The Employer’s Guide To Malaysian Employment Pass Applications (2026)
ESD has announced
significant hikes in EP salary requirements
from June 2026.
Whenever such changes are disclosed, we often get a surge of requests as the deadline nears, so those applying based on current policy should not delay!
With Immigration statistics showing 166,980 employment passes issued in 2025 alone, Malaysia is clearly hungry for skilled foreign talent.
Employment Pass applications in Malaysia are handled by employers who must first ensure they meet expatriate hiring requirements, register an account, and get approval to hire a foreigner for a specific role.
For companies new to the process, our guide explains the above broken down into:
- requirements to hire expatriates
- requirements to qualify as an expatriate
- Employment Pass categories
- handling dependents
- how to apply for Employment Passes, and
- links to relevant regulatory bodies / agencies
Of course, you’re welcome to skip the reading and get in touch directly.
Let’s begin.
Key Takeaways:
- Each Employment Pass application costs RM2,000.
- There are three categories of employment passes in Malaysia: Category 1 for key positions, Category 2 for managerial and professional positions, and Category 3 for non-executive skilled positions. Each has different salary, work contract duration, and renewal policies.
- To be eligible for a Malaysia employment pass, applicants need to meet certain academic qualifications and work experience, as well as job position and salary requirements. However, there are some restricted sectors where expatriates cannot work.
- Applying for a Malaysia employment pass requires submitting an Expatriate Post Application or an Employment Pass Application, along with supporting documents. Processing time varies depending on the type of pass applied for. Once approved, expatriates can arrive in Malaysia with a Visa With Reference, except for citizens of countries exempted from the requirement.
- Check out our full Employment Pass services and let us know if you’d like to engage expert assistance for all your Employment Pass needs.
Employer requirements
There are two main eligibility requirements for Malaysian employers to hire an expatriate:
- be a registered private limited company or Limited Liability Partnership
- meet minimum paid up capital
While the need for a registered business entity applies equally to all employers, paid up capital requirements vary significantly based on ownership.
Minimum paid-up capital
As foreign shareholding goes up, so does the minimum paid-up capital requirement to qualify for Employment Pass applications.
| Percentage of Foreign Ownership | Min Paid-up Capital |
|---|---|
| 100% Local Owned | RM250,000 |
| Joint Venture (minimum 30% foreign equity) | RM350,000 |
| 100% Foreign-Owned | RM500,000 |
If you meet both those requirements, congrats, the global talent pool is at your disposal.
Expatriate qualification requirements
The Malaysian government will always prioritise hiring citizens, so foreigners must meet certain standards that justifies employing them over a local candidate:
To qualify as an expatriate or skilled worker in Malaysia, individuals must meet these requirements:
- Degree and above, with at least 3 years’ experience in the relevant field;
- Diploma, with at least 5 years’ experience in the relevant field;
- Technical Certificate or equivalent, with at least 7 years’ experience in the relevant field
To qualify as a shareholder, individuals must:
- have a minimum 30% equity in the company; and
- be an SSM-registered Director / hold a key position in the company
Now let’s take a side by side look at the three types of employment passes.
Categories
Do note these passes only allow work in West Malaysia and do not include Sabah and Sarawak.
| Category 1 EP | Category 2 EP | Category 3 EP | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contract Duration | 60 months | 24 months | 12 months |
| Minimum Monthly Pay | RM10,000 | RM5,000 | RM3,000 |
| Dependent Permissions |
|
|
|
| Typical use cases | High skill leadership and technical roles | Senior technical / supervisory roles | Semi-skilled roles requiring experience |
Additional notes on Category III
- companies under unregulated sectors or Regulatory Bodies must obtain approval from Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA) to seek exemption from the minimum salary requirement of RM5,000
- after renewing twice or three years in a row, the holder must leave Malaysia and serve a three-month cooling off period unless converting to Category I / II
- if changing employers, the holder must leave the country and serve a 3-month cooling off period
- for countries requiring a visa, successful applicants must obtain a Visa with Reference to enter Malaysia (can be applied for together with Employment Pass and visa is valid for 6 months)
Now, let’s take a quick look at Dependent and Social Visit Passes.
How EP holders can bring dependents
Dependent Pass
A Dependent Pass is for immediate family members that considered true dependents:
- spouses
- children / adopted children under 18 years old
Long-Term Social Visit Pass
For holders of Employment Passes, a Long-Term Social Visit Pass is for immediate family members that cannot be considered true dependents:
- parents
- parents-in-law
- children / adopted children between 18 – 25 years old
Neither Dependent Pass nor Long-Term Social Visit Pass holders are allowed to work without applying for a separate Employment Pass. However, they are welcome to apply for Student Passes to pursue their education here, subject to Malaysia’s Immigration Department approval.
Application process
Head over to Immigration’s Expatriate Services Division (ESD) portal and register your company.
By this time, you should have already registered your company with the ESD.
Here are the steps:
- Make sure all documents are ready
- Log into the ESD portal
- Fill in the required information of expatriates and dependants (if applicable)
- Fill the position by selecting through the lists at “Position Setup”.
- Upload all documents as required
- Submit completed application
- Status notification will be sent via system – approved or rejected (usually within 5 days)
- If approved, print the approval letter through the system. Applicable Immigration fees will be advised. Visa with Reference (VWR) letter can be collected at MYXpats Centre or ESD Putrajaya, if applicable
- Passport endorsement can be done at MYXpats Centre, ESD Putrajaya or any Immigration state office once Immigration fees payment is made.
List of government agencies
| Agency | Sector |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Home Affairs | Unregulated sectors & those under bodies |
| Malaysia Investment Development Authority (MIDA) | Manufacturing and related sectors |
| Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) | Information technology sector, specifically companies with Multimedia Super Corridor (MSC) Status |
| Central Bank of Malaysia (BNM) | Financial, insurance, and banking sectors |
| Securities Commission (SC) | Securities and futures market |
| Iskandar Regional Development Authority | Specific companies operating within Iskandar Malaysia |
| East Coast Economic Region Development Council (ECERDC) | Specific operators within East Coast Economic Region |
| Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad | Specific key employers under ICAEW/ACCA/NKEA sectors |
| Malaysian Global Innovation & Creativity Centre (MaGIC) | Approved programs under its purview |
| Public Service Department Malaysia | Government contractual positions |
| Expatriate Committee (EC) | Sectors other than those mentioned above |
Click here to go back.
List of regulatory bodies
| Regulatory Body | Sector |
|---|---|
| Ministry of Education | Education |
| Ministry of Health (Traditional & Complementary Medicine) | Healthcare |
| Ministry of Tourism and Culture | Tourism |
| Sports |
| Ministry of Agriculture and Agro-based Industries | Agriculture |
| Malaysian Bioeconomy Development Corporation Sdn Bhd (Bioeconomy) | Biotechnology |
| Department of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Transport | Aviation |
| Department of Mineral and Geoscience, Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment | Mining |
Click here to go back.
Let MISHU handle your Employment Pass application
MISHU’s team is experienced in helping companies negotiate with the relevant authorities to obtain exemptions and swift approval of any necessary permissions. We would be happy to sit down with you and understand your needs.
FAQs on Malaysian Employment Passes:
- How to apply for an Employment Pass in Malaysia?
💡To apply for an Employment Pass in Malaysia, you must find an employer in Malaysia who is willing to hire you. Your employer then needs to apply for approval to hire you through the Expatriate Committee or another authorized approval agency. Once approved, your employer can submit the Employment Pass Malaysia application at the Immigration Department of Malaysia. - What is Employment Pass Category 1 in Malaysia?
💡Employment Pass Category 1 in Malaysia refers to key post positions in a company such as executives, CEOs, technical or managing directors, project managers, etc. To be eligible for this category, you need to have a monthly salary of at least RM10,000 and a work contract of up to five years. The EP can be renewed, and you are allowed to hire a Foreign Domestic Helper. - How to renew an Employment Pass in Malaysia?
💡To renew your Employment Pass in Malaysia, your employer needs to submit an application to the Immigration Department of Malaysia at least three months before the expiration date of your current pass. The application process is the same as the initial application process, and you will need to meet the salary and eligibility requirements of your current category. - What is the role of the Expatriate Committee in getting an Employment Pass in Malaysia?
💡The Expatriate Committee is responsible for approving applications for hiring foreign employees in sectors other than those covered by approved agencies like MIDA, MDeC, BNM, BiotechCorp, and SC. If your profession falls under an approved agency, your employer needs to apply for approval through that agency. However, if your profession does not fall under any approved agency, your employer needs to approach the Expatriate Committee to get approval for your employment. - What is a Visa With Reference in Malaysia?
💡A Visa With Reference (VDR) is an entry visa issued by the Malaysian Representative Office abroad to foreign nationals who are travelling for long-term purposes such as work or studying. Most foreign nationals who want to travel to Malaysia for work must apply for a Malaysian Visa With Reference. However, citizens of certain countries like Australia, Canada, and Ireland are exempt from this requirement.
Do your company do EP parking? Thanks.
Hi Samuel,
Thanks for getting in touch. We have forwarded your question to our in house Employment Pass team, and this is their response:
1. If you are seeking assistance with using us as your offical employer, then I’m afraid MISHU is not currently hiring.
2. If you are an employer seeking assistance for your employees, then we may be able to help.
Let us know!
Sincerely,
The MISHU Editorial Team