Hiring a domestic helper in Johor Bahru (2026): rules for expats, MM2H and foreign owners

中文 · Bahasa Melayu · Bahasa Indonesia

By Jason Lim, REN 84424 · IQI Realty · Checked on 4 November 2026

This guide is for MM2H participants, expatriate families and foreign owners who live in Johor Bahru and want help at home. The short answer: a live-in foreign helper needs Immigration Department approval tied to your status, your income and the helper’s country. Expatriates use a separate employer-supported route, and under the MM2H guidelines only Platinum participants may bring in a foreign maid. Part-time cleaning is open to almost anyone. Check with Immigration and a licensed agency before you commit.

Who can employ a foreign domestic helper

In Malaysia the employer, not the helper, applies. The Immigration Department (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia, JIM) issues the helper a Temporary Employment Visit Pass, known as PLKS, for one employer at one address. Which route you use depends on your own status:

Your status	Can you employ a live-in foreign helper?	What to check
Malaysian citizen household	Yes, if you meet Immigration’s conditions	Married couple with a child under 15 or sick or infirm parents; minimum household income by source country (table below); not bankrupt or blacklisted; Section 60K approval from the Labour Department.
Expatriate on an Employment Pass	Through Immigration’s separate route for expatriate officers	Filed with your employer company’s authorisation letter and form DP11A. The German-Malaysian chamber’s guide lists Category I and II holders as eligible, Category III not. Confirm with HR.
MM2H Platinum participant	Yes, under the MM2H guidelines	Apply at the MOTAC MM2H Centre in Putrajaya.
MM2H Silver or Gold participant	Not under the current guidelines	Part-time help is the usual answer.
MM2H SEZ/SFZ participant (Forest City in Johor)	Not stated in the pages I checked	Ask before you apply.
Foreign owner on a visit pass	No route for a live-in helper	Use part-time cleaning or a property manager.

Since 1 June 2026, Employment Pass Category I needs a basic salary of at least RM20,000 a month, Category II RM10,000 to RM19,999 and Category III RM5,000 to RM9,999 (MOTAC). The February 2026 government FAQ says the domestic helper requirements did not change with the new bands.

MM2H participants

The MM2H requirements page (updated February 2026) says Platinum participants may bring in foreign maids, and MOTAC’s July 2024 eligibility table lists a maid among Platinum dependants only. MOTAC’s booklet says applications are made over the counter at the MOTAC MM2H Centre in Putrajaya, 8am to 10am on working days, with a 30-working-day client charter. It asks for the helper’s home-country medical report, the principal’s last three months of bank statements and a stamped personal bond; Indonesian helpers go only through employment agencies.

I coordinate with a MOTAC-licensed MM2H agent for the visa side and handle the property side; approval is decided by the authorities. If live-in help may matter later, factor it into your tier. My MM2H property support page, the MM2H FAQ and the MM2H eligibility checker are good places to start.

Source countries, income rules and country-specific rules

Immigration accepts helpers from nine countries. The minimum net household income and the personal bond (a refundable security the employer lodges) depend on the country:

Helper’s country	Minimum net household income	Personal bond
Indonesia	RM7,000	RM250
Philippines	RM5,000	RM750
India	RM5,000	RM750
Sri Lanka	RM5,000	RM750
Thailand	RM3,000	RM250
Cambodia	RM3,000	RM250
Vietnam	RM3,000	RM1,500
Laos	RM3,000	RM1,500

• More than one helper. A second helper needs documented reasons and a monthly income above RM10,000; a third needs more than RM15,000 and special approval from the Director General of Immigration.
• Religion. Muslim employers may employ only Muslim helpers. Non-Muslim employers of a Muslim helper sign a declaration and must allow prayer and fasting, and not assign tasks that conflict with her faith.
• Indonesia. The two countries signed a memorandum of understanding on Indonesian domestic workers on 1 April 2022, built on a “One Channel System” for placement, monitoring and return. Immigration’s page sets a RM1,500 minimum monthly wage, a household of up to six people, roles in housekeeping, cooking, childcare or elderly care, agency recruitment costs of up to RM15,000 and a contract validated by the Indonesian embassy. Applications go only through licensed agencies.
• Philippines. Immigration’s expatriate checklist asks for approval from the Philippine overseas employment authority for Filipino helpers. The Philippines’ long-standing minimum for household workers was US$400 a month; in October 2025 its Migrant Workers Office in Kuala Lumpur announced a move to US$500 under a 2025 circular, with a six-month transition. Check the current figure with the Philippine Embassy before you sign.

The national minimum wage of RM1,700 does not apply to domestic workers: the Minimum Wages Order 2024 excludes them. Pay is set by the contract and, for Indonesian and Filipino helpers, by what their governments require.

Levy, fees and monthly costs

Item	Amount	Source and date
Annual levy	RM410	Human Resources Ministry statement, 17 November 2023
PLKS (temporary employment visit pass)	RM60	Same statement
Processing fee	RM125	Same statement
Visa	RM15	Same statement
Total yearly renewal (Indonesian helper)	RM610	Same statement
FOMEMA medical, female worker	RM217	Fee from 16 December 2023 (The Star, January 2024)
Personal bond	RM250 to RM1,500	Immigration Department, November 2026
Revenue stamps on bond and contract	RM10 each	Immigration Department, November 2026
Minimum wage, Indonesian helper	RM1,500 a month	Immigration Department, November 2026

For an Indonesian helper, that is roughly RM1,550 a month once wages and yearly permit costs are spread out, before food, insurance, a phone line and her flight home. My cost of living guide for Johor Bahru puts this alongside rent, food and school fees.

What the Employment Act says about domestic employees

Since 1 January 2023, the amended Employment Act 1955 covers all employees regardless of salary, and uses the term “domestic employee” for cooks, housekeepers, gardeners and private drivers. The amended First Schedule still switches off several sections for domestic employees, including notice under section 12, work on a rest day and hours of work, public holidays, annual leave and sick leave (sections 60 to 60F), and the maternity protection part. In practice:

• Weekly rest day. Section 59, one whole rest day each week, now applies to domestic employees.
• Notice. Under section 57, unless the contract says otherwise, either side can end the contract with 14 days’ notice or 14 days’ wages in lieu.
• Telling the Labour Department. Section 57A requires the employer to inform the Director General of Labour within 30 days of employing a foreign domestic employee, and section 57B within 30 days of the employment ending. Each failure can mean a fine of up to RM50,000.
• Section 60K. Labour Department approval is needed before employing any foreign worker, applied for through ePPAx.
• Leave and holidays. Put annual leave, public holidays, sick days and hours in the written contract.

Immigration adds its own duties: household work only (not car washing), suitable accommodation, nutritious food and enough rest, wages by the last week of each month with records kept, medical costs during the pass, and no physical abuse. Lawyers quoted by The Sun in September 2023 said keeping a worker’s passport breaches the Passports Act 1966, except for a specific purpose such as pass renewal.

Licensed private employment agencies

Private employment agencies are licensed by the Labour Department of Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) under the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981. Under JTKSM’s licensing guideline of 1 December 2025, only Licence B and Licence C agencies may recruit and place foreign domestic helpers; a Licence A agency may place Malaysians only. Agencies must show their name and licence number on a signboard at every office.

• Ask for the licence number and category, and check it with JTKSM.
• Get every fee in writing, with what happens if the helper is unsuitable or leaves early. Immigration’s replacement rules for Indonesian helpers refer to three months’ service (unsuitable) and six months (absconded).
• Pay the company account against receipts, never a personal account.

Steps and documents

1. Confirm eligibility. Your route (household, expatriate or MM2H), the income rule for the helper’s country and the room you can offer.
2. Section 60K approval. From the Labour Department through ePPAx (household route).
3. Apply to Immigration. At the state immigration office for your address (Johor for JB homes), directly or through a licensed agency. Indonesian and Filipino applications run through the online systems.
4. Visa with Reference (VDR). After approval, pay the levy, visa, processing and pass fees; the helper applies for her visa on MyVISA while still at home.
5. Arrival. You or the agency collect her at an approved entry point. She gets a 30-day pass and must pass a FOMEMA medical at a registered clinic within 30 days.
6. PLKS endorsement. If fit, she receives a 12-month PLKS for your household. Tell the Labour Department within 30 days (section 57A).
7. Renew yearly. Online up to 90 days before expiry, after a fresh FOMEMA medical, with a passport valid for at least 12 months.

Household route documents (Immigration, November 2026): application forms and IM 12; the bond and employment agreement with RM10 revenue stamps; both spouses’ identity cards and proof of income (EPF statements and three months’ payslips, or LHDN statements); marriage certificate; the helper’s passport and home-country medical report; and Section 60K approval. Expatriate route: your company’s authorisation letter, form DP11A, the bond, two stamped contracts, the helper’s passport and medical report.

When the job ends, apply for a Check Out Memo (eCOM) on MyPASS@JIM with a ticket home within 30 days; until then you remain responsible for her.

FOMEMA medical and insurance

• FOMEMA. Within 30 days of arrival and before each renewal; a helper found unfit must be sent home.
• PERKESO (SOCSO). Domestic workers have been covered since 1 June 2021. For foreign workers, PERKESO’s February 2026 flyer lists the Employment Injury Scheme (employer 1.25% of wages) and, since 1 July 2024, the Invalidity Scheme (0.5% employer, 0.5% worker). Check registration for your case with PERKESO.
• Hospital insurance. Foreign workers must hold hospitalisation and surgical insurance (SPIKPA), and the Health Ministry’s state page says the employer pays it for domestic helpers. Immigration also makes the employer responsible for her medical costs during the pass, so ask an insurer what the policy covers.

See my hospitals and healthcare guide, and check details with the hospital or insurer.

Part-time and live-out cleaning: the simpler option

Many expatriates, MM2H participants and part-time owners never sponsor a live-in helper. Common alternatives in JB:

• Cleaning companies and booking apps. Hourly or weekly visits by a registered business that employs the cleaners.
• Freelance part-time cleaners. Check that the person is Malaysian or holds a valid work pass. Employing someone without a valid pass is an offence under section 55B of the Immigration Act, with a fine of RM10,000 to RM50,000 for each worker or up to 12 months’ jail.
• Owners who live abroad. A property manager can arrange cleaning between stays; see my guide to managing JB property from overseas.

In condos, register outside cleaners with management; in guarded landed areas, tell the guardhouse (see my guide to gated and guarded homes in JB).

Choosing a home that works with a helper

• A proper room. Many larger condos and most landed homes have a utility or helper’s room; check for a window and ventilation.
• The address on the pass. The PLKS is tied to your residence. If you move within JB, ask Immigration how to update it.
• Renting first. Renting lets you test layout and commute; see my guide to renting in JB as a foreigner, and for landed versus high-rise, condo vs landed vs SOHO.
• Buying. Foreigners can generally buy Johor homes only from RM1 million, with exceptions such as designated zones (New Straits Times, April 2026).

See also retiring in Johor Bahru and schools and family life in JB.

Where to buy if this matters to you

• Mount Austin: family condos and landed homes with schools, cafes and clinics nearby.
• Iskandar Puteri: larger units and landed homes near EduCity schools and the Second Link.
• Tebrau, Setia Indah and Molek: established landed neighbourhoods with malls and hospitals close by.
• Permas Jaya and Senibong: east-side condos and waterfront homes.
• Forest City: Johor’s SEZ/SFZ MM2H zone; read the SEZ/SFZ MM2H guide first.

Compare them on my JB property map.

More Johor living guides: Cost of living in JB · Retiring in JB · Renting in JB as a foreigner · Indonesian community life in JB

Frequently asked questions

Can expatriates hire a foreign domestic helper in Johor Bahru?

Yes, through the Immigration Department’s separate route for expatriate officers, filed with the employer company’s support. Industry guidance lists Employment Pass Category I and II holders as eligible and Category III as not. The February 2026 government FAQ says helper rules did not change with the new pass salary bands.

Can MM2H participants employ a maid?

Under the official MM2H guidelines (updated February 2026), only Platinum participants may bring in foreign maids. Applications go to the MOTAC MM2H Centre in Putrajaya. Silver and Gold participants usually use part-time cleaning. Check SEZ/SFZ rules before applying.

What income do I need to hire a foreign maid in Malaysia?

Immigration sets a minimum net household income by the helper’s country: RM7,000 for Indonesia, RM5,000 for the Philippines, India and Sri Lanka, and RM3,000 for Thailand, Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos. A second helper needs over RM10,000 a month.

How much is the levy for a domestic helper?

The annual levy is RM410. In November 2023 the Human Resources Ministry put an Indonesian helper’s yearly renewal at RM610: levy RM410, pass RM60, processing RM125 and visa RM15. The FOMEMA medical is extra, RM217 for a female worker since December 2023.

Does a domestic helper get a day off in Malaysia?

Yes. Since 1 January 2023, section 59 of the Employment Act 1955, one whole rest day a week, applies to domestic employees. Annual leave, public holidays and sick leave sections do not, so set them out in the contract.

What is the minimum wage for an Indonesian domestic helper?

RM1,500 a month, according to the Immigration Department’s rules for Indonesian domestic workers. The national RM1,700 minimum wage does not apply to domestic workers. Filipino helpers follow the Philippine government’s minimum, which it began raising from US$400 to US$500 in 2025.

Is part-time cleaning an alternative to a live-in helper?

Yes. Cleaning companies and booking apps send cleaners by the hour or week, with no levy or permit for you. If you hire a freelancer directly, check they are Malaysian or hold a valid work pass; employing someone without one is an offence.

Settling in JB with your family?

Tell me your pass or MM2H tier, your budget, and whether you need a helper’s room or a landed home. I will shortlist homes to rent or buy and explain the property side; for helper permits, check with the Immigration Department and a licensed agency. You can also book an appointment for viewings, or a Zoom consultation if you are still abroad.

Sources: Immigration Department of Malaysia, Pembantu Rumah Asing (foreign domestic helpers), checked 4 November 2026; Immigration Department of Malaysia, foreign domestic helper (English page with income and bond table), checked 4 November 2026; Immigration Department of Malaysia, forms and checklists for expatriate officers’ domestic helpers, checked 4 November 2026; MOHA, Immigration Department and agencies, Revised Expatriate Salary Policy FAQ, 12 February 2026; MOTAC, expatriate categories I, II and III, accessed November 2026; AHK Malaysia (Malaysian-German Chamber of Commerce), work permits, accessed November 2026; MM2H official site, requirements and regulations, last updated 10 February 2026; MOTAC, MM2H eligibility requirements, as at 22 July 2024; MOTAC, MM2H Application Guidelines Booklet, May 2026; The Sun (Bernama), permit renewal cost for Indonesian domestic workers set at RM610, 17 November 2023; The Star, “Fomema hike irks bosses”, 12 January 2024; JTKSM, Employment Act 1955 (Act 265), text as at 1 January 2023; JTKSM, licensing guideline under the Private Employment Agencies Act 1981, 1 December 2025; Cabinet Secretariat of Indonesia, Indonesia–Malaysia MoU on domestic workers, 1 April 2022; SunStar, US$500 minimum wage for Filipino domestic workers in Malaysia, 31 October 2025; PERKESO, domestic workers, accessed November 2026; PERKESO, social security for foreign workers flyer, February 2026; Selangor State Health Department, foreign workers’ health insurance scheme, accessed November 2026; The Sun, “Illegal for employers to retain staff passports”, 22 September 2023; Daily Express, on section 55B of the Immigration Act, 8 July 2026; New Straits Times, “Foreigners hit Johor property resale wall”, 20 April 2026

Jason Lim, REN 84424, IQI Realty Sdn. Bhd. E (1) 1584/6. General information checked on 4 November 2026, not legal or immigration advice. Rules, fees and eligibility change; confirm with the Immigration Department, the Labour Department, a JTKSM-licensed agency and, for MM2H, MOTAC before you commit.