Transfer of sponsorship for a domestic worker

Transferring the sponsorship of a domestic worker in Saudi Arabia is carried out officially through approved domestic worker service-transfer channels, most notably the Musaned platform, after meeting the requirements related to the worker, the current employer, and the new employer.

Officially, the term transfer of domestic worker services is used instead of “sponsorship transfer.” The process includes submitting the request, obtaining the required approvals from the relevant parties, establishing the new contractual relationship, and paying the fees or costs displayed through the official channel.

Platinum Eastern Recruitment Company provides domestic worker service-transfer solutions and also displays workers available for transfer, while confirming that the related costs are paid through the Musaned platform.

What Does Transferring the Sponsorship of a Domestic Worker Mean in Saudi Arabia, and Why Is It Done?

Transferring the sponsorship of a domestic worker means transferring the worker’s services from the current employer to a new employer legally, while registering the new employment relationship through official channels.

The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development allows domestic worker services to be transferred electronically from one individual to another through Musaned, provided that the requirements are met and the relevant parties approve the transfer in normal cases.

The transfer may take place for several reasons, including:

• The parties wish to end the current employment relationship and transfer the worker to a new employer.

• The current contractual relationship has ended, while the worker continues to work legally within Saudi Arabia.

• The worker is transferred from a recruitment company to an individual according to the contract.

• A legal or regulatory situation allows the worker to transfer without the current employer’s approval.

Therefore, transferring the sponsorship of a domestic worker is not merely a verbal agreement or a private arrangement between two individuals. It is an official procedure that must be completed through the approved process so that responsibility for the worker is formally registered under the new employer.

Main Conditions for Transferring the Sponsorship of a Domestic Worker for the Worker, Current Employer, and New Employer

The conditions for transferring a domestic worker’s sponsorship vary according to the type of transfer. However, the standard individual-to-individual process requires a valid residence permit, eligibility of the new employer, and approval from the required parties.

Conditions Related to the Domestic Worker

Under the standard process, the following should be verified:

• The worker’s residence permit is valid.

• The worker approves the transfer request and the terms of the contract.

• A documented contract is available when required under the applicable regulations.

• There is no legal or regulatory restriction preventing completion of the transfer.

The general regulations require a valid residence permit, a documented contract, and the end of the current contractual relationship in cases subject to these rules.

Conditions Related to the Current Employer

Under the standard process for transferring the sponsorship of a domestic worker between two individuals, the current employer initiates the request through the Musaned platform, selects the worker, and enters the details of the new employer.

This means that the current employer’s approval is an essential part of the normal transfer process unless the case falls under one of the situations in which the Ministry permits transfer without that approval.

Conditions Related to the New Employer

The new employer must be eligible under the approved recruitment regulations and may be required to submit a salary certificate or bank statement to prove financial capability.

The general regulations may also require the new employer to document domestic worker contracts and comply with approved wage-payment channels whenever these requirements apply to the case.

Therefore, before submitting a domestic worker sponsorship transfer request, it is important to verify the eligibility of all parties first rather than starting the process and later discovering a restriction that delays the transfer.

Some Cases in Which a Domestic Worker’s Sponsorship Can Be Transferred

A domestic worker’s sponsorship can be transferred through more than one route, and not every transfer request follows the same procedures.

The main cases include:

• Transfer of services from one individual employer to another.

• Transfer of services from a recruitment company to an individual.

• Transfer after the end of the contractual relationship in accordance with the applicable regulations.

• Specific cases that allow transfer without the approval of the current employer.

• Certain cases involving correction of the status of absent domestic workers under announced initiatives and regulations.

The regulations allow a worker to transfer without the current employer’s approval in specific situations, including proven delay of three wages, failure to issue or renew the residence permit within the legally specified period, or mistreatment.

These cases also include assigning the worker dangerous tasks, filing a false absence report, or the employer being absent in a way that results in failure to pay wages, in accordance with official regulations.

These situations do not mean that the worker can transfer her services independently. The case must first be proven, and the officially approved procedure must be followed.

To understand how to complete the request correctly, you can review the steps for transferring a domestic worker’s sponsorship through Musaned step by step before starting the process.

How to Transfer the Sponsorship of a Domestic Worker Step by Step Through Official Systems

The process of transferring a domestic worker’s sponsorship from one individual to another begins through the Musaned platform, followed by the worker’s approval, the new employer’s approval, and completion of the required official procedures.

The Ministry of Human Resources explains the domestic worker service-transfer process as follows:

1. The current employer logs in to the Musaned platform.

2. The employer selects the service for transferring services from one individual to another.

3. The employer selects the domestic worker whose services are to be transferred.

4. The employer enters the details of the new employer.

5. The worker logs in and approves the request and the terms of the contract.

6. The new employer logs in and accepts the request.

7. Payment and any additional procedures displayed according to the status of the request are completed.

The Ministry describes the current service as electronic and states that the service itself can be completed immediately once all requirements are fulfilled.

For anyone searching for how to transfer a domestic worker’s sponsorship through Musaned, this is the correct starting point for transfers between individuals.

Regarding searches for transferring a domestic worker’s sponsorship through Absher, it is important not to begin with an unsuitable service. The currently announced process for transfers between individuals starts through Musaned.

Absher or the General Directorate of Passports may become involved in certain other transfer-completion routes, such as some establishment-to-individual transfers or special initiatives.

How Much Does It Cost to Transfer a Domestic Worker’s Sponsorship, and Who Pays the Transfer Cost?

The cost of transferring a domestic worker’s sponsorship varies depending on the number of previous service transfers, in addition to the service fee and the amount associated with the transfer contract through Musaned.

The current page of the Ministry of Human Resources states that the fee for the domestic worker service-transfer service from one individual to another through Musaned is SAR 100.

As for the government fees for transferring domestic worker services, the Absher platform states that they are:

• SAR 2,000 for the first service transfer.

• SAR 4,000 for the second service transfer.

• SAR 6,000 for the third service transfer.

However, these fees do not necessarily represent the total amount paid by the new employer, because the transfer request in Musaned may also include the service-transfer cost set by the current employer within the approved regulations and price caps.

This cost may vary according to the worker’s profession, country of recruitment, and the details of the transfer request.

Therefore, the final cost may include:

• Musaned service fee: SAR 100.

• Government service-transfer fee: SAR 2,000, SAR 4,000, or SAR 6,000, depending on the number of previous transfers.

• The service-transfer amount displayed in Musaned under the contract.

• Any other regulatory amounts displayed during completion of the process.

The new employer bears the fees for transferring the domestic worker’s services and the associated charges in accordance with domestic employer obligations.

Therefore, when asking how much it costs to transfer the sponsorship of a domestic worker, there is no single final amount that applies to all cases. The most accurate approach is to review the amount displayed in Musaned when the request is created, because the platform shows the actual cost before payment is completed.

Payment is also made electronically through official channels and according to the price caps set by the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development, rather than through financial arrangements made outside the platform.

What Documents and Information Are Required to Complete the Transfer of Domestic Worker Services?

The main document currently mentioned for completing a transfer between two individuals is proof of financial capability, such as a salary certificate or bank statement.

The basic information of all parties must also be accurate and up to date so that the platform can verify eligibility, while complying with the recruitment policies and regulations approved in Saudi Arabia when completing the service-transfer request.

In practice, the client should make sure of the following:

• Details of the new employer.

• Details of the domestic worker.

• A valid residence permit under the standard process.

• Proof of financial capability when requested.

• Active accounts on the required platforms.

• Review of the contract details before approval.

Therefore, the procedures for transferring a domestic worker’s sponsorship do not depend on collecting a large number of documents as much as they depend on accurate information, regulatory eligibility, and approval from the required parties.

What Is the Difference Between Transferring a Domestic Worker’s Services From One Individual to Another and From a Recruitment Company to an Individual?

The main difference is the party that initiates the transfer request. In an individual-to-individual transfer, the current employer starts the request, while in a company-to-individual transfer, the recruitment company initiates the process.

Transfer of Domestic Worker Services From One Individual to Another

Under this process:

• The current employer initiates the request.

• The domestic worker to be transferred is selected.

• The worker approves the transfer and the contract.

• The new employer accepts the request.

• Payments and official procedures are completed.

This process is mainly completed through the Musaned platform.

Transfer of Services From a Recruitment Company to an Individual

Under this process:

• The recruitment company creates the transfer request.

• The company selects the worker.

• The company enters the employer’s details.

• The client reviews the request and pays the required amount.

• The company submits the transfer request.

• The process is completed through the official channels.

Musaned explains that the cost of this type of transfer may vary depending on the profession and the worker’s country of recruitment.

Platinum Eastern provides domestic workers available for service transfer, displaying the worker’s details and transfer cost while confirming that payment is completed through the Musaned platform.

What Happens After the Domestic Worker Sponsorship Transfer Request Is Accepted and the Contract Is Completed?

After the domestic worker sponsorship transfer request is accepted and the requirements are completed, the new contractual relationship is documented, and responsibility for the worker is officially transferred to the new employer.

The Ministry of Human Resources confirms that transfers between individuals include a fixed-term employment contract that protects the rights of both parties and is presented for approval as part of the transfer process.

After completion, the new employer must:

• Pay the wage specified in the contract.

• Use the approved wage-payment channels.

• Ensure that the worker performs duties within her registered profession and permitted scope of work.

• Bear the regulatory fees related to her employment and residence.

• Protect the worker’s rights in accordance with applicable laws and regulations.

This stage is important because the process of transferring a domestic worker’s sponsorship does not end when the request is approved. Instead, a new contractual relationship begins, with clearly defined rights and obligations.

Request Domestic Worker Service Transfer Through Platinum Eastern

If you want to transfer the sponsorship of a domestic worker legally, it is best to complete the process through official channels and review the worker’s status, transfer cost, and transfer conditions before making payment.

Platinum Eastern Recruitment Company provides immediate domestic worker service-transfer solutions and allows clients to view workers available for transfer and select the most suitable worker before completing the procedures through Musaned.

View domestic workers available for service transfer through Platinum Eastern