Saudi Arabia has granted employers a new avenue to manage domestic worker arrangements that do not work out, allowing them to issue final exit visas for workers who have not yet received their residency permit, known as an Iqama.
Domestic workers must be physically present inside Saudi Arabia
The General Directorate of Passports, Jawazat, confirmed that the service is accessible through the Absher platform, provided the domestic worker is still within the 90-day probation window and satisfies a set of conditions.
For an employer to use this pathway, the domestic worker must be physically present inside Saudi Arabia, hold a passport valid for at least 60 days, and have no outstanding traffic violations.
The worker must also not be recorded as deceased or registered as absent from work.
Why does probation period run up to 90 days?
If all these criteria are satisfied, the employer can proceed to issue the final exit visa even without the worker having an active Iqama.
The Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development requires a written employment contract between an employer and a domestic worker, and that contract must include a probationary clause.
The probation period can run for up to 90 days, giving both parties time to evaluate whether the arrangement suits their needs.
Can a domestic worker be placed on probation more than once by the same employer in Saudi Arabia?
During this window, either side may end the contract without the agreement of the other.
Importantly, a domestic worker cannot be placed on probation more than once by the same employer.
The single exception arises when both parties mutually agree that the worker will take on a different role from the one originally specified in the contract.
Kenyan domestic workers, other expatriates employed in Saudi Arabia
For Kenyan domestic workers and other expatriates employed in Saudi Arabia, this development clarifies the legal steps available when an employment relationship breaks down early.
Rather than leaving a worker in an irregular status, the framework provides a structured exit that keeps both employer and worker within the bounds of Saudi labour law.
Workers and employers are advised to act promptly if they intend to terminate during the probation period, as the option to issue a final exit visa through this route is only available before the 90-day window closes.
