In Saudi Arabia every domestic-worker transaction runs through Musaned, the official platform of the Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development (MHRSD). This is the complete, plain-English guide to all of it: issuing a new visa, renewing, cancelling (final exit) and transferring a worker to a new employer - with the exact steps, documents, fees in SAR and timelines. Prefer to skip the paperwork? Our team can connect you with a verified Musaned-licensed office and guide you through every step - that option is at the end.
| 🏛️ Platform | Musaned - musaned.com.sa (iOS & Android app) |
| 🏛️ Authority | MHRSD - Ministry of Human Resources & Social Development. Helpline 19911 |
| 🔐 Login | Absher / Nafath (your Saudi national ID or Iqama) |
| 🔁 Transactions | Issue · Renew (Iqama) · Cancel / Final Exit · Transfer · Absconding (huroob) |
| 💰 New-hire cost | Roughly SAR 7,700-21,300 all-in (visa, Iqama, medical, insurance, ticket, agency package) |
| ⏱️ Processing | New visa 3-10 working days; transfer 3-7 days |
| 📞 Help | MHRSD 19911 · or message Nadia on WhatsApp |
🧾 What you can do on Musaned
Musaned (with Absher) handles the full life-cycle of a housemaid, nanny, cook, driver or caregiver in Saudi Arabia:
- Issue / recruit a new domestic worker from an approved source country.
- Renew the Iqama (residence) and contract before they expire.
- Cancel via a final exit visa, or release the worker.
- Transfer sponsorship to a new employer without sending the worker home.
- Report absconding (huroob), e-sign the MHRSD contract and pay wages through wage protection.
Everything starts with your Absher / Nafath login, so set that up first.
🔐 Before you start - who can sponsor & what unlocks Musaned
1. An active Absher account + Nafath. Musaned signs you in through Absher, and approvals are confirmed with Nafath on your phone. The sponsor whose name the visa is under must approve the login - you can’t do it on someone else’s identity.
2. You meet the sponsorship conditions. You need a valid Saudi Iqama or national ID, a minimum monthly salary (commonly around SAR 4,000+, higher for larger families - the exact figure is set by MHRSD), no domestic-worker violations, and no outstanding fines or bans on Musaned.
📋 Documents you’ll need
- Absher account linked to your national ID / Iqama
- Salary proof (bank statements or salary certificate)
- Family-size documentation (for eligibility)
- No active fines or bans on Musaned
- Valid passport (copy)
- Medical-fitness certificate from an approved centre
- The MHRSD employment contract (generated by Musaned)
- Health insurance (mandatory)
Approved source countries (2026): Philippines, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Bangladesh, Ghana, Myanmar, Madagascar, Vietnam and Nepal (limited). India is currently not available for domestic workers - always check the live list on musaned.com.sa.
🆕 How to issue a NEW domestic worker visa via Musaned
This is the full path from zero to a worker legally living and working in your home.
Go to musaned.com.sa or open the Musaned app and sign in with your Absher credentials, confirming with Nafath.
Select the recruitment service, then the source country and the worker category (housemaid, nanny, cook, driver, caregiver and more).
View available candidates with photos, experience and skills, and pick your preferred worker - or choose a licensed recruitment office’s package.
The official employment contract is created automatically based on your selection, with the agreed salary, duties and rest days.
Pay the visa fee and the agency package through the Musaned portal (mada, Visa or Mastercard). You get an instant receipt.
The worker completes a fitness exam at a Saudi-approved medical centre in their home country.
Once approved, the work visa is issued and the worker travels to Saudi Arabia. Processing is usually 3-10 working days.
After arrival, finish the residence permit (Iqama), biometrics and insurance through Absher within 90 days.
⚠️ Common slip-ups: a passport with short validity, skipping the medical insurance, or trying to recruit from a country without an active agreement. Recruitment must go through a licensed Musaned office - never pay an unlicensed broker.
🔄 How to renew the visa (Iqama)
A domestic worker’s residence is the Iqama. Renew it before it expires - late renewal triggers fines (the first is around SAR 500 and doubles on repeat).
Begin about 30 days before the Iqama expiry date, which you can see in Absher.
Make sure the worker has a valid health-insurance policy for the new term - it is required before renewal.
Pay the residence fee through Absher / SADAD (about SAR 1,200 for one year or SAR 2,400 for two), plus any labour fees.
Confirm the MHRSD contract and wage-protection (WPS) records are up to date so the renewal isn’t blocked.
Once paid, the renewed Iqama is issued electronically. Verify the new expiry date in Absher.
⚠️ Renewal rules and fees change - confirm the exact amount and any extra steps in Absher or with MHRSD on 19911 before you pay.
❌ How to cancel / end the sponsorship (final exit)
When the contract ends or the worker leaves Saudi Arabia for good, you either transfer them to a new employer or issue a final exit visa. Do the steps in order.
Pay the final salary, any owed wages through wage protection (WPS), and the end-of-service award. Open dues can block the exit.
End the MHRSD domestic-worker contract on Musaned so the working relationship is formally closed.
Through Absher, issue the Final Exit Visa (Khuruj Nihai) for the worker; this cancels the Iqama once they depart.
The worker must leave Saudi Arabia within the exit-visa validity. Keep proof of departure.
If the worker is staying in Saudi Arabia with a new employer, use the transfer flow below instead of a final exit.
⚠️ Don’t let a worker leave on an expired Iqama or without a final exit - you stay legally responsible until it’s done. Confirm current steps with MHRSD 19911.
↔️ How to transfer a worker to a new employer
A worker can move to a new sponsor without leaving the country when everyone agrees - usually faster and cheaper than exit-and-rehire. By law the new employer pays the transfer fee (about SAR 2,000); charging the worker is illegal.
Settle salary, working hours, rest days and accommodation before starting.
The current sponsor gives a written release/consent through their Absher or Musaned account.
Log in to musaned.com.sa and choose “Transfer of Domestic Worker Sponsorship”.
Enter the worker’s Iqama number, upload the documents and pay the transfer fee (new employer pays).
Musaned generates a new MHRSD contract that both parties accept online.
After approval, move the worker’s Iqama to your sponsorship through Absher within 90 days.
⚠️ A worker usually must complete a minimum period (often 1 year) before transfer. If the current employer refuses to release without a valid reason, the worker can file a complaint with MHRSD (19911). Transfers typically approve in 3-7 working days.
🚨 Other transactions you can do here
If a worker leaves without notice, file the official absconding report through Absher/Musaned to protect yourself from liability. Full absconding guide →
Want the longer, screen-by-screen version of a first-time hire? Step-by-step maid-visa guide →
💰 Fees & timeline at a glance (2026)
| Item / transaction | Typical cost (SAR) | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Visa issuance fee | SAR 300-500 | New visa 3-10 days |
| Iqama (residence) | SAR 1,200 / year · SAR 2,400 / 2 years | Within 90 days of arrival |
| Medical exam (overseas) | SAR 200-400 equivalent | Before travel |
| Health insurance | SAR 400-1,200 / year | Yearly |
| Air ticket | SAR 600-2,000 (by country) | - |
| Musaned agency package | SAR 5,000-15,000 | - |
| Transfer fee | ~SAR 2,000 (new employer pays) | 3-7 days |
| New-hire estimated total | SAR 7,700-21,300 | - |
Figures are typical 2026 ranges and vary by nationality, family size and insurance plan. Always confirm the exact amount on Musaned/Absher or with MHRSD 19911 before paying.
💬 Don’t want to deal with it? Let our team handle Musaned
In Saudi Arabia recruitment must go through a licensed Musaned office - so tell our assistant Nadia on WhatsApp what you need (issue, renew, cancel or transfer) and we’ll connect you with a verified Musaned-licensed recruitment office and guide you through Musaned and Absher end-to-end. You only approve your own Nafath/Absher login and pay the official fees - we never ask for your password or hold your money.
Frequently asked questions
What is the minimum salary to sponsor a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia?
MHRSD generally requires a minimum monthly salary of around SAR 4,000 for a single domestic worker. Larger families or multiple workers may need a higher income. Confirm your eligibility on Musaned.
Can I choose my maid’s nationality on Musaned?
Yes. Musaned lets you filter by approved source country and worker category, and packages are priced by nationality. India is currently not available for domestic workers.
How long does it take to issue a new visa?
Usually 3-10 working days once the contract is generated and fees are paid, then the worker travels and completes the Iqama within 90 days of arrival.
How do I renew my worker’s Iqama?
Renew on Absher before the expiry date: keep a valid health-insurance policy, pay the residence fee (about SAR 1,200/year or SAR 2,400/2 years) and any labour fees. Late renewal brings fines.
How do I cancel the visa or send the worker home?
Settle all dues, close the Musaned contract, and issue a Final Exit Visa through Absher; the worker must leave within its validity, which cancels the Iqama. Or transfer them to a new employer instead.
Who pays the transfer fee?
By law the new employer pays the transfer fee (about SAR 2,000). Charging the domestic worker for a sponsorship transfer is illegal.
Can I transfer a maid who just arrived?
Generally a worker must complete a minimum period (often one year) before transfer. Contact MHRSD on 19911 for specific cases.
Can someone do the Musaned transaction for me?
Yes. Message Nadia and we’ll connect you with a verified Musaned-licensed office and guide you through Musaned and Absher. You approve your own Nafath login and pay the official fees - nothing else.
📚 Related Saudi guides
- Saudi maid-visa application, step by step
- Transferring a worker (Musaned)
- Reporting absconding (huroob)
- Verified Musaned-licensed recruitment offices
🌐 Hiring in another Gulf country? See the complete GCC domestic worker visa guide - all six countries compared.
