Malaysia (MY)

Multicultural, English-friendly Malaysia offers affordable living, world-class street food, tropical lifestyle, and a well-developed expat infrastructure in Kuala Lumpur and Penang.

Capital: Kuala Lumpur

Region: Asia

Language: Malay

Currency: MYR (RM)

Cost of living: Very affordable (index 40)

Emergency: 999

Visa & Immigration

Entry and residence options for Malaysia.

Visa-Free Access

Malaysia offers visa-free entry to nationals of most countries for tourism and short visits. EU/EEA countries, UK, USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea, and most ASEAN nations can enter visa-free for 30–90 days depending on nationality. UK, USA, Canada, Australia, and Western European nations typically receive 90-day visa-free entry. Check the Malaysian Immigration Department (imi.gov.my) for the current list as this changes periodically. Some nationalities require a visa on arrival (RM150 fee) or a prior visa from a Malaysian Embassy.

All Employment Pass applications are submitted by the employer through the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) portal at esd.imi.gov.my — individual applicants cannot submit directly. The ESD portal replaced the paper-based process in 2017. Most EP applications take 1–4 weeks for pre-approved employers; 4–8 weeks for new employers. After immigration approval, you receive a visa sticker in your passport (valid for 6 months to enter Malaysia) and collect the actual EP at an immigration counter or IRIS (Immigration Reporting and Information System) centre on arrival. An EP is NOT a permanent residence permit — it must be renewed and is tied to your employer. Changing employer requires a new EP application with immigration endorsement. The "Local Competency Assessment" requirement was abolished in 2023 — employers no longer need to prove they tried to hire locally before getting EP approval, but the Labour Market Test may still apply in some sectors. Malaysia does not currently offer a route from Employment Pass directly to PR in the same way as Singapore.

Employment Pass (EP) — Category I

Pas Pekerjaan Kategori I

RM2,400 government levy for 5-year pass. Immigration fees: RM150–600 depending on nationality. Agent/professional fees: RM1,500–5,000 if using an immigration consultant.

Duration: Up to 5 years (renewable)

Eligibility

Foreign professionals earning RM20,000/month or above (raised from RM10,000/month effective 1 June 2026 per Ministry of Home Affairs announcement — esd.imi.gov.my verified). Employer must be a Malaysian-registered company applying on the employee's behalf via the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) portal.

Processing time

1–4 weeks online via ESD portal for registered employers

Requirements

✓Offer letter or employment contract showing RM20,000+/month salary (effective 1 June 2026)
✓Employer's SSM registration and tax compliance documents
✓Applicant's passport (valid 18+ months)
✓Degree certificate verified by MQA (Malaysian Qualifications Agency)
✓Medical screening at JTIM-approved clinic
✓Passport photo
✓Employer's company profile and financial statements

💡 Category I is the most flexible pass — dependents (spouse and unmarried children under 18) can receive Dependent Passes (DP) and the spouse may be endorsed to work. Category I holders qualify for the Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) after 3 years of EP service in targeted sectors.

Employment Pass (EP) — Category II

Pas Pekerjaan Kategori II

RM960 government levy for 2-year pass

Duration: Up to 2 years (renewable)

Eligibility

Foreign professionals earning RM5,000–RM9,999/month. Same employer sponsorship requirement as Category I.

Processing time

1–4 weeks via ESD portal

Requirements

✓Employment contract showing RM5,000–RM9,999/month
✓MQA-verified degree or relevant professional qualifications
✓Employer's SSM and company documents
✓Medical screening
✓Passport valid 18+ months

💡 Spouse may be endorsed to work subject to separate application. Children receive Dependent Passes. Category II is the most common pass type for professionals in KL.

Employment Pass (EP) — Category III

Pas Pekerjaan Kategori III

RM480 government levy per year

Duration: Up to 1 year (renewable up to 5 years total)

Eligibility

Foreign workers in supervisory, technical, or skilled roles earning RM3,000–RM4,999/month. Specific skills must be in shortage in Malaysia — employer must justify the hire.

Processing time

2–6 weeks (more scrutiny than Category I and II)

Requirements

✓Employment contract showing RM3,000–RM4,999/month
✓Specific skill justification from employer
✓Relevant qualifications or experience certificates
✓Medical screening

💡 Category III passes are subject to stricter review and sector-specific quota controls. Quota levy also applies in some sectors. Dependents can receive Dependent Passes but spouse cannot be endorsed to work.

Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T)

Pas Pemastautin Berbakat

RM1,200 government fee + RM200 for each dependent

Duration: 10 years (renewable)

Eligibility

Highly skilled professionals who have held an Employment Pass for at least 3 years, earn minimum RM15,000/month, and work in TalentCorp target sectors (financial services, oil and gas, electrical/electronics, ICT, shared services, education, agriculture).

Processing time

4–8 weeks via TalentCorp at talentcorp.com.my

Requirements

✓3+ years of valid EP experience in Malaysia
✓Current employer's endorsement
✓Minimum salary RM15,000/month
✓Work in a TalentCorp-designated sector
✓Clean immigration record
✓Degree certificate
✓Tax compliance record

💡 RP-T is the most valuable long-term pass in Malaysia — allows holder and spouse to work for any employer without further immigration endorsement. Essentially provides near-PR rights without the full PR process. Holder and dependents may travel to Malaysia freely during the 10-year validity.

Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)

Application fee: RM1,000 (Silver), RM3,000 (Gold), RM200,000 (Platinum) per applicant

Duration: 5–20 years depending on tier (renewable)

Eligibility

Foreign nationals of any age who meet the financial threshold requirements. The programme was overhauled by MOTAC in August 2024 into a tiered structure (Silver, Gold, Platinum), replacing the stricter single-tier 2023 rules; the tiered structure remains in force in 2026.

Processing time

3–6 months from complete application submission

Requirements

✓Fixed deposit: Silver — USD150,000; Gold — USD500,000; Platinum — USD1,000,000 (or equivalent)
✓Property purchase: Silver — RM600,000+; Gold — RM1,000,000+; Platinum — RM2,000,000+ (where the property route is used)
✓Medical insurance from a Malaysia-based insurer
✓Clean criminal record from home country
✓Medical examination at approved clinic
✓Processing through an approved MM2H agent (list at mm2h.imi.gov.my)

💡 The August 2024 MOTAC reform replaced the 2023 single-tier rules with Silver/Gold/Platinum tiers (plus a Special Economic Zone tier in some materials), each with different deposit, property, and minimum-stay requirements. Holders cannot work for Malaysian employers but can own a business. Spouse and dependents can be endorsed. This is primarily a lifestyle pass for retirees and investors — verify current tier details at mm2h.imi.gov.my before applying.

Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP)

Pas Lawatan Sosial Jangka Panjang

RM90 government fee per year

Duration: 1 year (renewable, linked to principal holder's status)

Eligibility

Spouses and immediate family members of Malaysian citizens, PR holders, and Employment Pass holders

Processing time

2–6 weeks

Requirements

✓Marriage certificate (legalised)
✓Principal holder's EP/PR/citizenship documents
✓Passport valid 12+ months
✓Proof of relationship (family registry)

💡 Spouse of EP Category I or RP-T holders may apply for a work endorsement on their DP/LTSVP to allow employment. Spouse of EP Category II/III holders may apply separately but endorsement is not automatic.

DE Rantau Digital Nomad Pass

Digital Nomad

Pas Digital Nomad DE Rantau

RM1,000 application fee; RM400 per dependent

Duration: 12 months (extendable once for another 12 months — maximum 24 months total)

Eligibility

Remote workers employed by overseas companies or with freelance clients outside Malaysia. Minimum annual income: USD24,000/year (approximately RM110,000/year at current rates) from overseas sources.

Processing time

2–4 weeks

Requirements

✓Proof of employment by overseas company or freelance contract with foreign clients
✓Evidence of annual income USD24,000+ (payslips, bank statements, contracts)
✓Valid passport (6+ months validity)
✓Medical insurance covering Malaysia (minimum USD50,000 coverage)
✓Online application via mdec.com.my or approved agent

💡 Holder cannot work for any Malaysian employer or client. Available to all nationalities. Dependents (spouse and children) can be endorsed on the pass. Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) administers the programme. DE Rantau hubs are established in KL, Penang, Labuan Bajo, and other locations with co-working spaces and community events for digital nomads.

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