Renewing a domestic helper’s permit and contract
Every year, started well before expiry, because a change you think is minor can turn the renewal into a fresh application.
The short answer
A domestic helper’s permit runs for one year and must be renewed before it expires. A lapsed permit is an overstay, and the consequence attaches to the helper’s immigration record as well as the employer’s. Some changes cannot be handled as a renewal at all: a change of employer, a change of state, or a break in employment turns the case into a fresh application with a fresh entry process.
When should renewal start?
Start at least two months before expiry. Medical screening, insurance renewal and the bond each have their own lead time, and they run one after another, not all at once. Leaving it to the last few weeks is the most common cause of an accidental overstay we see in this category.
Which changes make it a new application?
| Change | Treatment |
|---|---|
| Same employer, same address, same terms | Straightforward renewal |
| Change of home address within the same state | Renewal, with updated address evidence |
| Change of employer | New application |
| Move between Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia | New application |
| Break in employment | New application |
| Change of nationality of helper | New application |
| Significant change in household income or composition | Renewal, with extra scrutiny |
What is needed for a renewal?
- The helper’s passport, with sufficient remaining validity.
- The current permit.
- A renewed or continuing employment contract.
- Medical screening result.
- Insurance and security bond arrangements for the new term.
- Employer identity and address documents.
- Evidence that SOCSO contributions are current.
Sources
- Immigration Department of Sarawak Jabatan Imigresen Sarawak
- PERKESO (SOCSO) Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial
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