment information. Your profile is protected on our remote and secure servers managed by a leading industrial network provider. We respect your privacy. This means we do not sell your information or spam your email inbox. See our terms and privacy policy.

Do nannies have to pay?

Nothing. Nada. Zilch. Zero. We empower nannies to directly find employment. No strings attached. No commissions. No fees. Why? Because it's the right thing to do.

How does Doha Nanny work?

We are an independent listing platform that helps families post their maid job and contact all maids listed in our nanny database. You will arrange job/hiring details directly with the candidate. We are not an agency, and as such we do not provide or process any paperwork or permits, etc.

Is Doha Nanny an agency?

We are not an agency. We are an independent online platform where expat families can find maids and nannies. We do not process visas, handle hiring, or manage any related paperwork. Think of us as a classified job listing service with an awesome database of maid profiles.

Are the nanny profiles verified?

Our members agree to submit accurate and truthful information when they sign our terms. Members whom violate these terms will have their profile removed.

Do the listed maids & nannies live in Qatar?

We know you prefer local nannies. That's why our platform places a priority ranking on those whom already reside in Qatar.

How do I find a trustworthy maid/nanny?

Trust your instincts and social cues when interviewing a nanny. Be wary of long stories or unusual demands. Our members must agree to our terms of accuracy and honesty, but the onus is on the employer to verify a maid or nannies credentials.

What is a PRO?

This refers to a Public Relations Officer; A PRO is an individual, often working for a professional corporation that provides visa and immigration services. A good PRO or mandoob is able to ensure your paperwork is processed quickly and with not issues or setbacks.

What is an illegal maid?

Maids and nannies can legally only work for their sponsor. If you hire a maid or nanny on an informal basis, you are in violation of the labor laws. While this has been reported to be a common practice, it is putting both yourself and your maid in jeopardy. The employer and employee both face significant fines and possible cancellation of their work visa, resulting in deportation. A maid that is working illegally has few legal protections and places herself in extreme danger of being exploited or mistreated. We recommend employers thoroughly ensure their maids can legally work for them.

Terms of service

Our community is built on trust and reputation. We can all do our part to maintain our community standards. If you wish to report a member for violating our terms of service or general misconduct, please email us at: [email protected].