How long does processing an Indonesian domestic helper visa take?
How should I choose an employment agency?Visa processing timelines are dependent on multiple factors, which is why changes to these timelines are to be expected. Even so, you should be wary of domestic helper agencies promising unusually fast processing timelines. Agencies have little control over the processing timeline.
We provide below some processing timeline estimates in order for you to know what to expect when hiring a Filipino domestic helper. This will also help you avoid getting tricked by overly optimistic agencies.
*If you are hiring a domestic helper from the Philippines you can read this article on Filipino helper processing timelines instead, as these are different.
Local processing timeline for Indonesian domestic helpers
Local processing applies to domestic helpers with a finished 2-year contract, or ‘special case’ workers where the previous contract was ended due to either employer relocation, passing, or financial difficulties. These domestic helpers can process a new employment visa locally without having to leave Hong Kong. Below, we provide an estimated processing timeline for Indonesian domestic helpers processing locally.
| Estimated Processing Timeline for Indonesian Domestic Helpers: Local |
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| Processing can only start when the contract is signed by both the helper and the employer, and all necessary documents have been received and checked by the agency. |
| 1) Contract Signing The contract is signed by both the helper and the employer after all the necessary documents have been received and checked by the agency. Once the contract is signed, our team will help finalise the necessary documents and submit the application on behalf of the employer and the helper. Helpers will only need to attend an in-person appointment at the Hong Kong Immigration Department on the visa release date. |
| 2) Medical Exam (3-4 working days) The helper undergoes a medical examination which may take 1-2 visits to the clinic. The medical report is forwarded to our agency office in around 2 working days. The employer should review the medical report of the helper before the visa release date. |
| 3) Contract Notarisation at the Indonesian Consulate (4-5 working days) The contract together with the medical report are submitted for notarisation to the Indonesian Consulate. Upon release, the notarised contract is picked-up by our team. After it has been released the helper will be provided with an original copy of the notarised contract from our team and the employer will receive their original copy by courier. |
| 4) Submission to Hong Kong Immigration Department The earliest we can submit the application to Immigration is 4 weeks before the contract end date. Please note that Immigration requires the helper to finish one contract before starting a new one. Legally, helpers cannot start working for the new employer until the new working visa is approved. |
| 5) Visa Release (4-6 weeks after submission or depending on the helper’s contract end date) The helper needs to collect the visa in-person from the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The visa release date is the contract commencement date. This means that, once the visa has been collected, the helper can start working with the new employer on the same day. If the helper is issued an entry visa only, the contract commencement date will be the date the helper arrives back to Hong Kong from their home leave. |
| TOTAL PROCESSING TIME: Around 6-8 weeks |
Overseas processing timeline for Indonesian (non-first time) domestic helpers
Overseas processing is for domestic helpers who are currently in their home country, or domestic helpers with broken or terminated contracts in Hong Kong who are required to return home to process a new employment contract. Below is an estimated processing timeline for Indonesian (non-first time) domestic helpers processing overseas.
| Estimated Processing Timeline for Indonesian Domestic Helpers: Overseas (non-first-time) |
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| 1) Complete Indonesian Government Requirements (Experienced Workers: Around 2-3 months, depending on training duration and completion of documents) The following steps will not necessarily happen in this order, though some steps are a prerequisite for others. Our team will work to move each piece of the process forward in the most efficient way possible and update both the employer and the helper at different key stages.
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| 2) Signing Of Employment Contract (1-2 weeks) After all necessary documents have been received and checked by the agency, our team will arrange the contract signing with the legal employer. |
| 3) Contract Notarisation And Visa Processing In Hong Kong (Around 1.5-2 months) The agency will submit the employment contract for notarisation by the Indonesian Consulate. Once the contract is notarised, our team will submit the visa application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The employer and helper will receive the original copies of the notarised contract by courier after it has been released. |
| 4) Pre-Deployment Procedures (Around 2-3 weeks) After the visa is approved, our partner agency in Indonesia will arrange the necessary pre-deployment seminars and clearance requirements for the helper. In the meantime, our team in Hong Kong will be in touch with the employer in order to plan the post-arrival arrangement. |
| TOTAL PROCESSING TIME: Around 5-6 months (Subject to the helper’s fulfilment of the Indonesian procedure) |
Processing timeline for Indonesian first-time domestic helpers to Hong Kong
First-time domestic helpers from Indonesia are required to undergo a specific pre-migration training in order for them to be able to migrate to Hong Kong for work.
The requirement for mandatory domestic helper training means that the expected processing timeline will be different for first-time helpers. Below is an estimated processing timeline for Indonesian first-time domestic helpers to Hong Kong.
| Estimated Processing Timeline for Indonesian Domestic Helpers: Overseas (First-time) |
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| 1) Complete Indonesian Government Requirements (First Timers: Around 3-4 months, depending on training duration and completion of documents) The following steps will not necessarily happen in this order, though some steps are a prerequisite for others. Our team will work to move each piece of the process forward in the most efficient way possible and update both the employer and the helper at different key stages.
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| 2) Signing Of Employment Contract (1-2 weeks) After all necessary documents have been received and checked by the agency, our team will arrange the contract signing with the legal employer. |
| 3) Contract Notarisation And Visa Processing In Hong Kong (Around 1.5-2 months) The agency will submit the employment contract for notarisation by the Indonesian Consulate. Once the contract is notarised, our team will submit the visa application to the Hong Kong Immigration Department. The employer and helper will receive the original copies of the notarised contract by courier after it has been released. |
| 4) Pre-Deployment Procedures (Around 2-3 weeks) After the visa is approved, our partner agency in Indonesia will arrange the necessary pre-deployment seminars and clearance requirements for the helper. In the meantime, our team in Hong Kong will be in touch with the employer in order to plan the post-arrival arrangement. |
| TOTAL PROCESSING TIME: Around 6-8 months (Subject to the helper’s fulfilment of the Indonesian procedure) |
Other Questions
What challenges do domestic helpers face when processing in their home country?
Many domestic helpers may not live near the agency office in their home country and may need to travel back and forth for appointments. They may also have to find boarding/accommodation while waiting for processing/to fly out.
Because of this, domestic helpers may at times face difficulties in covering the costs needed to complete the processing steps. This may create delays in the estimated timeline. Employers may consider remitting the money in advance to their domestic helper to ensure they can pay for the items needed.
Can domestic helpers with broken or terminated contracts process in Hong Kong without returning home?
Domestic helpers with broken or terminated contracts are not allowed to process locally. Instead they will need to return to their country of origin in order to process the new employment visa.
While the option of processing locally was given by the Hong Kong Immigration Department during the Covid-19 pandemic, this is no longer possible. Be wary of domestic helper agencies offering you this option as the visa application will be rejected by the Hong Kong Immigration Department. This will waste the time and money of both the employer and the helper. In addition to this, the domestic helper will get a ‘rejected visa’ record in their application history with the Immigration Department, which may impact their future applications negatively.
Read more here.
Last updated on July 6th, 2023
