Employment Pass 

Malaysia Employment Pass is issued to foreign citizens who will work in a Malaysian company in a highly skilled position, such as a technical or managerial position.

Before you can obtain an Employment Pass, your employer in Malaysia must obtain approval from the Expatriation Committee or relevant regulatory body to employ you.

This type of work permit in Malaysia can be issued for 1-5 years, depending on the case or length of work, and can be renewed.

There are three types of Employment Pass for Malaysia, depending on your position and salary.

Employment Pass, Category 1, one that includes key positions in the company, such as managers, general directors, technical or managing directors, managers of projects, etc. 

• Your monthly salary should be at least 10 000 ringgits;
• Your employment contract should be valid for up to 5 years;
• Employment Pass can be renewed;
• You are allowed to employ a foreign assistant;

Employment Pass, Category 2, one that includes managing and professional positions in the company, such as a marketing or investment manager, professors, directors, architects, etc. 

• Your monthly salary should be in the range between 5000 and 9999 ringgits;
• Your employment contract should be valid for up to 2 years;
• Employment Pass can be renewed;
• You are allowed to employ a foreign assistant;

Employment Pass, Category 3, one that includes managing positions in the company that require significant experience and specific technical or practical skills. For example, designers (fashion, production, furniture), craftsmen, technologists of the food industry, etc.

• Your monthly salary should be in the range between 3,000 and 4,999 ringgits;
• Your employment contract should be valid for up to 2 years;
• Employment Pass cannot be renewed more than twice.
• You are not allowed to hire a foreign assistant;

To obtain an employment permit in Malaysia, you must meet the following requirements:

• You must have the appropriate academic qualifications required for the job;
• You must have at least three years of relevant work experience. If your academic qualifications are less, you may need more years of relevant work experience;
• You must work in a managing or technical position that requires special skills;
• You must meet the necessary salary requirements;
• You must not take up work in a sector that is considered restricted.

As a foreign worker, you do not need to apply for your own Employment Pass. It is your employer who applies on your behalf in Malaysia before you travel.

The process of obtaining Malaysian employment is divided into two parts:

• Your employer must seek employment approval through the Expatriation Committee or other authorized agency. This process is known as an expatriate application.
• After the job application is approved, your employer must apply for an Employment Pass Malaysia to the Immigration Department of Malaysia. Your employer must apply for an Employment Pass to the Employment Pass Department of the Immigration Department of Malaysia. They must apply by mail or in person.

When your employer applies for an Employment Pass, they must provide the following documents:

• Employment application form;
• Your passport size photograph according to Malaysian photo requirements;
• Copy of your passport;
• Your passport must be valid for at least another six months from the date you intend to enter. In any case, the validity period of your employment pass cannot exceed the validity period of your passport;
• If you are from the PRC, attach two copies of your passport;
• Letter or approval for mail from the relevant authority;
• Permission from the company to apply;
• Your employment contract or offer letter and acceptance letter;
• Your resume and copies of your diplomas and certificates;
• A copy of your employer's company profile from the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).

Malaysia Employment Pass processing time is three days.

A visa with reference (VDR) means that you had to obtain approval from the Malaysian Immigration Department (i.e. Employment Pass) before the Malaysian mission abroad can issue you a visa. A VDR is simply an entry visa issued to foreign nationals traveling for long-term purposes such as work or study. You are only exempt from having a VDR if you are from one of the following countries: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Vanuatu, United Kingdom, Guyana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Grenada, Dominica, Zaire, Zambia , Western Samoa, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Canada, Kenya, Cyprus, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Malawi Maldives, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Samoa, San Marino, Swaziland, Seychelles, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Fiji, Switzerland, Jamaica.

If you are a citizen of the countries mentioned above, you can enter Malaysia without a visa with a reference, only with an Employment Pass approval letter.

You must apply for a Malaysia visa with a certificate at the nearest Malaysian embassy or consulate.

Upon arrival in Malaysia, you must report to the immigration office in person and present the payment for the Employment Pass as well as your passport. Immigration officials will affix an Employment Pass sticker to your passport, confirming your stay in the country, and issue an expatriate card.

Most foreign citizens who wish to travel to Malaysia for work must apply for a Malaysian visa with a certificate.

Only Employment Pass owners can bring their family with them to Malaysia. If you are an Employment Pass owner, you can bring the following family members through the Malaysia Dependent Pass :

• Your wife;
  
• Your dependent children under the age of 21

In addition, with the Long-term Social Visit Pass, Employment Pass owners can bring the following family members to Malaysia:

• Dependent children over 21 years old (adopted or biological);
• Wife

The following family members can visit an Employment Pass holder with a Social Visit Pass:

• Parents;
• Spouse;
• Children over the age of 21;
• Stepchildren

If your spouse wants to work, their dependent pass will not automatically allow them to do so. They must apply for their own work permit.

Temporary employment permit

Temporary employment permit in Malaysia is issued for a period of up to two years. It is issued for the following two categories:

Pass for temporary employment of a foreign worker, where the foreigner has the right to work only in the following categories: production, construction, plantation, agriculture and services. In addition, this type of pass can only be obtained by citizens of approved countries;

Temporary Employment Pass for Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) issued only to women from approved countries. In this case, the foreign worker will work at his employer's home, provided that the employer has minor children or elderly parents who need care.

You are eligible for a temporary employment permit in Malaysia if you meet the following requirements:

You will work in one of the following sectors

• Construction
• Plantation
• Agriculture
• Services
• Production
• You are from one of the following countries: Bangladesh (only allowed to work in the plantation sector), Vietnam, India (prohibited to work in the manufacturing sector), Indonesia (men are not allowed to work in the manufacturing sector), Kazakhstan, Cambodia, Laos, M Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, Philippines (female workers are not allowed to apply in any sector), Sri Lanka.
• You are between 18 and 45 years old.
• You have undergone a medical examination at an approved medical center and are found to be healthy and fit for work.
• Your employer has received a quota of foreign workers from the Ministry of the Interior, OSC center.
• You have passed an Immigration Security Certificate (ISC) check at an ISC center in your country.

It is your employer who submits your temporary employment application to the Malaysian Immigration Department prior to your arrival.

The procedure for obtaining a temporary employment permit is as follows:

1. Receiving a visa confirmation letter

Before you can travel to Malaysia, your employer must obtain a visa approval letter from the Malaysian Immigration Department. The type of visa you need to apply for in your country is a reference visa, which means you need a letter of approval (reference) from the Immigration Department. To apply for a visa approval letter, your employer must:

• Receive your Immigration Security Certificate (ISC) verification results from an ISC center in your country.
• Get foreign worker quota approval from the Ministry of the Interior.

Submit the application along with the required documents to the Immigration Department of Malaysia in person or through the online service.

2. Once the visa approval letter is issued by the Immigration Department, you must apply for a Malaysia visa with a certificate.

When your employer applies for a temporary work visa to the Immigration Department, they must provide the following documents:

• Visa application form with certificate (forms IM.12 and IM.38);
• Quota approval letter from the Ministry of Internal Affairs;
• Copy of your passport;
• Your passport size photograph according to Malaysian photo requirements ;
• Your medical results from a medical center in your country. The results must be valid for three months from the date of issue;
• Your ISC test results;
• Receipt for the payment of the fee for foreign workers;
• Security bond;
• Compensation insurance scheme for foreign workers;
• Health insurance (Health Insurance Protection Scheme Foreign Workers (SPIKPA)).

3. Terms, validity and extension of the temporary work permit

If you receive a temporary employment pass for Malaysia as a foreign worker, you must comply with the following conditions:

• You cannot change your employer or employment sector;
• You cannot marry a Malaysian citizen or a foreigner in Malaysia;
• You cannot work on the front lines;
• You cannot bring family members with you

The validity of the Malaysian temporary employment is initially 12 months and can be renewed/extended annually for a maximum of 10 years.

Your employer must apply to renew your TEP three months before it expires. If they apply after the expiry date, the application will be rejected.

Who is Eligible for Temporary Work Permit in Malaysia for Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH)

You are eligible for temporary employment in Malaysia as a Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) if you meet the following requirements:

• You are a woman between the ages of 21 and 45.

You are a citizen of and reside in one of the following countries:

• Cambodia
• India
• Indonesia
• Laos
• Sri Lanka
• Thailand
• Philippines
• Vietnam
• In an approved medical center, you received an employment permit based on your health condition.
• You get your Immigration Security Certificate (ISC) verified at the ISC center in your country.

Apart from this you can only work for an employer who:

• Meets the requirements concerning income (at least 3000-5000 ringgits);
• Has children under the age of 15;
• Has elderly parents with an illness;
• Your employer cannot hire more than one foreign domestic helper unless they have a valid reason.

Your employer must apply for approval from the Immigration Department before they can hire you and you can come to Malaysia. Or your employer may appoint an employment agency to apply on their behalf. The process of obtaining a temporary employment permit for a foreign domestic helper (FDH) is as follows:

Submitting an application for obtaining a visa letter

Your employer must obtain approval from the Malaysian State Immigration Office before you can apply for a visa in your home country.

Applying for a visa to Malaysia with a certificate

You must apply for a visa with a reference in your country at a Malaysian representative office (embassy or consulate). To get a visa with a certificate, you need a certificate from the immigration office (i.e., a letter of approval).

Applying for a temporary employment permit for a foreign domestic helper (FDH)

After you enter Malaysia, you and your employer must go to an immigration office (such as the State Immigration Office or Immigration Headquarters) within one month to declare your presence. You must also undergo a FOMEMA medical examination during this month.

Once you have completed these two steps, you can apply for a temporary employment permit for a foreign domestic helper at the Department of Immigration. You will receive a passport sticker stating that you are authorized to work and the validity period of the Pass.

When your employer applies for a visa to approve temporary employment in Malaysia, they must have the following documents:

• Application form for a foreign domestic worker (PRA1);
• Visa application form (forms IM.12 and IM.38);
• Personal Bond Form with a revenue stamp of 10.00 ringgits;
• 2 originals and 2 copies of employment contract form for foreign domestic helper signed by both parties and stamped 10.00 RM10.;
• Copy of your passport;
• Your passport size photograph according to Malaysian photo requirements;
• Your medical report of health issued by a clinic in your country and certified by a clinic approved by the Ministry of Health Malaysia;
• Copy of employer's identification cards (both spouses);
• Marriage certificate for employers;
• Supporting documents for the employment of a foreign domestic helper, such as children's birth certificates, medical certificates for sick parents, etc.
• A certificate of the employer’s income, e.g., EPF and payment slips for the last three months;

If the employer is non-Muslim: attach the following two forms available on the website of the Department of Immigration Malaysia:

• Declaration form on the employment of foreign Muslim domestic helpers
• Declaration form for Muslim foreign domestic helpers

If the employer applies himself and not through an employment agency, he must attach a declaration form stating that he has not used registered agencies.

Terms and validity of a temporary employment permit for a foreign domestic helper (FDH)

Working conditions in Malaysia as a foreign domestic helper include:

• You should only do household chores.
• You should get accommodation with basic amenities.
• Your employer must respect your religious beliefs and allow you to practice your religion, including fasting in Ramadan, praying 5 times a day, and not forcing you to do work that conflicts with your religious beliefs.
• You cannot get married in Malaysia.
• You cannot change your employer or employment sector unless approved by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
• You cannot apply for an entry permit.

The validity of a temporary work permit in Malaysia for a foreign domestic helper is 12 months. Your employer can apply for a Pass extension up to three months before it expires.

Professional visit pass

Malaysia Professional Visit Pass is issued to foreign citizens who want to come to work in Malaysia temporarily (up to 12 months), but who are still employed by a foreign company.

You can work in Malaysia with a Malaysian Professional Permit if you fall into one of the following categories:

• Foreign artist (filming and performance)
• Stage artist (singing, music, dancing, theater, acrobatics, circus, etc.)
• Filming (in Malaysia, but with a foreign company)
• Production (filming)
• Performance (in hotels, cultural centers, stadiums, etc.)
• Expert in art management and screen arts.
• Islamic teacher
• Teacher of the Koran
• Arabic teacher
• Gurukkal
• Grants
• Priest
• Guru Dharma
• Religious musicians and sculptors
• Foreign students attending religious courses at the Malaysian Bible Seminary.
• Government employees traveling for official purposes (government to government program/government purposes)
• Expert jockey
• Volunteer
• Foreign student on a mobility or industrial training program

Almost any foreign citizen has to obtain a Malaysian visa with reference for employment, except citizens from the following countries: Australia, Antigua and Barbuda, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Botswana, Brunei, Vanuatu, United Kingdom, Guyana, Gambia, Republic of Guinea, Grenada, Dominica, Zaire, Zambia, Western Samoa, Zimbabwe, Ireland, Canada, Kenya, Cyprus, Kiribati, Lesotho, Liechtenstein, Mauritius, Malawi, Maldives, Namibia, Nauru, Netherlands, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, South Africa, Samoa, San Marino, Swaziland, Seychelles, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, St. Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Singapore, Solomon Islands, Tanzania, Tonga, Trinidad and Tobago, Tuvalu, Fiji, Switzerland, Jamaica.

If you are from one of the countries listed above, you do not need to apply for an entry visa at the Malaysian embassy or consulate in your country/the country closest to you.

You must have a sponsor in Malaysia to apply for a professional visit on your behalf (e.g., the company/institution where you will be working/studying). Your sponsor must apply before you arrive in Malaysia.

Your sponsor must apply for a professional visit at the Malaysian Federal Government Administrative Center (Ministry of Home Affairs, Immigration Department) in Putrajaya.

If you will be working in the filming and performance industry, they must submit an application to the Central Agency for Filming and Performing Foreign Artists (PUSPAL), who will work with the Immigration Department to issue a permit.

Also, if you work in the film industry, you will also need to get a letter of approval from FINAS (National Film Development Corporation of Malaysia).

Applying for a visa to Malaysia (Visa With Reference)

If you are from a country that requires a Malaysian visa with reference, you will need to apply for one at the nearest Malaysian embassy or consulate.

You can apply for a visa with reference for employment purposes only after your passport for a professional visit to Malaysia has been approved.

However, some nationals do not need to obtain an entry visa from a Malaysian embassy/consulate. They can travel with a permit issued by the Home Office, Immigration Department.

Upon arrival in Malaysia

After entering Malaysia, you must visit the Immigration Department of the Ministry of Home Affairs and get a Malaysia Professional Visit Pass sticker in your passport. This is proof that you are working and living in Malaysia legally.

Documents required to apply for a Malaysian Professional Visit

The documents required for a professional visit vary by profession, but include the following:

• Full copy of your passport.
• Your passport size photograph.
• Forms for a visa to Malaysia (IMM.12 and IMM.38).
• An offer letter from a Malaysian company/institution (your sponsor) including the reason for your employment/study.
• A copy of your sponsor's company profile (if applicable).

If you are a religious missionary: a letter of approval from the Department of Religion and the Department of Islamic Religious Affairs.

• Bank guarantee/personal guarantee if you are a Chinese citizen.
• Keep in mind that this is not an exhaustive list of requirements. You and your sponsor should contact the Immigration Department of Malaysia for a complete list of documents that your sponsor must submit with the application for a professional visit.
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Conditions and validity of the pass for a professional visit to Malaysia

Professional Visit Pass terms and conditions include:

• Dependent family members cannot be brought with you.
• You must be officially employed and paid in a foreign company.
• To work as an official employer of a Malaysian company, you will need an Employment Pass or Temporary Employment.

For religious workers (non-Muslims):

• You cannot renew your Professional Visit Pass for more than three years.
• You must meet the following age requirements:
• Hindu monks (Gurukkal emigrants), Sami Sikhs (Granthis), Dharma teachers and priests must be at least 40 years old
• Religious musicians must be at least 35 years old
• Religious sculptors must be at least 30 years old

The Malaysian Professional Visitor Pass is valid for 12 months and can be extended for another 12 months.

If you will be training at a factory or hotel, the Malaysia Professional Visit Pass is valid for six months.