A domestic worker or nanny sponsored by a UAE family applies for their own Schengen visa, usually at the same consulate as the family and for the same dates. The file rests on the sponsor’s letter: it names the trip and the family members travelling, confirms the leave dates, and commits the sponsor to pay costs and bring the worker back.
Some consulates add strict extra rules. Spain accepts only workers sponsored directly by the family for at least one year, and the worker must report back in person after the trip.
Checked on 5 November 2026 against the UAE checklists of the Embassy of Spain (BLS, domestic employees), Belgium (VFS, nannies) and Switzerland (tourist and private household employees, version 09/25). The worker’s passport decides that a visa is needed. The worker’s UAE residence under a household sponsor decides how the file is built.
The core file
- The worker’s own application form, passport (valid 3 months after leaving Schengen, issued within 10 years) and photo
- UAE residence visa under the household sponsor, valid 3 months after leaving Schengen
- Sponsor letter (see below)
- Employment contract showing salary and start date. Belgium asks for a contract sealed by the UAE authority, covering at least one year before the application.
- The worker’s bank statements for the last 3 months showing salary arriving each month. Spain wants them stamped by the bank; digital stamps are not accepted.
- The sponsor’s documents: passport and UAE residence copies, and often the sponsor’s own bank statements and salary certificate
- Travel insurance in the worker’s name: at least €30,000, valid in all Schengen states for the whole stay. Spain does not accept credit-card insurance.
- Flight reservations for the worker and the family, and accommodation for every night
What the sponsor letter must say
- The worker’s full name (as in the passport), position, and joining date with the household
- The monthly salary
- The approved leave or travel dates
- The family members travelling, with their dates (Switzerland requires this when the worker accompanies the family)
- That the sponsor pays all trip expenses and guarantees the worker’s return to the UAE (Spain and Belgium)
- Signed by the sponsor, with the sponsor’s Emirates ID number and contact details
Write it in English (Spain also accepts Spanish; Belgium accepts English, French, Dutch or German). See NOC letter templates for a layout you can adapt.
Country rules compared
| Rule | Spain (BLS) | Belgium (VFS) | Switzerland (VFS) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Who can apply | Only workers whose residence is issued directly under the family sponsor. Company, agency or third-party sponsorship is not accepted. | Any domestic worker with a UAE contract | Household employees with an employer letter |
| Minimum time with sponsor | 1 year by the start of the trip | Contract covering at least 1 year before applying | Not stated |
| Sponsor letter | Original; pays all costs and guarantees return; names minors travelling | NOC; confirms sponsor pays costs | Names the household, position, joining date, leave dates and travelling family |
| Bank statements | Worker’s own, 3 months, stamped, showing monthly salary | Sponsor’s, 3 months, signed and stamped | Pay slips, card or bank statements, or sponsorship form |
| Accommodation | Property deed, lease or hotel booking | Prepaid hotel in the worker’s name | All nights covered |
| After the trip | Report in person to the Embassy of Spain or BLS Dubai. Failing to report can ban both worker and sponsor from future domestic-worker visas. | Not stated | Not stated |
Other consulates follow their general checklist plus a sponsor letter. Check the checklist of your destination’s visa centre before you book. Our visa centres guide shows where each country takes applications.
How to apply: step by step
- Check eligibility: who sponsors the worker’s UAE residence, and for how long. For Spain, it must be the family itself, for at least a year.
- Make sure the salary goes into a bank account in the worker’s name every month, starting 3 months or more before applying.
- Book appointments for the family and the worker at the same centre, close together.
- Prepare the sponsor letter, contract, statements, insurance and the family’s bookings.
- Attend: the worker gives fingerprints in person. After the trip, follow any report-back rule (Spain).
Know the worker’s rights
The worker’s passport belongs to the worker. During the trip they should carry their own passport, visa and insurance. In Europe, the worker has the protection of local law. Consulates can ask for extra documents or an interview, so the worker should know the trip plan and dates.
Questions people ask
Can our housemaid get a Schengen visa to travel with us?
Yes. She applies for her own visa with your sponsor letter, her contract, her bank statements and insurance, usually at the same consulate as your family.
Can a nanny hired through an agency get a Spain visa?
Not under Spain’s domestic-employee category. Spain only accepts workers whose UAE residence is sponsored directly by the family.
Does the domestic worker need their own insurance?
Yes, a policy in their name with at least €30,000 cover for the whole stay, valid in every Schengen state.
What happens after the trip to Spain?
The worker must report in person to the Embassy of Spain or the BLS office in Dubai. If they don’t, the worker and the sponsor can be banned from future domestic-employee visas.
Related guides
- Schengen visa for children from the UAE
- Spain Schengen visa from the UAE
- Switzerland Schengen visa from the UAE
Sources
- Embassy of Spain to the UAE, via BLS: Domestic employees checklist
- Belgium, via VFS Global UAE: Nannies checklist
- Embassy of Switzerland, via VFS Global UAE: Tourist and private household employees checklist (09/25)
Written by Asad Waleed M, Dubai. Asad has lived in the UAE for nine years and researches visa rules from government sources. He is not an immigration lawyer or consultant, and Sifqa does not process applications. Read the editorial policy.
Last checked 5 November 2026. Found an error? Email [email protected] and it will be fixed and logged.