Musaned Clarifies Rules on Saudi ID Copies For Indian Workers

Riyadh, September 2, 2026: Musaned, the official domestic-labor platform of Saudi Arabia, has issued a crucial clarification for families and recruitment offices hiring domestic workers—such as housemaids, drivers, cooks, and guards—from India. The platform stated that recruitment offices are prohibited from requesting or retaining a copy of a Saudi employer's National ID. This clarification follows an inquiry from an employer who was asked by a recruitment office for a photocopy of their Saudi National ID to process the hiring of an Indian worker, despite the recruitment contract having already been issued. Musaned confirmed that creating copies of a National ID violates Saudi civil-status regulations. This policy specifically concerns the Saudi employer's National ID and does not invalidate the necessity of Indian worker documents, including passports, visas, eMigrate registrations, and employment contracts. Official verification of worker and employer identities remains mandatory, but recruitment offices are not authorized to demand copies of Saudi National IDs under the guise of India recruitment requirements.

Musaned Safety Protocols for Employers

Musaned reiterated three safety protocols for employers. First, payments must be processed exclusively through the official platform to ensure accountability, as the Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development monitors for unlicensed practices or withheld refunds. Second, employers must verify the recruitment office's license status directly on Musaned, rather than relying on social media advertisements or intermediaries. Third, recruitment contracts must be reviewed and electronically approved on Musaned, ensuring terms regarding salary, profession, nationality, recruitment costs, arrival terms, insurance, and contractual obligations are transparent. The official Musaned helpline is 920002866, and complaints can be filed via the Musaned app.

Indian Embassy Guidelines and Safeguards

The Embassy of India in Riyadh, in an update dated September 1, 2026, reinforced that recruitment of domestic service workers from India occurs through Saudi and Indian agencies. Documents such as demand letters, powers of attorney, and employment contracts must be attested and uploaded to the eMigrate system to ensure traceability. This procedure operates in parallel with Musaned’s regulations to protect data and ensure compliance. Additional safeguards apply to Indian female domestic workers, who must be at least 30 years old and receive a minimum monthly wage of SR 1,500. Sponsors are required to submit a bank guarantee of US$2,500—or the equivalent in Saudi Riyals—to the Indian Embassy in Riyadh or the Consulate General of India in Jeddah, depending on the jurisdiction. Contracts for female workers require signatures from the worker, sponsor, and both recruitment agents, followed by Indian Mission attestation and eMigrate processing. Prospective Indian domestic workers are advised to verify that their Indian recruiting agent is registered with an active license on the eMigrate portal and to carefully review all contractual terms regarding profession, salary, workplace, rest days, food, medical care, and return conditions to avoid disputes arising from informal recruitment promises.