Digital nomads work remotely without being tied to a specific company or location. Traveling from country to country in search of work, contacts, content, and experience is an important part of their nomadic lifestyle.

On October 1, 2022, the Malaysian authorities introduced their own digital nomad visa under the DE Rantau program, which will allow digital nomads to stay in the country for 3 to 12 months with the possibility of a one-year extension. In total, you can stay in Malaysia for up to 24 months.

Main terms and conditions of Digital Nomad Visa Malaysia

• The candidate must be over 18 years old.
• You do not need to be in Malaysia to apply. The application is submitted online.
• Currently, the pass is open to citizens of all nationalities. However, an Israeli citizen needs a permit from the Malaysian Ministry of Home Affairs to enter Malaysia.
• The main applicant has the right to bring his/her family members (only close relatives) who can apply for a Digital Nomad Visa for a dependent: Husband/wife/civil partner; Children under the age of 18; Disabled child (no age limit). Expert (documentary) confirmation of disability is required.

Note: additional financial costs will be required for each family member.

• The visa holder can repeatedly leave/enter the country.
• The passport must be valid for more than 14 months at the time of application (both for the main applicant and for dependents).
• Currently, the Digital Nomad Visa is only valid in any state in Peninsular Malaysia. To visit the states of Sabah or Sarawak, you will need to apply for a tourist visa.

The type of digital nomad for whom the visa will be available:

1. Digital freelancer, independent contractor.
2. A company employee who works remotely full or part-time.

The scope of the digital nomad

Work in the field of IT (all types - software development, UX, UI, cloud, cybersecurity, blockchain, artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, etc.), digital marketing, digital creative content, digital content development (all work related to the digital domain), etc.

How to prove your employment

1. Digital freelancer/independent contractor:

- Contract for an active project. The contract duration is more than 3 months (there may be several contracts)

- Clients/Customers can be both local and foreign companies.

2. Remote worker:

- A valid employment contract.

- The contract term is more than 3 months.

- The employer must be a foreign company (not a Malaysian company).

Financial requirements

• The main applicant's annual income of $24,000 or more per year.
• Visa Fee: Main applicant - MYR 1,000 (Malaysian Ringgit) + 60 MYR (6% SST tax); For each dependent - MYR 500 + 30 MYR (6% SST tax).

What documents do you need to provide to prove that you are a digital freelancer or remote worker with an income of $24,000 or more per year?

If you are a digital nomad, the necessary documents are your contracts, purchase orders, or invoices with your customers that clearly state the duration and value of the contract.

If you are a remote worker, the necessary document is your current employment contract with a non-Malaysian company, which clearly states the monthly or annual salary, and that you are not required to work from the office and are allowed to work remotely.

If you are a freelance digital content creator and you do not have a specific contract with any clients, but you receive income from a digital content platform, you can submit documents confirming that you are an independent freelancer and your income is derived from a digital content platform.

Where to apply for Nomad Pass DE Rantau?

All applications must be submitted in English online at the website: https://mdec.my/derantau/foreign/ 

The application will be processed within 4 weeks after receiving the completed application. The visa will be issued within 1 week (at the discretion of the Department of Immigration). 

The permit is valid for 6 months and cannot be extended. You can check the status of your application in your personal account. If your application is rejected, you can file an appeal within 6 months from the date of rejection.

If your application is rejected, you will be refunded 50% of the applicable processing fee.