The Typical Misconception

Many Malaysians have a wrong impression towards hiring Filipino maids in Malaysia, which is the processing time to legally bring a maid into Malaysia. As many Malaysians are not aware of the lengthy process and might expect to get a domestic worker in a couple of days, the reality is that the process of hiring maids from the Philippines would typically take approximately 3 to 4 months. This is because the domestic worker is required to undergo multiple pre-departure and post-arrival steps to fulfil the requirements set by the Malaysian and Philippines government.

The Process

Procedure	Duration
1. Domestic Worker early-stage preparation (Contract Signing, Medical Checkups and Biometric Assessments)	2 weeks
2. Employment Documentation (Eligibility Check, Contract and Visa Documentation Signing)	1 week (Depending on the Employer’s speed)
3. Malaysian Labour Department (JTK) Submission and Approval of Documents	3-4 weeks
4. Calling Visa Submission and Approval for Visa	4 weeks
5. Pre-Departure Preparation	Less than 1 week
6. Arrival Medical Checkup and Handover to Employer	Less than 1 week

Step 1: Domestic Worker Early-Stage Preparation

At a clinic in the Philippines authorised by the Malaysian Ministry of Health, the maid would receive a thorough medical checkup. After being certified as “Fit to Work,” the maid would register using biometrics.

Depending on the worker’s location—very rural, semi-rural, or in an urban area with easy access to clinics—and the results of their medical examination, the timeline may take one to three weeks. Some workers may need to return for additional testing, or they may need to wait out a temporary cold or infection, or they may need to undergo additional testing. Contracts signed in person by maids are couriered to Malaysia.

Step 2: Employer Documentation

To begin the application procedure for a domestic assistant, the employer must gather the personal documentation that the Malaysian government authorities have asked.

Maid agencies in Malaysia conduct a thorough document check to guarantee document completeness based on the hiring profile of the employer, particularly in rare circumstances where the employer might not have the typical supporting documentation. When the compilation of documents is finished, maid agencies would get ready to physically sign the entire visa application bundle on behalf of the employer and apply to the appropriate Malaysian government authorities for the employer’s numerous approvals to engage a Filipino domestic helper.

Step 3: Malaysian Labour Department Approval

Before submitting an application for a domestic helper’s visa with Immigration, any employer who hires a foreign domestic helper in Malaysia must first apply and receive a JTK approval certificate.

The JTK hiring permission will be sent within 14 calendar days if all hiring information and supporting documentation are accurately entered in accordance with the most recent JTK requirements.

Step 4: Visa Submission and Approval

The calling visa application for the employer will subsequently be sent by the respective maid agencies to the appropriate Malaysian Immigration unit. Lead times for calling visa approvals depend greatly on the Immigration unit and may vary seasonally as well. Typically, maid agencies would pay weekly visits to the relevant Immigration units to enquire about and monitor the status of visa approvals.

Step 5: Pre-Departure Preparation

Once all of the documentation has been sorted out and the domestic worker is eligible to enter Malaysia, the Philippines agent would carry out necessary briefings and final preparations for the maid. This process would typically be much faster than the rest.

Step 6: Arrival and Handover to Employer

Finally! Once the Filipino maid has arrived in Malaysia safely, the respective maid agency is required to bring the maid for a final medical checkup in Malaysia (FOMEMA) on behalf of the Ministry of Health. The result of the medical examination will be released within a week. Once everything is cleared, the maid can be handed over to the employer legally!

Why Choose Innovedge As Your Partner?

At Innovedge, we have industry experience for more than 20 years and we are well-informed with the industry changes and challenges. We have successfully brought in more than 10,000 Filipino maids with efficiency and our typical processing time can be faster than you expect. Need a maid urgently? Choose Innovedge today!