My Sponsor Passed Away — How to Get My Domestic Worker's Final Exit in Saudi Arabia

If you are an Indian family in Saudi Arabia and your sponsor (the iqama holder) passes away — what happens to the domestic worker? How do they leave the country?

This is a situation that many Indian families face, often unexpectedly. A recent Twitter exchange between an expat, @Absher, and @CareAljawazat clarified the exact process.

The scenario

An expat’s father passed away. The domestic worker (maid/driver/nanny) is sponsored under the father’s name. The worker needs to leave Saudi Arabia. What is the procedure?

What CareAljawazat confirmed

@CareAljawazat (July 2026): “The procedure is done by visiting the Jawazat (Passports) office through the legal representative, with the heirs renouncing their claim, and bringing the inheritance inventory document (Sakk His al-Irth).” (Source)

This means the process requires in-person visit to Jawazat — it cannot be done entirely through Absher.

Step-by-step process

Step 1: Obtain the death certificate

Before anything else, you need the official death certificate from the hospital or Civil Affairs (Ahwal Al-Madaniya). This is the foundation document for all subsequent steps.

For expats, the process typically goes through the hospital and the Civil Affairs office — ask the hospital which office issues the certificate in your case.

Step 2: Get the inheritance inventory document (Sakk His al-Irth)

This is a critical document. The Sakk His al-Irth (صك حصر الإرث — usually issued as a deed of heirs, صك حصر الورثة) is a court document that identifies the deceased’s legal heirs. It is issued by the courts under the Ministry of Justice (requests can be started on the Ministry’s Najiz platform).

It names:

• The deceased
• The legal heirs

The domestic worker is not listed in it — the worker’s status is handled separately at Jawazat, as described below.

Step 3: Heirs must renounce their claim

The legal heirs of the deceased must formally renounce their sponsorship of the domestic worker. This is done at the Jawazat office.

In practice, this means:

• The legal representative (one of the heirs) visits Jawazat
• They sign a document renouncing sponsorship of the worker
• This clears the way for the worker’s final exit

Step 4: Visit Jawazat with all documents

The legal representative must visit the Jawazat (Passport) office in person with:

1. Death certificate of the sponsor
2. Inheritance inventory document (Sakk His al-Irth)
3. The worker’s iqama and passport
4. ID of the legal representative
5. Renunciation form (signed by heirs)

At Jawazat, they will process the final exit visa for the domestic worker.

Step 5: Worker departs Saudi Arabia

Once the final exit visa is issued, the worker must leave Saudi Arabia within 60 days (standard final exit validity).

Important notes

This cannot be done through Absher

Unlike regular final exit procedures where the employee can apply independently, domestic worker exit after sponsor death requires a physical visit to Jawazat. The legal representative must go in person.

Who qualifies as “legal representative”?

The legal representative is typically one of the heirs named in the inheritance inventory. If there are multiple heirs, they may need to authorize one person to act on their behalf.

What if the heirs are abroad?

If the heirs are outside Saudi Arabia, they may need to:

• Grant power of attorney to someone in Saudi Arabia
• Or visit the nearest Saudi embassy/consulate to sign the renunciation

This can complicate the process significantly. It is best to handle it while the legal representative is still in the Kingdom.

What about unpaid wages?

Under the Regulation for Domestic Workers, the contract ends with the employer’s death (Article 21), and the worker is entitled to unpaid wages and any end-of-service award (one month’s wage per four consecutive years of service, Article 22). The regulation treats amounts owed to the worker as first-degree preferential debts on the employer’s estate, so heirs should settle them. If there is a dispute, it can be raised with the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development (HRSD).

Can the worker transfer to a new employer instead?

Yes. The domestic worker does not have to leave. After the sponsor’s death, the new employer can request the transfer on the Musaned platform using the Transfer Services for Exceptional Cases service (log in → Transfer Services for Exceptional Cases → Start Service → enter the worker’s Iqama number), per Musaned’s own guidance. Musaned’s helpline is 920002866. Check with Musaned for any time limit that applies to your case.

If the family wishes to keep the worker, they would need to transfer sponsorship to another family member who is eligible to sponsor domestic workers.

How long does the process take?

The timeline depends on:

• How quickly the death certificate and inheritance inventory are obtained
• Jawazat queue times
• Whether all documents are in order

There is no official published timeline; it varies with court and Jawazat appointment availability.

Related guides

• Iqama & Residency — Complete Guide
• Final Exit Visa — Complete Guide
• Issue Final Exit for Domestic Workers via Absher
• Job Transfer Rules in Saudi Arabia

References

1. CareAljawazat — Domestic worker exit after sponsor death — Twitter (July 2026)
2. Migrant Workers Office Riyadh — FAQ on repatriation of deceased sponsor’s dependents — mworiyadh-govph.com
3. AHYSP Law Firm — Final exit regulations and domestic worker procedures — ahysp.com
4. HRSD — Regulation for Domestic Workers (contract termination, end-of-service, preferential debts) — hrsd.gov.sa
5. Musaned — Transfer of a domestic worker after the employer’s death (Transfer Services for Exceptional Cases) — Ajel

Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. Rules may change. Always verify with the official Jawazat or Civil Affairs office before making decisions.