Indonesian hiring route

Hiring an Indonesian Maid

What it takes to hire an Indonesian domestic helper — eligibility, the official route, and the costs to expect.

Chinese Malaysian couple reviewing one overseas hiring route

The short answer

In Peninsular Malaysia, official guidance sets a monthly salary of at least RM1,500 and a maximum recruitment cost of RM15,000. Immigration also sets a combined employer-and-spouse household income requirement, but the figure has varied between sources, so confirm the current one directly before you apply. Hiring a new foreign worker also needs prior approval under Section 60K. Indonesian applications run through the official SMO-to-SIPERMIT process and must go through a private employment agency holding an active Category B or C licence.

At a glance

Household income: Confirm current figureImmigration publishes a combined employer-and-spouse requirement for the Indonesian route; the figure has varied, so verify the current one before applying.
Salary floor: At least RM1,500/monthUse the current route-specific floor in the written employment terms.
Recruitment cost: Maximum RM15,000Ask for a line-by-line quotation showing what the total contains.
Agency route: Active Category B or C licenceJTKSM states that Indonesian applications use licensed agencies registered for this route.

Complete the employer-side approvals first

Check the household income condition and prepare the employer documents required for the new-hire process. Section 60K prior approval is made through the integrated foreign-worker system before the application moves through the Indonesian domestic-helper pathway.

Use the legal agency name shown in the JTKSM register. The licence, quotation, payment request and application records should identify the same entity.

Compare the written package against the published limits

The employment terms should state the monthly salary, duties, rest arrangements and accommodation. The agency quotation should separate official application items from the agency’s own service work and remain within the published maximum recruitment cost.

Treat processing dates as a dependency plan rather than an arrival promise. Ask which approval, document or system stage is complete and what evidence supports that status. If you are unsure whether your household qualifies, share the basics over WhatsApp to be connected with a licensed Category B or C agency for this route.

Official and primary sources

The rules and figures here follow official Malaysian sources as at the review date, and your own situation can differ. Check what applies to your own case with the Immigration Department of Malaysia for permits and passes, or the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia for agency licensing and employment terms, before you act on it.

Questions this page answers

What household income is required?

Immigration publishes a combined employer-and-spouse income requirement for this route, but the figure has varied between sources, so confirm the current one directly before you apply.

What is the current salary floor?

The Indonesian route states at least RM1,500 a month. Put the agreed amount in the written employment terms.

Can I use any agency?

Use an agency with an active Category B or C private-employment-agency licence and registration for the Indonesian route.

What is the maximum recruitment cost?

Immigration publishes a maximum of RM15,000 for the employer under this route. Request a full written breakdown.

Useful next guides

Indonesian Maid Requirements Malaysia

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DomesticHelper editorial teamReviewed 17 August 2026Sourced from Malaysian government registriesIndependent of the hiring agenciesEditorial standards