Hint: Click on the links for more details.
This summary is to provide basic information about the work permit application and visa process in Malaysia. Please remember that, as with any nation, Malaysia's immigration laws may change without notice.
It must be noted that all professional employment passes and permits are to be applied by and related to a local legal entity such as:
Private Limited Company (Sdn Bhd)
Companies need to have with at least two resident directors and a paid-up capital of at least RM250,000. Depending on the activities of the company and the number of employment passes required, additional requirements might be imposed, such as a minimum Malaysian or Bumiputera equity, specific licenses or additional paid-up capital.
Representative Office
The Representative Office is an office of a foreign company approved to collect relevant information on investment opportunities in the country especially in the manufacturing sector, develop bilateral trade relations, promote the export of Malaysian goods/products and carry out research & development.
Regional Office
The Regional Office is an office of a foreign corporation that serves as the coordination centre for the corporation's affiliates, subsidiaries and agents in S-E Asia and Asia Pacific. The Regional Office established is responsible for designated activities of the corporation within the region it operates. Both Regional and representative office do not require any paid-up capital or shareholding.
Please note that the Malaysian authorities and/or Consulate reserve the right to request additional information and/or documentation. Please note all documents must be in English or a certified English translation. The following list is a brief overview of the different passes that we can help you apply for.
**High Commission & Ambassador in Malaysia (click here to view the list)
Employment Pass (Professional)
This is issued to foreigners who enter the country to take up a contract of employment. Application for an EP must be submitted to the Immigration Office. Any company with a foreign paid-up capital of US$2 million and above will automatically be allowed 5 expatriate posts including key posts. Additional expatriate posts will be given upon request, if necessary. Any company with a foreign paid-up capital of less than US$2 million will be considered for expatriate posts on the following basis:-
- Expatriate posts can be considered where the foreign paid up capital of the potential employer must be at least RM 250,000.00 and salary must be more than or equal to RM3,000.00 and the post applied for a period of 2 years or more. The applicant's salary has to be under the local payroll. However, is to be considered as a guideline only and the number of key posts allowed depends on the merits of each case.
- For executive posts which require professional qualification and practical experience, expatriates may be employed up to a maximum period of 10 years subject to the condition that Malaysians are trained to eventually take over the posts.
- For non executive posts which require technical skills and experience, expatriates may be employed up to a maximum period of 5 years, subject to the condition that Malaysians are trained to eventually take over the posts.
Basic Requirements
Please note that these are subject to change based on the Labor and Immigration authorities of Malaysia. Employment of foreign nationals in Malaysia requires that an Employment Pass or Professional Visit Pass be obtained. The type of application will be determined by:
Depending on the nature of the local company's activities, the applications for Employment Pass or Professional Visit Pass are usually submitted to, and processed by, the Malaysian Immigration Department (MID). However, approval authorities may vary based on the specific industry of the sponsoring company. The duration of the Employment Pass or Professional Visit Pass will vary based on the discretion of the authorities.
Overview of process procedures
An Employment Pass application for Malaysia is submitted to the MID and consists of information and documentation that the employee will provide, together with corporate documentation that will be provided by the sponsoring company in Malaysia. The application process is comprised of 2 stages:
It takes from 2 to 4 weeks and for citizens from certain countries (e.g. India, China etc) the processing time may be longer as there are additional procedures to comply with. For restricted nationalities, the applicant is required to remain outside Malaysia while the application is being processed and is only permitted to enter Malaysia on a Single Entry Visa (Visa With Reference) upon approval of his application. When the Malaysian office informs the employee that his/her proposed position has been approved by the MID and this Stage One of the work permit application is complete.
Upon approval of the position, the process proceeds to this stage dependant upon nationality which involves the Employment Pass application and the application for Dependant Passes for the employee's family members (where applicable). Employee and family members will need to travel to Malaysia.
Registration & recommendation from Monitoring Agencies
Registration and recommendation letter from the related monitoring agencies is required if the company’s activity falls under the purview of these agencies. It is the responsibility of the applicant (company) to get the recommendation letter and submit it together with the application for the post of expatriates. The application for the recommendation letter will be processed by the relevant agencies within one week. The related agencies and sectors are shown below:
-
Malaysian Industrial Development Authority (MIDA) for the manufacturing and its related services sectors.
-
Multimedia Development Corporation (MDeC) for the information technology sector, specifically companies that have been awarded Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Status.
-
Central Bank of Malaysia (BNM) for the financial, insurance and banking sectors.
-
Securities Commission (SC) for the securities and futures market.
-
Malaysian Biotechnology Corporation (BiotechCorp – BC) for the biotechnology industry. BC facilitates immigration and employment related matters to biotechnology companies. Applications supported by BC will be forwarded to the Expatriate Committee for approval.
- Expatriate Committee (EC) for expatriate posts in sectors other than the above mentioned sectors. The Employment Pass Division of the Immigration Department of Malaysia is the secretariat for EC.
a) Ministry of Higher Education
Department of Higher Education,
Private Higher Education Management Sector,
Ground Floor & Level 5, Block 1, Menara PjH,
Precint 2, Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62100 PUTRAJAYA.
b) Ministry of Education
Private Education Division,
School Department,
Level 3, Block E2, Complex E,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62604 PUTRAJAYA.
c) Ministry of Health
- Malaysian Medical Council, Ministry of Health,
Level 2, Block E1, Parcel E,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62950 PUTRAJAYA.
- Nursing Board Malaysia, Ministry of Health,
Level 3, Block E1, Parcel E, Precint 1,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62950 PUTRAJAYA.
- Traditional and Complementary Medicine Division,
Ministry of Health,
Block E, Level 1&2, Jalan Cenderasari,
50590 KUALA LUMPUR.
d) Football Association of Malaysia (FAM)
FAM Building, Jalan SS5A/9, Kelana Jaya,
47301 Petaling Jaya, SELANGOR.
e) National Sports Council of Malaysia (MSN)
National Sports Complex,
Bukit Jalil, Seri Petaling,
57000 KUALA LUMPUR.
f) Department of Civil Aviation of Malaysia (DCA)
Level 1-4, Block Podium,
Lot 4G4, Precint 4,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan,
62604 PUTRAJAYA.
g) Ministry of Tourism Malaysia
Level 6, 21-23, 32-36, Menara Dato Onn,
Pusat Perdagangan Dunia Putra (PWTC),
45, Jalan Tun Ismail,
50695 KUALA LUMPUR.
h) Construction Industry Development (CIDB)
Tingkat 7, Grand Seasons Avenue,
72, Jalan Pahang,
53000 KUALA LUMPUR.
i) Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs
Level 4, Lot 2G3, Percint 2,
Pusat Pentadbiran Kerajaan Persekutuan
62623 Putrajaya.
Documents required
Malaysian Corporate Documents
-
Employment agreement
-
Application and local company's ROC documents
-
Salary and total benefits in kind information
-
Documentation describing the position of the applicant
-
Documentation supporting the company's financial position
Expatriate Documents
-
Application forms
-
2 passport-size photographs
-
Copies passport – all pages
-
Resume educational background, qualifications and past experiences (copies educational qualification - original documents to be presented upon arrival)
In general, a foreign national (the employee) assigned to work in another country must evidence a degree of proprietary knowledge, specialized skills, or managerial/executive-level skills that are not readily available in the destination country's domestic labor market.
Spouse Program (Foreigner married to Malaysian)
This is issued to foreign spouses married with a Malaysian Citizen for duration between 6 months and 2 years. The Spouse Program was introduced on 13th February 1996 to provide an Employment Pass for Foreign Spouses of Malaysian Nationals:
Guidelines
Offer Letter from a Malaysian company with a minimum paid-up capital of RM150,000.00. When submitting your application, you and your spouse must together be present at the MID. The MID does not judge your skills, position to be taken in the company or salary to be drawn. If you change company you just need to inform the MID about the new company. A release letter will facilitate your new application. You will not get any gold card as under a normal Employment Pass. The duration of the employment pass under the spouse program is up to the Immigration department but is normally granted for duration of one year renewable. Your Pass is automatically revoked if a divorce occurs.
Overview of process procedures
Spouse Pass application is submitted to the MID and consists of information and documentation that you provide, together with corporate documentation that are provided by your sponsoring company in Malaysia. There is only one stage which involves DP11 only to the application as it takes from 3 to 6 weeks before endorsement.
Documents required
Malaysian Corporate Documents
-
Employment agreement
-
Application and local company's ROC documentation
-
Salary and total benefits in kind information
-
Documentation describing the position of the applicant
-
Documentation supporting the company's financial position
Spouse Documents
-
Copies passport – all pages
-
2 passport-size photographs (Husband and Wife)
-
Original civil marriage certificate (translated in English)
-
Original Birth Certificate (If any)
-
Copy of Husband's or Wife's Passport and Identity Card
-
Resume educational background, qualifications and past experiences (copies educational qualification - original documents to be presented upon arrival)
Applicants should remember to bring along to Malaysia original degree/diploma certificates, marriage certificate and birth certificates for your accompanying children (if applicable).
Please note that document requirements, procedures, and processing times may vary significantly across Consulates in different locations. Accordingly, it is best to check with the specific Consulate about documentation requirements for your visa type.
Dependant Pass
This is issued to spouses and children of foreigners who have been issued with an employment pass.
Overview of process procedures
The Dependant Pass could be applied for together with the application for an employment pass or after the employment pass is approved and its maximum duration is in relation with the duration of the employment pass which generally 2 years. Should your family members come in a later date a separate application for Dependant Pass can be submitted to the MID.
Spouse with a dependant pass cannot work in Malaysia. However, if your spouse wishes to work in Malaysia, then the dependent pass has to be cancelled and an application made for the relevant work permit.
Documents required
Expatriate Documents
-
2 passport-size photographs
-
Copies passport – all pages
-
Copy of MRC Card
-
Copy of Local Sponsor’s Identity Card
Spouse Documents
-
Copies passport – all pages (Separate for wife/husband and children)
-
2 passport-size photographs (Separate for wife/husband and children). Please write correct name on reverse of each photo.
-
Original civil marriage certificate (translated in English)
-
Original Birth Certificate (If any)
Applicants should remember to bring along to Malaysia original degree/diploma certificates, marriage certificate and birth certificates for your accompanying children (if applicable).
Student Pass & Training Pass
Student Pass – Issued to foreigners who enroll as students in any approved educational institution in Malaysia.
Training Pass – Issued to foreigners who enter Malaysia to take up a training period with a local company not exceeding 12 months.
Overview of process procedures
Your Training Pass or Student Pass application is submitted to the MID and consists of information and documentation that you provide, together with corporate documentation that are provided by the sponsoring company in Malaysia. It takes from 3 to 6 weeks before endorsement.
Documents required
Educational Institution (for student pass)
-
Offer letter from Educational Institution in Malaysia
-
2 passport-size photographs
-
Copies passport – all pages
Malaysian Corporate Documents
-
Immigration Forms
-
Company Cover Letter
-
Detailed Job training scheduled
-
Invitation Letter (letter from the local company to educational institution overseas inviting the applicant for training)
-
Acceptance Letter (from the educational institution to the local company)
Trainee Documents
-
2 passport-size photographs
-
Copies of relevant pages of your passport
-
Supporting Documents from University or College
Visa Extension
There are 3 types of visas that are issued to persons who require visas to enter Malaysia:
-
Transit visa is granted to person who intends to stop over in Malaysia on short stay enroute to a destination beyond Malaysia.
-
Single Entry visa is the normal visa that is granted. The period of validity of a single entry visa is normally 3 months (i.e. the visa should be utilized within 3 months of date of issue).
-
Multiple Entry visa allows the holder to make any number of journeys to Malaysia within a period approved for Employment Pass or Professional Visit Pass (provided the holder’s passport is valid for a longer period). These types of visas are granted to persons who have been granted a long stay in Malaysia on a pass such as Employment Pass, Dependent’s Pass, Visit Pass (Professional) and such like who require visa for entry into Malaysia. The holder of such a visa can leave Malaysia and re-enter Malaysia for any number of times within the validity of the visa. Those who are not in possession of a pass for a long stay but require such a visa for bona fide reasons, for example investment interests in Malaysia which requires them to make frequent visits to Malaysia for short visits, may be granted such visas.
Other relevant passes
-
Visit Pass (Social) is issued for the purpose of Social Visit or Tourism. However, this Pass is also issued to the members of the family of a Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) or Visit Pass (Professional) holder.
-
Visit Pass (Business) is issued for visits to Malaysia for business purposes such as conducting business negotiations or inspection of business houses. This Pass cannot be used for the purpose of employment or for supervising installation of new machinery or construction of factories. At the point of entry, visitors on business purpose as detailed below are given Visit Pass (Business) on oral application. Should they intend to stay in Malaysia beyond the period given at the point of entry, they can apply to the nearest Immigration office in Malaysia for extension of stay. The relevant application form for applying for extension is Imm. 55 (A general purpose application form for applying for extension of any type of Pass). The following categories of visitors qualify for this type of Pass:
-
Members of the Board of Directors of companies in Malaysia entering for purpose of attending company meetings, inspection of accounts or factory premises or for signing documents pertaining to his company ;
-
Potential investors entering for the purpose of conducting feasibility study or to undertake project reports with a view for investment in Malaysia ;
-
Representative of a foreign company entering for the purpose of introducing products of the company he represents to Malaysia (but not selling or distributing products) ;
-
Foreign participants entering to attend business seminars ;
-
Foreign owners of properties in Malaysia such as land, plantations or building who enter the country for purpose of selling, mortgaging or developing their properties.
Basic Requirements
The following requirements for a Visa are subject to change or modification:
-
Must have a residence and an employer outside of Malaysia and must be traveling to Malaysia for a defined period, not to exceed the authorized period;
-
May not receive compensation from sources within Malaysia ;
-
Must have proof of adequate funds to defray expenses while on the business visit;
-
Must have specific, realistic and pre-determined plans for his/her stay in Malaysia;
-
The period of stay must be consistent with the intended purpose of the trip.
Overview of process procedures
The Visa application process takes from 3 – 5 business days to complete. Please note that the Business Visa validity period is dependent upon the applicant's nationality, the normal validity of most Business Visas is from 30 – 90 days. A Business Visitor Visa may be extended in Malaysia. The extension may be obtained from the MID, prior to the expiration of the initial visa. An extension is discretionary and valid business reasons must be shown in order to extend a stay.
Documents required
-
Valid passport
-
Completed application form
-
2 passport size photographs
-
Travel itinerary
-
Letter from employer stating the purpose and length of trip as well as the financial responsibility during the business trip in Malaysia
-
Proof of legal residence in the country where the application is being submitted
Please note that the Malaysian Consulate and/or authorities reserve the right to request additional information and/or documents.
Pass Renewal / Pass Cancellation
Pass Renewal – Work Permit Renewal if the worker's Work Permit is going to expire.
Pass Cancellation – Work Permit Cancellation if:
- Cancellation of Passes ;
- The Work Permit has expired / has been revoked ;
- The employer chooses worker going for Home ;
- Checking status of applications ;
- Transfer of companies/change in company's name ;
- Issue of Special Passes etc.
Overview of process procedures
Pass Renewal
Employment Pass renewal applications should be submitted to the MID at least two months before the pass expires. You should provide the Employment Pass Renewal Form together with other documents. It will take at least three weeks to process a manual application. Processing time may take longer during peak periods or when additional information is required from MID. The application's outcome will be sent to the employer.
Pass Cancellation
You should cancel the work permit upon termination of the employment (including resignation) or on/before the work permit expires if you do not want to renew the work permit. If you wish to cancel the work permit, your employer has to submit a work permit cancellation. The employer has to ensure that all issues arising from the employment, including outstanding wages have been settled with the worker before the work permit cancellation, failing which, the employer's future work permit applications be rejected.
Documents required
Pass Renewal
-
Malaysian Corporate Documents
-
Authorized Letter from Employer
-
Application and local company's ROC documents
-
Documentation supporting the company's financial position
-
Expatriate Documents
Pass Cancellation
Pass Transfer
Transfer of pass endorsement from old to new passport/travel documents.
Documents required
-
Original approval letter from MID
-
Copies old & new passport – all pages including the endorsement page
-
Copy of Local Sponsor’s Identity Card
Pass Endorsement
This service is including addition or deletion or endorsement in an existing passport such as endorsement of any pass, change of name, change of profession, change of marital status, change of religion or etc.
Documents required
-
Original approval letter from MID
-
Copies old & new passport – all pages including the endorsement page
-
Copy of Local Sponsor’s Identity Card
WRT Approval from Ministry of Domestic Trade
The Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs was established to simplify and expedite the process of approval of expatriate posts in wholesale and retail sectors and restaurants with foreign equity. A recommendation letter from the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs is required which was known as Wholesale and Retail Trade (WRT) License approval.
Overview of process procedures
The application for the recommendation letter will be processed within one week. The decision to approve the expatriate post will be based on the following criteria:
-
Minimum Paid-up Capital (No. Equity Minimum Paid-up Capital):
-
100% Local (Malaysian) owned RM 150,000.00
-
Local + Foreign owned RM 200,000.00
-
100% Foreign owned RM 250,000.00
-
Other Criteria
-
The appropriateness of the scope of the job in relation to the company’s activity.
-
Minimum monthly salary to identify whether the applicant is an expatriate or a foreign worker.
-
Age and working experience of expatriate, i.e., the applicant is of an age suitable for the job and has the working experience.
-
The status of applications will be informed via letter.
Documents required
-
WRT Form
-
Company profile
-
Memorandum and Association (M&A)
-
Latest print-out from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM), forms 9, 24 and 49.
-
Latest 2 years of Audited Financial Statement
-
Bank statement (for new company)
-
Others, i.e., joint agreement, tenancy agreement, sale purchase agreement, bill of lading, certificate of origin etc.
Permanent Resident
This is a permit issued to foreigners who are not citizen of Malaysia entering to reside in this country. Those who have been issued with EP are exempted from applying for any type of Pass either for employment or other purpose. The conditions are as follows:-
-
Wife of Malaysian Citizen residing in this country on long stay Social Visit Pass/Temporary Employment Pass/Employment Pass on a year-to-year renewable basis CONTINOUSLY for 5 years or more.
-
Children of Malaysian Citizen below 6 years old.
-
Spouse and children of Malaysian Citizen who possess expertise/skills and overseas working experience, planning to return and work in Malaysia (under the programme to encourage Malaysian Citizens with expertise residing overseas to return to Malaysia).
Overview of process procedures
-
Application can be made using an IM.4 Pin 1/93 Form with a local sponsor by husband of applicant (for wife of Malaysian citizen).
-
Application can be made using an IM.4 Pin 1/93 Form sponsor by father/mother/close relative of applicant who is Malaysian Citizen/Permanent Resident of Malaysia (for children of Malaysian citizen).
-
Approval of this application will be given within 6 months from the date submission to the MID (for spouse and children of Malaysian citizen).
Certificate of Identity is a travel document issued to Permanent Resident of Malaysia who is stateless.
Documents required
-
IM.4 Pin 1/93 Form
-
3 passport-size photographs (applicant & sponsor)
-
2 passport-size photographs (spouse & children, if ay)
-
Copies passport – all pages ((Separate for wife/husband and children)
-
Copy of Local Sponsor’s Identity Card & Birth Certificate
-
Marriage/Family Photo
-
Original & Copy of Marriage Certificate duly certified by Malaysian Registrar of Marriage
-
Copy of Insurance Policy
- Copy of Proof of Ownership
|
