Saudi Musaned Domestic Worker Visa from Pakistan 2026: Fees, Process and the New Salary Rules

Published August 19, 2026 · by Hijrat — visa consultants, Islamabad & Rawalpindi

Thousands of Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia every year as drivers, housemaids, cooks and household helpers. Almost all of that hiring now runs through Musaned, the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources platform for domestic workers. In 2026 the system changed in one important way: salaries must now be paid electronically. Here is what Pakistani applicants and their families should understand before signing anything.

What Musaned actually is

Musaned is the official Saudi government portal through which a Saudi household sponsor requests, contracts and pays a domestic worker. The sponsor — not the worker — starts the process. Pakistan is one of roughly 33 approved source countries, and recruitment is governed by a bilateral agreement between Islamabad and Riyadh. If a job offer for household work does not appear inside Musaned with a digital contract, treat it as unverified.

The big 2026 change: electronic salary payment

Since 1 January 2026, employers in Saudi Arabia are required to pay domestic workers' wages through Musaned-approved electronic channels — participating banks or licensed digital wallets — rather than cash alone. For Pakistani workers this is a genuine protection: every payment leaves a record, which makes unpaid-salary complaints far easier to prove. Workers can also remit earnings home through the same official channels.

Fees and who pays them

The unified domestic worker visa fee is SAR 2,000, paid by the Saudi sponsor through Sadad or an ATM (people with disabilities are exempt). A legitimate arrangement does not ask the Pakistani worker to pay for the visa itself. On the Pakistan side you should expect only genuine costs: the GAMCA/Wafid medical, police character certificate, passport, and Protector registration. Fees change without notice, so confirm current amounts before you pay anything.

Step by step, from Saudi Arabia to your departure

1. The Saudi sponsor logs into Musaned, requests a domestic worker visa, selects Pakistan and the occupation, and pays the fee.
2. A licensed Saudi recruitment office is matched with a licensed Pakistani Overseas Employment Promoter (OEP).
3. The worker completes the GAMCA / Wafid medical test and obtains a police character certificate.
4. The digital employment contract is issued in Musaned and signed by both sides — read the salary, working hours and leave terms carefully.
5. The visa is stamped, and the worker completes BEOE Protector registration, which is legally required before boarding.
6. On arrival the sponsor issues the iqama; see our guide to iqama fees and renewal.

Documents Pakistani applicants need

A machine-readable passport valid for at least six months, CNIC, GAMCA/Wafid medical certificate, police character certificate, passport photographs, and the signed Musaned contract. Educational degree attestation is normally not required for household categories — unlike skilled roles, where degree attestation matters. If you are unsure which category your offer falls under, check our overview of Saudi work visas for Pakistanis.

Warning signs to take seriously

Be cautious of anyone offering household work on a visit or so-called "azad" visa, asking for large upfront payments, or refusing to name the licensed OEP handling your case. Working in Saudi Arabia on a visit visa is unlawful and leaves you with no wage protection at all. Verify the OEP licence with the Bureau of Emigration before paying, and never hand over your original passport to an unlicensed agent.

Processing time

Once the recruitment office submits the contract, issuance typically takes about 5–10 working days, though demand around Ramadan and Hajj can stretch this to roughly three weeks. Add time for the medical, police certificate and Protector step on the Pakistan side.

Disclaimer: Fees, quotas and procedures change frequently and without notice. The SAR 2,000 visa fee and processing times above are indicative only. All decisions rest with the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and the Government of Pakistan. Verify current requirements with official sources before applying.