Saudi Arabia’s General Directorate of Passports has enabled employers to issue final exit visas for domestic workers during the probationary period before a residency permit has been issued, provided that specific eligibility conditions are met.

The electronic service is available through the Absher platform and applies to domestic workers who are still within their probation period, which may last up to 90 days under Saudi regulations governing domestic employment relationships.

According to the announced conditions, the worker must not be registered in official systems as deceased or absent from work and must also be physically present inside Saudi Arabia when the final exit visa application is submitted.

The worker must have no unpaid traffic violations recorded against them, while their passport must remain valid for at least 60 days at the time the final exit procedure is processed.

Employers who meet all required conditions can complete the process electronically through Absher without needing to visit a passport office in person, simplifying the procedure during the early stage of the employment relationship.

Saudi Ministry of Human Resources and Social Development regulations allow the employer and domestic worker to agree in writing on a probation period of up to 90 days, during which the employer can assess the worker’s professional competence and personal conduct.

The regulations also allow either party to terminate the domestic employment contract unilaterally during the probation period in accordance with the applicable rules, while a worker generally cannot be placed on probation more than once with the same employer unless the parties agree to a different job.

The final exit option is particularly relevant when an employer decides not to continue the employment relationship during the probation period and the worker has not yet been issued a residency permit.

By providing an electronic route for departure during this stage, the service allows the employer to complete the worker’s exit procedures without first waiting for residency documentation to be issued and later cancelled.

Employers are still advised to ensure that any contractual obligations and financial rights have been settled before departure and to verify passport validity, traffic records and the worker’s official status before submitting the request through Absher.