Saudi Domestic Worker Recruitment Cost Calculator

Recruitment cost caps by nationality in 2026

The Ministry of Human Resources sets the maximum price of the recruitment contract with an office or company for ten nationalities and monitors it through Musaned. The last general cut was on 15 January 2024 and the last nationality added was Tanzania on 20 October 2024; we found no change in 2025 or 2026. No cap is published for Indonesia, India, Nepal, Gambia or Somalia, so enter the office's price for these.

What fees are there besides the office price?

• Visa fee: SAR 2,000, unchanged since at least 2014 as reported by the press citing Musaned. The ministry's page calls the visa request free, so check the amount when you pay.
• Musaned e-service fee: SAR 150 before VAT, or SAR 172.50 with it.
• Iqama issue: SAR 600 for a domestic worker; since July 2026 it can be issued and renewed for periods starting at 3 months.
• Expat levy: SAR 9,600 a year for each domestic worker above 4 for a citizen and above 2 for a resident. There is no separate work permit fee for domestic workers.
• Domestic worker contract insurance: mandatory since 1 February 2024 for the first two years of new contracts. The premium is not published and varies with occupation, nationality, age, wage and contract cost.
• Replacement visa: no government fee if the worker leaves for good within 90 days of first entry.

None of the recruitment, work permit, transfer or occupation-change costs may be charged to the worker; the penalty is a fine of up to SAR 20,000 and a 3-year recruitment ban.

How much is a housemaid's salary in Saudi Arabia?

Saudi Arabia has no statutory minimum wage for domestic workers; the floors are set by sending countries: the Philippines USD 400 (SAR 1,500) and Thailand USD 500 (SAR 1,875). Manila raised its floor to USD 500 in August 2025, but later reports said the Gulf was exempted and the position is contested, so agree the salary in the contract. Since 1 January 2026 all domestic worker salaries are paid electronically through Musaned to an account or wallet in the worker's name.

When do you get the recruitment cost back?

• Within 90 days of arrival: if the worker refuses to work, the office deports her and refunds (total cost ÷ contract months) × months remaining.
• After 90 days: responsibility moves to the employer, and the contract insurance covers absence, running away and refusal to work with the same formula, up to the lower of the recruitment cost and SAR 20,000, with an overall policy limit of SAR 25,000.
• Late arrival: the maximum is 90 days from payment, then a 30-day extension. If she still does not arrive, the amount is refunded with a 20% penalty of the contract value; cancelling during the extension refunds it with 15%.
• Complaints: from your Musaned account: Contracts, then Contract details, then Submit a complaint.

Once the worker arrives, see her end-of-contract entitlements, and if you later transfer her services, the transfer fee calculator.