DEPENDENT PASS

Foreign nationals who are in Malaysia for employment or studying purposes are allowed to bring their family members with them through the Dependent Pass.  

Who is eligible to apply for a Dependent Pass? 

You can bring your dependents with you through a Dependent Pass if you are: 

• An Employment Pass holder Category 1 (in a key role in the company and with a monthly salary of at least RM10,000). 
• An Employment Pass holder Category 2 (in a managerial and professional position in a company and with a monthly salary between RM5,000 and RM9,999). 
• A Student Pass holder who is undergoing Master and Ph.D studies in a Malaysian educational institution. 

Holders of an Employment Pass Category 3, Temporary Employment Pass, or a Professional Visit Pass are NOT allowed to apply for a Dependent Pass for their family members. Student Pass holders who are in BA studies or lower, or in a language school are NOT allowed to apply for a Dependent Pass for their family members. 

What family members can you bring with a Dependent Pass to Malaysia? 

If you are an eligible Employment Pass holder, you can apply for a Dependent Pass for the following family members: 

• Your legal spouse (husband/wife) 
• Children under 21 years of age (biological, adopted, or stepchild) 
• Dependent children regardless of age (if they have a physical or mental disability rendering them dependent on you) 

If you want to bring your common-law spouse (unmarried), dependent parents or parents-in-law, or children over 21, you must apply for the Long Term Social Visit Pass. If you are a Student Pass holder, you can apply for a Dependent Pass for the following family members: 

• Your legal spouse (husband/wife) 
• Your children under 21 years of age (biological, adopted, or stepchild) 
• Dependent children regardless of age (if they have a physical or mental disability rendering them dependent on you) 
• Your parents 

Your family members will receive a Dependent Pass with the same duration as your own Employment Pass or Student Pass. It can be renewed in the same manner as well. Dependent Pass holders are NOT allowed to work in Malaysia. If your family member wants to start working, they must convert their Dependent Pass into an Employment Pass. 

LONG TERM SOCIAL VISIT PASS

A Long Term Social Visit Pass is issued to foreign nationals who want to stay in Malaysia for a period longer than 6 months. It is issued to the family members of Employment Pass holders or spouses of Malaysian citizens as well as to foreigners who need to undergo medical treatment in Malaysia. 

 Who is eligible to apply for a Long Term Social Visit Pass? 

The Long Term Social Visit Pass (sometimes also known as “Spouse Visa”) is available to: 

• The foreign national spouse of a Malaysian citizen 
• Family members of Employment Pass holders who fall under the following categories: 

• 1. Common-law spouse 
  2. Children over 21 (they must not be married) 
  3. Parents or parents-in-law 
  4. Foreign nationals seeking medical treatment in Malaysia and 1 companion 

The Long Term Social Visit Pass is issued for a minimum of 6 months and a maximum of 5 years. It can be renewed before it expires. 

Holders of Long Term Social Visit Pass are NOT allowed to work with a Long Term Social Visit Pass. If your family member wants to start working, they must convert their Long Term Social Visit Pass into an Employment Pass. 

Working permit for Spouse of Malaysian Citizen 

Spouses of Malaysian citizens can work in Malaysia without having to change their Long Term Social Visit Pass into an Employment Pass. 

They have to get an endorsement to work in their passport by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.  

To apply for the work endorsement, the spouse has to submit a letter of application along with the letter of appointment or company registration evidence, their marriage certificate and his valid Long Term Social Visit Pass to the Visa, Pass and Permit Division of the  Immigration Headquarters or the nearest state Immigration office. 

RESIDENCE PASS TALENT (RP-T) FROM TALENT CORP

The Residence Pass Talent (RP-T) (sometimes also known as “Talent Pass”) allows the holder to work in Malaysia for up to 10 years and it is renewable. The holder of RP-T has the flexibility to change employers without having to renew the Employment Pass every time he changes an employer. The spouse of RP-T holder can seek for employment without the need to apply for an Employment Pass.  

The RP-T holder is allowed to bring along his spouse and children under 18 to come to Malaysia. If the RP-T holder wants to bring his parents and children over 18 to come to Malaysia, he can help them to apply for a Long Term Social Visit Pass.  

The RP-T is placed under the purview of Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad and all applications will be processed by the Malaysia Expatriate Talent Service Centre (MYXpats Centre).  

Who is eligible to apply for a Residence Pass Talent? 

The RP-T is only issued to talented foreign expatriates who are currently living and working in Malaysia and fulfil the following criteria:  

• You have lived in Malaysia for at least 3 years on a valid Employment Pass (EP). 
• At the time of application, your EP is still valid for at least three more months. 
• You are a “high achieving” professional and can help develop Malaysia’s economy. 
• You have a minimum of 5 years of work experience. 
• You earn a monthly salary of at least RM15,000 (bonuses and allowances excluded). 
• You hold academic qualifications from a recognized educational institution. 
• You have paid income tax in Malaysia for at least 2 years. 
• You have a Malaysian income tax file number. 

Foreign expatriates in the following industries, known as “key economic areas”, are more likely to receive a RP-T: 

• Oil, Gas & Energy 
• Palm Oil and Rubber 
• Tourism 
• Education 
• Healthcare 
• Financial Services 
• Business Services 
• Communications, Content and Infrastructure 
• Electrical & Electronics 
• Agriculture 
• Wholesale and Retail 

MALAYSIA TECH ENTREPRENEUR PROGRAMME (MTEP) FROM MDEC

The Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) is designed for foreign tech founders who want to capture the ASEAN market from Malaysia via a 1-year stay (new entrepreneur) or a 5-year stay (established entrepreneur) in Malaysia.  

The application is to be made via MDEC and once MDEC approves, the Immigration Department will issue an Employment Pass. It is widely considered to be a fast-track route (within 6 weeks) compared to the ordinary Employment Pass route (which may take between 4-6 months). 

Who is eligible to apply for the MTEP’s Employment Pass? 

The Employment Pass under the MTEP is only issued to foreign tech founders who fulfil the following criteria:  

• BUSINESS PITCH DECK
  Information that describes your proposed business idea, market opportunity and plans in securing funding 

• FINANCIAL TRACK RECORD
  New Entrepreneur
  3 months personal bank statement (minimum amount of RM50,000 but not limited to Malaysian banks) 
  Established Entrepreneur
  3 months personal bank statement (minimum amount of RM50,000 but not limited to Malaysian banks) and proof of business performance 

• CERTIFICATE OF GOOD CONDUCT
  A document issued from the embassy or enforcement agency that states of no criminal record of an applicant in their residing country 

• SPONSOR
  New Entrepreneur 
  • Personal bond document signed by Malaysia Digital Hubs or MTEP recognized partners. 
  • Letter of Offer or Tenancy Agreement from any Malaysia Digital Hubs or MTEP recognized partners
• Established Entrepreneur 
  • Declaration form from a Malaysian sponsor or individual 

• FOR FOREIGN VENTURE CAPITAL
  Established Entrepreneur
  • Founder, co-founders or the Malaysian Venture Partner
  • Minimum funds of RM10mil
  • Must be registered with Securities Commission Malaysia as Venture Capital Management Corporations (VCMC)