How to transfer a domestic worker to a new employer in Saudi Arabia
A plain-language walkthrough of the domestic-worker transfer process in Saudi Arabia — what Musaned digitizes, who can use it, and how to keep the transfer lawful and documented.
The short answer
Saudi Arabia handles domestic-worker transfers through Musaned, the official portal of the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (MHRSD). Musaned provides digitized transfer services for eligible cases, including individual-to-individual and company-to-individual electronic transfers. Eligibility, conditions and any fees are set by MHRSD and must be confirmed on Musaned before starting a transfer request.
The Saudi transfer process at a glance
Confirm eligibility on Musaned
Log in to Musaned and check whether your case qualifies for the electronic transfer service, including the required worker and employer conditions.
Agree terms with the new employer
Agree duties, salary, accommodation, contract terms and the transfer date before any request is submitted.
Submit the transfer request
The current employer requests the transfer through the Musaned electronic service, using the individual-to-individual or company-to-individual route that applies.
Complete approval steps
Follow the status updates on Musaned and complete any additional steps the service requires for your case type.
Update the contract and formalities
Ensure the employment contract and any related formalities reflect the new employer before the worker starts.
Hand over and onboard
Hand over the worker's documents and records to the new employer and track the onboarding from the start date.
Who is this guide for?
This guide is for employers in Saudi Arabia — households, individuals and companies — who want to transfer a domestic worker to a new employer lawfully, and for workers and service providers who need to understand how the official transfer service works.
- Employers whose worker will move to another household
- Workers moving to a new sponsor with the current employer's agreement
- Companies transferring domestic staff to individual employers
- New employers receiving a worker through an approved transfer
What does Ployer provide?
Ployer is the workflow layer around the official process. Employers describe the role once, compare verified candidate profiles, shortlist, interview, and then follow a country-specific checklist that keeps transfer steps, contracts, documents and start dates on track.
- Structured role intake for helpers, nannies, cooks, drivers and caregivers
- Verified skills passports with experience and language information
- Deterministic eligibility scoring against your requirements
- Document vault with statuses for passports, contracts and transfer records
- Onboarding journey tracking from transfer approval to work start
- WhatsApp connection so workers and sponsors can stay in touch
How does the transfer process work in Saudi Arabia?
MHRSD operates the Musaned portal, which provides digitized domestic-worker transfer services. Eligible cases include individual-to-individual and company-to-individual electronic transfers, so a worker can move from one household to another, or from a company to an individual, through the official digital service rather than an informal arrangement.
- Confirm on Musaned that your case qualifies for the electronic transfer service and review the stated conditions.
- Agree the new employment terms — duties, salary, accommodation and contract — with the receiving employer.
- Submit the transfer request through Musaned using the service that matches your case type.
- Monitor the request status and complete any additional steps the service requires.
- Finalize the employment contract and formalities with the new employer.
- Hand over documents and start the onboarding journey on the agreed date.
What should employers check before transferring?
A transfer only moves the worker to a new employer if the request is eligible, complete and approved. Use this checklist to keep the handover lawful and documented.
| Checklist item | Who is responsible | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Case eligibility confirmed on Musaned | Current employer | Ineligible cases cannot use the electronic transfer service |
| Worker's current contract status reviewed | Current employer | Outstanding obligations can block a transfer |
| New duties, salary and accommodation agreed | New employer + worker | Forms the basis of the updated contract |
| Transfer request submitted through Musaned | Current employer | The official service is the only lawful route |
| Request status and conditions tracked | Current employer | Missing steps cause delays |
| Employment contract updated with new employer | New employer + worker | Records the new terms and sponsor |
| Worker documents handed over and stored | New employer | Keeps identity and contract records in one place |
Core transfer checklist. Confirm the current service conditions on Musaned, as requirements may change.
Which documents are involved?
The exact document set depends on your case type and the current Musaned service requirements, but the core items are consistent across eligible transfers.
| Document | Who provides it | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Worker passport and current residence documents | Worker | Identity and transfer processing |
| Employment contract | Current and new employer + worker | Records terms, duties and salary |
| Transfer request record | Musaned | Evidence of the approved electronic transfer |
| New employer identity details | New employer | Registration of the receiving sponsor |
| Work records and clearances | Current employer | Confirms no outstanding obligations |
Core Saudi transfer document set. Confirm the current list on Musaned, as source and case-type requirements can add more.
How long can a transfer take?
A straightforward eligible transfer can complete quickly once the request is submitted, but timing depends on case type, document readiness and the current Musaned service status. Some cases may require additional approvals or steps.
| Stage | Typical duration | Depends on |
|---|---|---|
| Eligibility check and agreement | A few days | How quickly both employers agree terms |
| Transfer request decision | Varies by case | Case type and Musaned service status |
| Contract update and handover | A few days | Document readiness and the start date agreed |
Indicative planning durations. Do not rely on fixed transfer times — confirm the current service status on Musaned.
What should employers do?
- Confirm current transfer conditions and fees on Musaned before starting
- Never transfer a worker without the current employer's lawful consent and an approved request
- Put duties, hours, salary, accommodation and leave in the updated contract
- Keep the worker's passport handling transparent — do not retain it without consent
- Track the request status and store every record in one place
- Use only official channels; avoid anyone promising transfer approval
What protections do workers receive?
The Musaned transfer service exists so domestic workers move between employers through recorded, accountable arrangements. Ployer supports this by keeping the employment route explicit: written terms, tracked documents, clear responsibilities, and a guided process on both sides.
- Written contract with clear duties and salary after transfer
- Recorded transfer request through the official portal
- Employer accountability through the Musaned workflow
- Clear communication channel between worker and sponsor (including WhatsApp)
What happens after the transfer is approved?
Once the transfer is approved, the relationship moves into management: handover, onboarding, documents, leave, salary and any future replacement needs. Ployer tracks this as an onboarding journey and supports replacement workflows if the arrangement does not last.
- Transfer approved → contract updated → handover completed
- Arrival or start → onboarding → documents stored
- Salary, leave and records managed from the start date
- Replacement support if the worker leaves early
Transfer checklist
Tick off each item as it is completed. Keep this list with your transfer folder.
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Common questions
Yes, if the case is eligible. MHRSD provides digitized domestic-worker transfer services through Musaned, including individual-to-individual and company-to-individual electronic transfers. Eligibility conditions must be confirmed on Musaned for your specific case.
Individual-to-individual means the worker moves from one private household employer to another. Company-to-individual means the worker moves from a company employer to an individual. Both routes run through the Musaned electronic transfer service, and your case type determines the steps that apply.
The transfer request is submitted through the Musaned portal by the current employer, in line with the conditions of the service. The receiving employer and worker agree the new terms before the request is made.
Transfers are structured around agreed, documented arrangements. The worker's consent and agreed terms — duties, salary and accommodation — should be reflected in the updated contract before the transfer is finalized.
Any fees are set by MHRSD as part of the Musaned service and can change. Confirm the current fee schedule and conditions on Musaned before starting; never rely on unofficial figures.
It depends on your case type, document readiness and the current Musaned service status. An eligible, complete request may be processed quickly, but some cases require additional steps. Confirm the current status on Musaned.
Outstanding obligations on the current contract can affect eligibility. Check your case against the current conditions on Musaned before submitting a request.
Ployer structures the workflow around the official Musaned service — role intake, verified profiles, document tracking, contract records and onboarding — but never replaces Musaned and never guarantees transfer approval.
Related guides
Tell us who you need.
Describe the role once — Ployer structures the requirements, shows verified matches and tracks the Saudi Musaned workflow.