How to hire a maid, nanny, or driver in Qatar
Answer three quick questions and we'll show you the right hiring path for your situation — including costs, timelines, and the official next step.
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Hiring a maid, nanny or driver in Qatar — what families actually need to know
Hiring help at home in Qatar is more regulated than most families realise, and that is largely a good thing. Law No. 15 of 2017 exists to protect the family and the worker, and following it is much cheaper than the alternatives. Without a written, Ministry-approved contract, neither side has real legal protection if a dispute arises. This guide walks you through what each option actually is, who it suits, and what it really costs in 2026.
In Qatar, there is no public self-service platform like Saudi Arabia's Musaned. Nearly all overseas recruitment of domestic workers runs through recruitment offices licensed by the Ministry of Labour — even when you already know the person you want to bring, the request is processed as a named candidate through a licensed office. Direct family sponsorship is generally limited to relatives and dependants. The third path is hiring someone already in Qatar: with the worker's consent, a new Ministry-approved contract, and the Ministry's approval, an employer change is possible with no overseas recruitment at all.
Who regulates what
In Qatar, the Ministry of Labour (formerly MADLSA) regulates domestic work and licenses recruitment offices, while the Ministry of Interior issues the entry visa and residence permit — most families track those steps through the Metrash2 app. Law No. 15 of 2017 sets the floor: a written contract, a maximum of 10 working hours a day including rest, one full weekly rest day, three weeks of paid annual leave after a year of service, accommodation, food and medical care provided by the family, and an end-of-service gratuity of roughly three weeks' wage per year of service. Salaries are paid monthly in Qatari riyals — bank transfer under the Wage Protection System is the expected channel — and complaints go to the Ministry's helpline 16008. The worker must be between 18 and 60, and confiscating their passport is illegal.
What it costs to hire a maid in Qatar — by route
Ranges below are typical 2026 market figures for families hiring through Ministry of Labour-licensed offices — practice estimates, not official government caps. Sending-country wage floors sit on top of Qatari law (for example, the Philippine government sets a QAR 1,460 monthly minimum for Filipino domestic workers) — confirm current figures with your agency or the Ministry of Labour before signing a contract.
Recruit through a licensed agency
The standard Qatar path — a Ministry of Labour-licensed office recruits from abroad and handles visa, medical and contract.
5,500 – 11,5001,000 – 1,800Bring in someone you already know
You've identified the person abroad — a licensed office processes them by name, since the matching step is already done.
5,500 – 11,5001,000 – 1,800Hire someone already in Qatar (employer change)
The fastest legal path — when the worker is in-country, agrees to move, and the Ministry approves the change.
500 – 2,5001,000 – 1,800| Route | One-time setup | Monthly | Timeline | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Recruit through a licensed agency | 5,500 – 11,500 | 1,000 – 1,800 worker salary | 4–12 weeks | The standard Qatar path — a Ministry of Labour-licensed office recruits from abroad and handles visa, medical and contract. |
Bring in someone you already know | 5,500 – 11,500 | 1,000 – 1,800 worker salary | 4–8 weeks | You've identified the person abroad — a licensed office processes them by name, since the matching step is already done. |
Hire someone already in Qatar (employer change) | 500 – 2,500 | 1,000 – 1,800 worker salary | 1–4 weeks | The fastest legal path — when the worker is in-country, agrees to move, and the Ministry approves the change. |
Common mistakes families in Qatar make
Most of these are easy to avoid once you know to look for them. None of these are theoretical — we see them in the questions families bring to us.
Hiring without a written, Ministry-approved contract
Law No. 15 of 2017 makes a written contract mandatory for domestic workers in Qatar. A verbal arrangement — or a side paper never approved through the Ministry of Labour — leaves both you and the worker without legal protection if a dispute arises. Licensed agencies use Ministry-approved contract templates as standard.
Holding the passport
Confiscating a domestic worker's passport is illegal in Qatar, regardless of any agreement signed by the worker. They retain it; you may keep a copy for your records only.
Paying salary in cash without a record
Salaries must be paid monthly in Qatari riyals and on time, and bank transfer under the Wage Protection System is the expected channel. Cash with no paper trail makes it hard to prove payment if there is a dispute — and unpaid or late salaries can be reported to the Ministry of Labour on 16008.
Missing the residence-permit window after arrival
After the worker lands, the family completes the medical tests and applies for the residence permit — commonly within around 30 days, as standard practice. Letting this slip risks fines and leaves the worker undocumented. Put the date in your calendar the day they arrive.
Treating agency quotes as government-capped prices
Qatar does not publish a fee ceiling for household recruitment packages, so agency quotes are market prices, not regulated caps. Get itemised quotes from two or three Ministry of Labour-licensed offices, compare them line by line, and make sure the contract matches the invoice.
Skipping health insurance
Under Law No. 15 of 2017, the family is responsible for the worker's medical care, and health insurance is the practical way to cover it. Confirm whether your agency package includes it; if not, arrange cover before work starts — treatment costs fall on you either way.
Frequently asked questions
Quick answers to the questions families in Qatar ask most often.
Glossary — terms you'll see along the way
Useful next steps
Once you know your hiring path, these tools can help you plan the budget in detail.