How to Verify a Maid, Cook or Driver Before Hiring
Before someone starts working in your home or driving your family, confirm who they are and check for red flags. Here is a practical checklist for verifying domestic help and drivers in India.
By Team Screenzaa · · 5 min read
To verify a maid, cook, nanny or driver, confirm their identity with a live check, screen them against negative lists, speak to their previous employers, and complete police verification for domestic help where your local police offer it. The first two steps take minutes and should happen before their first day.
Why verification matters for domestic help
The people who work in our homes have access to our families, our belongings and our routines. Most are honest and hard-working. A quick verification protects you, and it also protects good workers by giving them a clear, verified record.
A simple verification checklist
- Collect the basics: full name, mobile number, permanent address and the names of previous employers.
- Confirm their identity with a live check, not just a photocopy of an ID.
- Screen their name against negative lists.
- Call at least one or two previous employers and ask how long they worked there and why they left.
- Complete police verification for domestic help, if your local police provide it.
- Keep copies of the ID, the reports and any police acknowledgement.
Step 1: Confirm identity with Aadhaar Verification
A photocopy of an Aadhaar card can be borrowed or misused. With Screenzaa's Aadhaar Verification, the person receives a WhatsApp link and completes a face-liveness check in the official Aadhaar app on their own phone, with their consent. That confirms they are a real, present person and the genuine Aadhaar holder.
Step 2: Screen against negative lists
Their verified identity is then screened across 200+ Indian and global lists, including enforcement, regulatory and sanctions lists. The report is emailed to you, usually within 10 minutes. A match is a signal for review, not a verdict.
Extra checks for drivers
For a driver, also confirm that their driving licence is valid and matches their name. You can check a licence's status on the government's Parivahan portal. Ask to see the original licence, and check that the vehicle classes it covers match the car they will drive.
Red flags
- Refusing to share an ID or to complete an identity check.
- No previous employer they are willing to let you call.
- A name or phone number that does not match their documents.
- Pressure to start immediately without any checks.
Frequently asked questions
How do I verify a maid before hiring?
Confirm her identity with a live Aadhaar check, screen her name against negative lists, call previous employers, and complete police verification for domestic help where available.
What does Aadhaar Verification need?
Just the person's name and WhatsApp number. They complete the face-liveness check themselves in the official Aadhaar app.
Can I verify a driver's licence online?
Yes. The status of a driving licence can be checked on the government's Parivahan portal.
Is police verification of domestic help required?
Many city police departments offer domestic help verification and encourage or require it. Check your local police website for the rules in your city.
How long does it take?
A Screenzaa report is usually emailed within 10 minutes of the person completing their Aadhaar check. Police verification timelines vary by city.
Will the worker know about the check?
For Aadhaar Verification, yes — they complete it themselves, with consent. A Bad List check does not notify the person.
- Verify before the first day.
- Confirm identity in minutes.
- Hire with peace of mind.
Know who is coming home. Verify your help now