Qatar Domestic Worker Recruitment Cost Calculator
Choose the worker's nationality, leave the price empty to use the maximum or enter the office's price, or calculate what the office must refund if the worker refuses to work or runs away.
Calculate the recruitment cost
Maximum recruitment prices for domestic workers in Qatar
| Nationality | Maximum price | 50% due at contract |
|---|---|---|
| Indonesia | 17,000 | 8,500 |
| Sri Lanka | 16,000 | 8,000 |
| Philippines | 15,000 | 7,500 |
| Bangladesh | 14,000 | 7,000 |
| India | 14,000 | 7,000 |
| Kenya | 9,000 | 4,500 |
| Ethiopia | 9,000 | 4,500 |
Set by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in Decision 1/2022 in coordination with the Ministry of Labour, in force since January 2022; we found no change up to November 2026. The price covers all recruitment costs and fees except quarantine. At contract you pay the fees and 50% of the amount; recruitment takes 60 to 90 days, and the medical test is within 15 days of arrival.
The 9-month guarantee under Decision 61/2026
Labour Minister Decision 61/2026, regulating licences to recruit workers from abroad on behalf of others, was published in the Official Gazette on 25 October 2026 and applies from the day after publication. It repeals Decision 8/2005 and gives offices 3 months to comply:
- 3-month preliminary test period: the full amount paid is refunded minus government fees if the worker is unfit, breaches the contract, refuses to work or runs away, or if the employer ends the contract.
- 6 additional months: 15% of the total amount is deducted for each month, for refusal, running away or chronic illness, and the office bears the government fees.
- Loss of the right: if the employer or the family assaults the worker, breaches the contract, or does not pay the wage.
- Office financial guarantee: QAR 750,000 instead of 250,000.
| When the case occurs | Share refunded | Refund (QAR) |
|---|---|---|
| Month 1 | 100% | 15,000 minus government fees |
| Month 2 | 100% | 15,000 minus government fees |
| Month 3 | 100% | 15,000 minus government fees |
| Month 4 | 85% | 12,750 |
| Month 5 | 70% | 10,500 |
| Month 6 | 55% | 8,250 |
| Month 7 | 40% | 6,000 |
| Month 8 | 25% | 3,750 |
| Month 9 | 10% | 1,500 |
| After month 9 | 0% | No refund |
How much is a housemaid's salary in Qatar?
The minimum wage is QAR 1,000 basic, plus QAR 500 for housing and QAR 300 for food a month if the employer does not provide them. So the lowest monthly cost for a live-in worker is QAR 1,000, and QAR 1,800 for a worker given neither housing nor food.
Examples:
Filipina at the maximum with a QAR 1,000 wage, housing and food provided: 15,000 + 1,000 × 12 = QAR 27,000 in the first year, QAR 7,500 of it at contract.
Running away in month 5 on a QAR 15,000 cost: 30% is deducted, so QAR 10,500 is refunded.
Refusing to work in month 2 with QAR 1,200 of government fees: QAR 13,800 is refunded.
Compare with recruitment costs in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait, and if you are a resident, see your family residence fees in Qatar.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to hire a Filipina housemaid in Qatar?
The maximum is QAR 15,000 under Ministry of Commerce and Industry Decision 1/2022. It covers all recruitment costs and fees except quarantine, and 50% is paid at contract. With the QAR 1,000 minimum wage, the first year costs about QAR 27,000, plus QAR 500 for housing and QAR 300 for food per month if you do not provide them.
What does Labour Minister Decision 61/2026 change for domestic workers?
Published in the Official Gazette on 25 October 2026, it sets a 9-month office guarantee: a 3-month preliminary test period with a full refund minus government fees, then 6 months in which 15% of the amount is deducted for each month, with government fees borne by the office. It also raises the office's financial guarantee to QAR 750,000 from QAR 250,000.
How much do I get back if the housemaid runs away in month 5?
70% of the amount: on a QAR 15,000 cost, QAR 10,500. Months 1 to 3 refund the full amount minus government fees; from month 4, 15% is deducted for each month up to month 9 (10%), and nothing is refunded after that.
What is the minimum wage for a domestic worker in Qatar?
QAR 1,000 basic, plus QAR 500 for housing and QAR 300 for food if the employer does not provide them, under minimum wage Law 17/2020.
Have Qatar's recruitment prices changed since 2022?
We found no decision changing the maximum prices after January 2022, and no maximum for Nepal or Uganda. The new Decision 61/2026 regulates the guarantee and refunds; no price change was published with it.
When does the employer lose the right to a refund?
If the employer or a family member assaults the worker, breaches the contract, or does not pay the wage, under Article 20 of Decision 61/2026 as reported by Al Raya.
Sources
- QNA — decision setting maximum prices for recruiting domestic workers (24/1/2022)
- Al Sharq — when the maximum recruitment price decision applies (25/1/2022)
- Al Raya — refund mechanism for recruitment offices (27/1/2022)
- Al Raya — Labour Minister decision on licensing recruitment for others (25/10/2026)
- Al Raya — 9-month guarantee period for domestic workers (25/10/2026)
- Al Raya — experts and lawyers on the Labour Minister's decision (27/10/2026)
Figures and formulas on this page were last reviewed on 2026-11-03.