Renewing Indonesian Maid's Passport During Pandemic

 A few days ago I had to take leave to make sure my Indonesian maid can renew her passport and the process was relatively smooth and hassle free.

Many weeks before we had to make an appointment online at the Indonesian embassy website. Pretty straightforward, just have to have all details at hand, most important the passport, they also wanted a soft copy of a recent passport sized photo to upload.

Then you have to select a date and time slot, obviously this was many weeks before, so make sure this is done in advance.

Due to pandemic, they restrict the number of people who come at any time and appointment slots are given by the hour.

After confirmation, the embassy sent an email with QR code plus another password-like code. Printed this out and also forwarded the screenshot copy to my maid's phone.

Then on the day itself, was just a few days after the big floods in Selangor and it was raining. So decided to send maid by grab. 

She took with her:
1) Passport

2) Photocopy of employers IC x 2
3) Photocopy of passport x 2

4) Photocopy of visa x 2

5) Insurance

6) RM100 for fee to renew passport

7) Fomema related documents for recent health check

8) Pen

My maid took this picture when everything was done. This is where they instruct to pick up the passport at the post office.

Because of the recent severe floods and the fact it was raining that morning, I also told my maid just to bring some water, food both fresh and dry, a change of clothing and other personal items. Just in case. Because from experience it can take a long time for the passport to get ready plus the unpredictability of water levels and the weather.

Thank God, my maid left home about 8.30-8.45am. It wasn't too hard to get a Grab driver. I told her to ask the Grab driver if he didn't mind picking her up later and if yes, to get his phone number. She did.

My maid arrived at the embassy about 45minutes-1 hour later. 

I told her to call/message when she had arrived.

About one hour or so after that she called again to say that everything was done.

Due to the pandemic, the passport will have to be collected at another date and time instead of prior to pandemic, people used to wait until they get the passport the same day, hence long queues and massive numbers of people.

I am glad that everything went well. Hope this post is useful to others who may need to go through the same.