Jeddah, Oct 6(Arab News): Every Saudi family is entitled under certain conditions to a maximum of five visas for household workers through the Musaned website, while expatriate families and citizens married to foreigners are entitled to two each.
Saudi families can recruit a woman household worker, man household worker, private driver, nanny, butler, and a nurse of either gender.
Foreign women and Saudi women who are “widowed or divorced from a Saudi citizen with children,” are entitled to recruit a household worker and a driver.
Individuals may submit requests to obtain visas for household workers electronically on completion of the application and meeting all requirements. An applicant must be registered with Absher, and pay a fee of SR2,000 before submitting the request via Sadad or at an ATM machine. All traffic violations must also be paid.
Supporting documents must include proof of financial status via a bank statement or payroll check, in the name of the applicant.
According to the Labor Ministry’s website, the fee of SR2,000 is waived for people with special needs, but this concession has not taken effect yet.
The ministry can reject an application based on the financial status of the applicant. It also uses income to determine how many visas are issued to an applicant.
Bank account information must reflect funds over six months from the date of application, while salary slips must be signed and sealed and reflect employment of at least three months. Single applicants must be 25 years or older.
According to the website, other reasons for refusal include submission of multiple requests earlier in the same year, or current and previous legal cases involving household workers.
Once visas are issued, applicants must visit the Musaned website and search for service providers to contact on the phone or visit in person, where they can sign a contract and pay 25 percent of the recruitment fee agreed upon between both parties. If there is a delay over two months, applicants can visit the labor office or contact 18811 to file complaints.