How to Hire a Maid in Malaysia? FAQs

---

• Philippines
• Indonesia
• Thailand
• Cambodia ( Frozen starting January 2012)
• Sri Lanka
• India 
• Vietnam
• Laos

The maid FDH should:

• Be female not less than 21 years old and not more than 45 years old
• Be confirmed fit by an appointed medical centre
• Reside in the country of origin
• Enter Malaysia via the Visa With Reference (VDR) issued by the Malaysian representative office in the country of origin
• Be Certified PASS for IMMIGRATION SECURITY CLEARANCE (ISC) at the source country.

The Maid FDH who fails the medical examination:

• Is not permitted to work
• The employer needs to obtain the Check Out memo from the Immigration Department of Malaysia and arrange for her immediate repatriation

Maid applications can be submitted:

• By the Employer himself via ‘Sistem Maid Online”
• Through employment agencies registered with the Immigration Department of Malaysia at the Immigration office of the State as per employer’s address.
• Make sure the application form and required documents are complete before submission

The Maid employer and his spouse should have:

• Children under 15 years of age OR
• Parents who are sick / ill.
• The employer must earn an income, and each family is eligible to apply for one (1) FDH

The Maid employer qualifying wages according to the country of origin for (1) FDH (Employer’s Net Income: ENI and Payment (Personal Bond): PPB):

• Indonesia: ENI RM 3,000 PPB RM 250
• The Philippines: ENI RM 5,000.00 PPB RM750
• Sri Lanka: ENI RM 5, 000.00 PPB RM750.00
• Thailand: ENI 3,000.00 PPB RM 250.00
• Cambodia: ENI 3,000.00 PPB RM 250.00
• India: ENI RM5,000.00 PPB RM 750.00
• Laos: ENI RM3,000.00 PPB RM 1500.00
• Vietnam: ENI RM3,000.00 PPB RM 1500.00

The Maid employer qualifying wages for more than (1) FDH:

No. Application Employer’s Net Income

• Domestic Worker no-2 > RM10,000.00
• Domestic Worker no-3 > RM15,000.00
• Domestic Worker no-4 and above Special approval from the Immigration Director

* Maid Employers who have been declared bankrupt are not eligible to apply.

In order to apply for second Foreign Domestic Helper, the employer must:

• Have a valid reason
• Have income under the conditions stipulated by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
• Employers who are Muslims are allowed to hire only Muslim Foreign Domestic Helpers.
• Once the FDH arrives in this country, the employer should:
• Ensure that the FDH undergoes a medical examination at any clinic appointed by Fomema Sdn. Bhd. and
• Obtain the PL (KS) sticker from the State Immigration Department which will be issued within 1 month from the date of arrival.

• Make sure that the Maid FDH is assigned to domestic chores (not including car wash).
• Room amenities / accommodation provided for the Maid FDH are equipped with basic facilities. The Maid FDH should be given nutritious food and proper rest, including sleeping time.
• Non-Muslim employers who employ Muslim Maid FDH must respect the following religious sensitivities of the FDH. She should:
• The Maid should be allowed to conduct worship acts such as praying 5 times
• The Maid should be allowed to observe the Fasting month of Ramadan and
• The Maid should not be asked to do chores around the house that oppose the religion of Islam.
• Ensure that the Maid FDH does not marry in this country while on the PL (KS).
• The Maid FDH is not allowed to apply for an Entry Permit while she has been issued the PL (KS).
• Ensure that the Maid FDH does not change employment or change employers without the permission of the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
• Extension of the PL (KS) should be submitted to the Immigration Office within three (3) months before the expiry of the PL (KS) and after passing the medical
• For the purpose of the continuation of the PL(KS) or applying for the Check Out Memo, the employer is responsible for:
• Keeping payroll and SOSCO records to the Maid FDH and submitting to the Department upon request.
• The Maid FDH should be paid her salary at least in the last week of each month.
• The Maid employer is responsible for the medical treatment of the FDH during the period of the PL (KS)
• The Maid employer is responsible for reporting to the Immigration Department if the Maid FDH:
• The Maid is deceased
• The Maid has gone missing
• The Maid has absconded from her workplace
• The Maid Employers or Maid employment agencies are not allowed to strike or inflict any act that causes injury to the FDH
• If an Maid employer or a spouse dies, the Maid employer or the spouse or beneficiaries should report to the Immigration Department for the purpose of verifying the status
• The Maid employer must obtain approval from the Immigration Department if the Maid FDH wishes to terminate her services, if the Maid employer wishes to terminate the services of the Maid FDH, or to get the Check-out memo from the Department of Deportation if the pass has expired.
• Immigration Department of Malaysia has the right to revoke the issue of approved Maid passes
• Immigration Department of Malaysia has the power to transfer the Maid FDH if she has been persecuted by the original maid employer to a new Maid employer, on humanitarian bases
• Maid Employers who want to take the Maid FDH to work in overseas stations are required to inform the Maid FDH’s country of origin representative in Malaysia.
• Maid Employers who have been given permission to employ Maid FDH, but failed to comply with the conditions stipulated will be blacklisted from getting future Maid FDH.

Maid applications for the approval of foreign domestic helpers can be made at all State Immigration Offices in accordance with the employer’s address.

Documents required for the application of a Visa With Reference (VDR) for Maid Foreign Domestic Helpers:

• The new Maid application form (PRA1)
• Replacement Form for Maid FDH (PRA2)
• Maid Form IM 12. (Application PLKS)
• Maid Form IM 38. (Visa Application)
• Maid personal Bond which has been stamped with a RM10.00 revenue stamp
• Maid employment Agreement for Maid Foreign Domestic Helpers which has been stamped with a RM10.00 revenue stamp (2 sets of originals and copies)
• Copy of Maid Foreign Domestic Helper’s passport
• Maid Medical Report from the country of origin which has been certified by a clinic appointed by the Ministry of Health Malaysia
• Declaration form stating the non-usage of registered agencies for employers who submit applications on their own
• Proof of regular income of both husband and wife:
• The EPF statement and pay slip (last 3 months) OR
• e-BE / IRB statement of receipt and payment slip
• Copy of identity card of both husband and wife
• Supporting documents for the application of Maid FDH (like birth certificates, medical certification of family illness)
• Marriage certificate (for the first time application only)

• The Maid FDH has received the approval letter for Visa With Reference to get a visa at the Malaysian Representative Office in the Maid FDH’s country of origin prior to entry
• After getting the visa, the Maid FDH can enter Malaysia through any permitted entrance. Immigration officers at the gates of entry will provide a Special Pass for 30 days
• The maid employer or maid employment agency should wait at the permitted entrance.
• The Maid employer or Maid employment agency is required to bring the Maid FDH for a medical check up at any clinic which is registered with FOMEMA Pte. Ltd. (within a month).

• The Maid FDH who has passed the medical examination and is certified healthy by FOMEMA Pte. Ltd. will be issued with the Visitor’s Pass Sticker (Temporary)
• Once the Maid FDH has received the Visitor’s Pass Sticker (Temporary Employment), the Maid is allowed to work until the deadline stated on the sticker. PL(KS) concerned.

• Applications for the extension of a Maid foreign worker’s PL(KS) can be made at the Immigration Office of the State or the Foreign Workers Division, Head Office within the state
• Maid Employers must ensure that the Maid worker undergoes a medical examination at any clinic that is registered with FOMEMA Pte. Ltd. and certified healthy before any officer
• All matters pertaining to Maid foreign workers’ extension of service [PL(KS)] in all sectors must be submitted by the employer unless the renewal of the Maid FDH can be renewed
• Incomplete Maid application or Maid application that is not in order will be rejected.
• Incomplete Maid application or Maid application that is not in order will be rejected.

Maid Documents required:

• Copy of Maid Worker’s passport with a validity period of not less than 12 months.
• Adequate payment in the form of bank draft or money order should be made payable to the Director General of Immigration, Malaysia or the Director of ??

Notice: Make sure the Maid FDH has passed the medical examination by FOMEMA Pte. Ltd. for second and third year extension of service only.

The Maid employer may submit an application for a change of or replacement of the Maid FDH that has been approved for Visa With Reference under two circumstances:

a) The Maid worker has entered the country but is not medically fit. In order to apply for a replacement, the Maid employer should submit the required documents:

• Maid Employer’s application letter
• Letter of Approval for Maid Visa With Reference
• Check Out Memo
• The original payment receipt

b) The Maid worker did not enter the country after the approval of the VDR is issued. In order to apply for a replacement, the employer should submit the required documents:

• Maid Employer’s application letter
• Letter of approval for Visa With Reference
• The original payment receipt
• Letter of visa cancellation from the representative office in the Maid employee’s country of origin (if any)

The Maid Check Out Memo is issued to Maid foreign workers/ foreign domestic helpers to facilitate their return to their country of origin.

In order to apply for the Maid Check Out Memo, the Maid employer should submit the required documents thru e-PLKS:

Application form for Maid Check Out Memo

• Copy of Original passport of Maid foreign worker.
• Ticket for the Maid foreign worker to return to the country of origin.

The Maid employer should ensure that the Maid foreign employees returns to their country of origin via the requested exit point on the date stipulated in the Maid Check Out Memo.

If the Maid employer fails to apply for the Maid Check Out Memo, the Maid foreign workers are still considered to be under his employment and the employer is still responsible for the Maid foreign workers.

The Maid employer / reporter must be present at the relevant Immigration Office to submit the following documents so as to cancel the Maid Foreign Worker / Foreign Domestic Helper’s PL (KS).

• Copy of Maid employer’s / representative’s identity card
• Copy passport of Maid foreign worker who has absconded
• Maid Foreign Worker Abandonment Report Form issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia
• Certified copy of Police Report

Foreign Maid Domestic Helpers who have absconded will be blacklisted.

Maid Employers are required to pay bail  RM750 on personal bond based on the rates that have been signed during the application.

Maid Work permit transfer only allowed from the employer  :- 

• Malaysian to Malaysian
• Expat to Malaysian
• Expat to Expat 

FDF only allowed to change Maid employer if they are not suitable with the Maid employer and only in PL(KS) Year 1. 

Application for Maid work permit transfer:-

• Old Maid employer must submit the agreement letter to transfer to Immigration department together with the form from the officer. 
• If the Maid employer and the spouse divorced, from Malaysia Immigration Department side they are allowed to transfer the name to the wife or to the new Maid employer. 
• If the Maid employer or the spouse is dead , the Maid employer or the spouse or the inherit must report to Immigration department

The applications process take about 3 months.

The application process typically takes around 4 months, as JAKIM needs to verify and approve the Filipino domestic helper before they can arrive.

As an employer, you must submit your maid application and required documents to the Malaysian Immigration Department. Adhere to the guidelines of the Malaysian Immigration and the Philippine Overseas Employment Administration (POEA) contract. Ensure the maid is assigned domestic chores (excluding car wash), provided basic accommodation with essential amenities, receives nutritious food and adequate rest, and does not change employment or employers without Malaysian Immigration permission.

We streamline the process by managing tasks such as training, immigration clearance, medical screenings,work permit applications, POEA contracts, security bonds, insurance, travel logistics, and more.

Hiring a second Foreign Domestic Helper requires a combined monthly income of over RM 10,000. For a third helper, the requirement is RM 15,000, while hiring a fourth helper necessitates special approval from the Director General of Immigration.

The monthly Salary for Filipino maid's is set at RM1800 by the Philipines government with one rest day provided each week.

The monthly salary for Indonesia maid's is set at RM1500 by the Indonesia Government with one rest day provided each week.