Qatar domestic worker recruitment offices explained
What licensed recruitment offices in Qatar actually do, how the law regulates them, what they cost, and how to check one before you commit.
The short answer
Under Qatar Law No. 15 of 2017 on Domestic Workers, domestic workers are normally recruited through licensed recruitment offices operating under Ministry of Labour supervision. A licensed office sources the worker, prepares the standard contract and handles much of the processing. Employers can also use the direct-recruitment exception — recruiting from abroad for their own benefit after Department approval. Check licensing with ADLSA or the Ministry of Labour and confirm all fees in writing.
Using a recruitment office, step by step
Check the office is licensed
Ask ADLSA or the Ministry of Labour for the current list of licensed recruitment offices before engaging anyone.
Get the full costs in writing
Confirm all service fees, and what they do and do not cover, before signing anything.
Define the role
Duties, hours, accommodation, salary and leave for the standard contract form.
Review candidates
Compare verified skills, experience, languages and document readiness.
Sign and register the contract
The standard form under Law 15, signed by both sides and registered through the official process.
Track visa, medical and arrival
Entry visa, medical fitness, residence permit and QID, with every document status recorded.
What is a licensed recruitment office in Qatar?
A licensed recruitment office is a company authorised under Qatar Law No. 15 of 2017 on Domestic Workers to recruit domestic workers for employers. In general terms, the law makes the licensed office the standard channel: the office finds the worker, prepares the employment contract in the required form and handles a large share of the processing on the employer's behalf.
- Sourcing and shortlisting domestic workers from abroad
- Preparing the standard employment contract under Law 15
- Managing visa, medical and travel logistics
- Keeping the employer and worker informed through the process
What does Qatar law require?
Qatar Law No. 15 of 2017 on Domestic Workers sets the framework for domestic worker recruitment. In general terms, recruitment runs through licensed offices, and the contract must follow the standard form and be registered. The law also provides an exception where an employer, or the employer's representative, can recruit a worker from abroad for their own benefit after approval from the Department at the Ministry of Labour.
- Recruitment normally through licensed offices
- Standard contract form, registered through the official process
- Department-approved direct exception available
- Worker protections for hours, rest, leave, accommodation and medical care
What does the office handle — and what do you still do?
A licensed office takes on most of the sourcing and logistics, but the employer remains the contracting party and must keep core documents and decisions in order.
| The office typically handles | The employer still does |
|---|---|
| Sourcing and shortlisting candidates | Defining duties, hours, salary and accommodation |
| Preparing the standard contract form | Reviewing and signing the contract, and verifying terms |
| Visa and travel logistics | Confirming documents are complete and tracking statuses |
| Medical appointment coordination | Arranging worker accommodation and onboarding |
| Updates on processing milestones | Keeping records and communicating directly with the worker |
A practical division of work in the licensed-office route. Confirm the exact scope of service in writing before engaging any office.
How can you check an office is licensed?
Licensing is what makes the standard route lawful in Qatar. Take the same care you would with any regulated service provider.
- Ask ADLSA or the Ministry of Labour for the current list of licensed recruitment offices
- Confirm the office's licence details in writing
- Ask for a written fee schedule covering all charges
- Avoid anyone promising a visa, permit or QID guarantee — no office controls official decisions
- Check how the office handles complaints and worker welfare
- Prefer offices that use the standard contract form and register it
How much does the licensed route cost?
Costs split into the office's service fees plus official charges and travel. All figures below are clearly-labelled indicative ranges in QAR for planning — confirm the current official fee schedule and the office's written quote before starting.
| Cost item | Indicative range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Office service fees | Varies; confirm in writing | Set by the office; the largest variable |
| Entry visa and residence fees | QAR 200 – QAR 1,000 | Confirm the current MOI fee schedule |
| Medical screening | QAR 100 – QAR 300 | Depends on provider and required tests |
| Travel (airfare) | Varies by source country | Usually employer-funded |
| Monthly salary | QAR 1,200 – QAR 2,500+ | Depends on role, experience and duties |
Indicative planning ranges in QAR as of September 2026. Always confirm current official fees with MOI and ADLSA.
What are the warning signs?
- No licence or refusal to show licence details
- Vague or verbal fee arrangements
- Guarantees of visas, permits or QIDs
- Pressure to pay large deposits before any contract is signed
- Unwillingness to use the standard contract form
- No clear process for worker welfare or complaints
When should you consider the direct exception?
The direct-recruitment exception under Law No. 15 of 2017 suits employers who already know the worker they want and are recruiting for their own benefit. It requires approval from the Department at the Ministry of Labour before recruitment, and the employer takes on more of the paperwork. It does not remove any worker protections — the standard contract and registration still apply. See the dedicated guide for the full comparison.
- You already know the worker you want to recruit
- You are recruiting for your own household benefit
- You are comfortable managing more of the paperwork
- You have confirmed the current approval procedure with ADLSA
Recruitment office vetting checklist
Tick off each item before engaging any office. Keep this list with your application folder.
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Common questions
Yes. Under Qatar Law No. 15 of 2017, domestic workers are normally recruited through licensed recruitment offices under Ministry of Labour supervision. An exception also allows employers to recruit from abroad for their own benefit after Department approval.
Ask ADLSA or the Ministry of Labour for the current list of licensed recruitment offices, and confirm the office's licence details in writing before paying anything.
Typically sourcing and shortlisting candidates, preparing the standard contract form, and coordinating visa, medical and travel logistics. The employer remains the contracting party and should confirm the exact scope in writing.
Service fees vary by office and should be confirmed in writing. On top of office fees, plan for entry visa and residence fees, medical screening and travel. Figures on this page are indicative QAR planning ranges, not guarantees.
No. Visas, residence permits and QIDs are issued by the Ministry of Interior under its own rules. Any provider promising a guarantee is a warning sign.
No. Ployer structures and tracks the employer workflow — role intake, candidate comparison, documents and onboarding. Official recruitment still runs through licensed offices or the Department-approved direct route.
The direct-recruitment exception under Law 15 allows you, or your representative, to recruit from abroad for your own benefit after approval from the Department at the Ministry of Labour. Confirm the current procedure with ADLSA.
What we can evidence on this page
Ployer does not publish fabricated reviews or self-awarded star ratings. Where evidence exists it is shown with its source and date; where it does not exist yet, it is stated plainly.
- Official sources dated — Every factual claim on this page is drawn from official Qatar sources (Law No. 15 of 2017, ADLSA, MOI, Hukoomi) and marked with its review date.
- Last checked 2026-09-21 — Content was verified against official sources on 21 September 2026; official requirements can change after this date.
- Named author and reviewer — Written by the Ployer Editorial Team and reviewed by Ployer Compliance & Editorial Review before publication.
- No fabricated ratings — Ployer publishes no fake reviews, testimonials or ratings; all service claims reflect verifiable platform behaviour.
- Worker privacy — Worker documents are stored in a private account-level vault; public profiles never expose passport or sensitive personal information.
Related guides
Official sources and references
- Qatar Law No. 15 of 2017 on Domestic Workers (official PDF)
- ADLSA — Administrative Development, Labour and Social Affairs
- Ministry of Interior — visas, residence and QID
- Hukoomi — Qatar official government portal
Tell us who you need.
Describe the role once — Ployer structures the requirements, shows verified matches and tracks the Qatar workflow through whichever official route you use.