Visas and Immigration Passes in Malaysia
TOURISTS AND VISITORS
Information reviewed on 20 July 2026.
Malaysia distinguishes between a visa and an immigration pass. A visa allows a foreign national to travel to Malaysia and request entry. The immigration pass issued or endorsed by the Immigration Department determines how long the person may remain in Malaysia and what activities they may undertake.
Visa and immigration requirements vary according to nationality, purpose of travel and location within Malaysia. Entry remains subject to the approval of the Malaysian immigration authorities, even where a traveller holds a valid visa.
TOURISTS AND SHORT-TERM VISITORS
Short-Term Social Visit Pass
Foreign visitors admitted to Malaysia for tourism, social visits and certain short-term business activities are normally issued a Short-Term Social Visit Pass on arrival.
Permitted activities include tourism, visiting relatives, attending meetings or conferences, holding business discussions, inspecting factories, signing agreements, conducting investment surveys and attending seminars. The pass does not permit regular employment in Malaysia.
The permitted period of stay varies according to the traveller’s nationality and the endorsement issued by Immigration. Visitors should therefore check the expiry date shown on their entry stamp or electronic pass rather than assuming that they have automatically been granted 90 days.
Extensions are normally considered only in exceptional circumstances, such as illness, accident or disruption caused by conditions in the traveller’s home country. Supporting evidence and a confirmed onward or return ticket may be required.
Visa Requirements and eVISA
Nationals of many countries may enter Malaysia for a short visit without obtaining a visa in advance. Other nationalities must obtain a visa before travelling.
Visa requirements and temporary visa-exemption arrangements can change. Travellers should check the Malaysian Immigration Department’s current country list before booking their journey. Where available, applications may be made through Malaysia’s official eVISA portal.
Most foreign visitors must also complete the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card, or MDAC, within the three days before arriving in Malaysia. Travellers should check the official MDAC portal for current requirements and exemptions.
Single Entry Visa
A Single Entry Visa is generally issued to a foreign national who requires a visa to enter Malaysia for a social visit. It is normally valid for one entry during the three months following its date of issue.
The validity of the visa is not the same as the visitor’s permitted period of stay. The period of stay is determined by the immigration authorities when the visitor enters Malaysia.
Multiple Entry Visa
A Multiple Entry Visa is generally intended for foreign nationals who need to enter Malaysia repeatedly for business or government-to-government purposes. It is normally valid for between three and twelve months.
Special conditions apply to certain nationalities and visa categories. Applicants may be required to demonstrate sufficient funds and produce a confirmed return or onward ticket. Travellers should check whether a current visa exemption applies before applying.
Transit Visa
A Transit Visa is intended for a traveller who requires a Malaysian visa and must pass through Malaysian immigration while travelling to another country.
A traveller who remains within the airport transit area and continues to the next destination on the same flight does not normally require a Malaysian Transit Visa. Passengers changing airports, collecting baggage or passing through immigration should check the requirements before travelling.
Investor Pass
Malaysia offers an Investor Pass for qualifying business visitors and prospective foreign investors. It is a multiple-entry facility allowing an initial stay of up to six months, with the possibility of a further six-month extension.
It is intended primarily for new investors and investors already in discussions with Malaysian government agencies or investment authorities. People who already own a Malaysian company or serve as a director of one are not normally eligible and may instead require an Employment Pass or Professional Visit Pass. Applications are made through the Xpats Gateway.
EMPLOYMENT AND LONG-TERM RESIDENCE PASSES
Professional Visit Pass
The Professional Visit Pass is intended for foreign professionals, specialists and experts undertaking an approved professional assignment, project, training programme or service in Malaysia.
The pass is issued for no more than 12 months per issuance. The holder may work only for the company named on the pass and is not eligible to apply for a Dependant Pass under the Professional Visit Pass. Applications must be submitted through the sponsoring organisation’s ESD account.
Employment Pass
An Employment Pass allows a foreign national to work for an approved organisation in Malaysia. The application must be submitted by the employing company through the Expatriate Services Division or the relevant approving agency. An individual cannot apply independently.
The holder may work only for the organisation named on the Employment Pass. A change of employer requires a new application. Effective June 2026 there are three categories of the Employment Pass as set out below.
| CATEGORY | BASIC MONTHLY SALARY | MAXIMUM EMPLOYMENT PERIOD |
|---|---|---|
| Category I | RM20,000 and above | Up to 10 year |
| Category II | RM10,000 to RM19,999 | Up to 10 years, with a succession plan |
| Category III | RM5,000 to RM9,999 | Up to 5 years, with a succession plan |
All new and renewal applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026 must comply with these revised salary thresholds. Actual approval and duration remain subject to the employment contract, the relevant approving authority and immigration requirements. The easiest employment pass to obtain is category one.
Company Paid-Up Capital
As a general requirement to apply for an employment pass with the Expatriate Services Division, companies must normally meet the following minimum paid-up capital requirements:
| Company Ownership | Minimum Paid-Up Capital |
|---|---|
| 100% Malaysian-owned | RM250,000 |
| Malaysian-foreign joint venture | RM350,000 |
| 100% foreign-owned | RM500,000 |
| Certain foreign-owned wholesale, retail, trade and unregulated service companies | RM1,000,000 |
Additional licences, approvals or capital requirements may apply according to the company’s industry, regulatory agency and foreign ownership. Some public companies, companies limited by guarantee, associations and organisations incorporated under specific legislation are exempt from the standard ESD capital table.
Dependant Pass
The legal spouse of an Employment Pass holder and eligible children under 18 may apply for a Dependant Pass. A disabled child may qualify regardless of age.
A Dependant Pass does not itself permit employment. A spouse or other dependant wishing to work must obtain an Employment Pass through the employing company and surrender or shorten the existing Dependant Pass.
Under the revised policy, new Category III Employment Pass applications submitted from 1 June 2026 may qualify for dependant facilities, subject to salary eligibility, insurance requirements and immigration approval. Category III passes issued before 1 June 2026 remain subject to the previous restrictions until an application is made under the revised policy.
Long-Term Social Visit Pass for Employment Pass Families
Parents or parents-in-law of the employment pass holder, who do not qualify for a Dependant Pass may be considered for a Long-Term Social Visit Pass linked to the principal’s Employment Pass. This pass does not normally permit employment or study. A holder wishing to work or study must obtain the appropriate Employment Pass or Student Pass.
Foreign Domestic Helpers
Eligible Employment Pass holders may apply for a Visit Pass (Temporary Employment) for a foreign domestic helper. Approval is subject to the Employment Pass holder’s salary, the helper’s age and health requirements, FOMEMA certification and other Immigration Department conditions.
MM2H participants should check the conditions of their particular programme category. Under the current federal programme, the entitlement to bring a foreign maid is expressly included under the Platinum category but is not possible with the Gold, Silver or SEZ/SFZ categories.
Residence Pass-Talent
The Residence Pass-Talent, or RP-T, is a renewable, long-term pass for highly skilled expatriates who have established their careers in Malaysia. It permits the holder to live and work in Malaysia for up to ten years and to change employers without applying for a new Employment Pass.
Applicants must generally:
- Have worked in Malaysia for at least three consecutive years
- Hold a valid Employment Pass with more than three months remainin
- Have a Malaysian income-tax file and have paid Malaysian income tax for at least the two most recent years
- Earn a basic monthly salary of at least RM15,000, excluding allowances and bonuses
- Hold a recognised academic or professional qualification
- Have at least five years of total work experience
The holder’s legally married spouse and children under 18 may qualify for RP-T dependant passes. A legally married spouse may also seek employment in Malaysia without obtaining a separate Employment Pass.
Residence Pass
The Residence Pass issued under Regulation 16A is separate from the Residence Pass-Talent.
It is intended principally for:
- People with qualifying family ties to Malaysian citizens
- People with qualifying family ties to Malaysian permanent residents
- Certain former Malaysian citizens
Depending on the category, applicants must generally have lived in Malaysia on a valid long-term pass for at least three or five years and must be sponsored by a Malaysian citizen aged 21 or over.
Malaysia My Second Home
Malaysia My Second Home, or MM2H, is a long-term residence programme for foreign nationals. The federal programme currently has four categories:
| Category | Fixed Deposit | Minimum Property Purchase | Pass Period | Employment and Business |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | US$150,000 | RM600,000 | 5 years | Not permitted |
| Gold | US$500,000 | RM1 million | 15 years | Not permitted |
| Platinum | US$1 million | RM2 million | 20 years | Permitted |
| SEZ/SFZ | US$65,000 for ages 21–49; US$32,000 for ages 50 and above | Property in Forest City, subject to Johor’s applicable minimum price | 10 years | Not permitted |
Property purchase is compulsory under all four current federal categories. Participants under 50 are required to spend at least 90 cumulative days in Malaysia each year. Applicants must be at least 25 for the Silver, Gold and Platinum categories, or at least 21 for the SEZ/SFZ category.
Applications must be submitted through an MM2H agency, approved by the Ministry of Tourism, Arts and Culture.
Sabah and Sarawak operate their own MM2H programmes with different financial, residence and application requirements. Applicants wishing to reside in either state should consult the relevant state programme rather than relying on the federal MM2H conditions.
Further guidance and assistance with the MM2H programme are available through MM2H.com.
Permanent Residence
Permanent Residence is not easy to obtain and is granted through an Entry Permit issued by the Malaysian Immigration Department. It allows a foreign national to reside legally in Malaysia without a fixed time limit, although the permit may be revoked if its conditions are breached.
The Immigration Department currently lists the following broad application categories:
- Wife of a Malaysian citizen
- Husband of a Malaysian citizen
- Child under 18 of a Malaysian citizen
- Fully foreign national
Eligibility within these categories is subject to detailed conditions, supporting documentation and government approval. Applicants should consult the Immigration Department’s current Entry Permit guidelines. Fixed investment amounts, points or periods of residence should not be treated as guaranteeing approval.
EXPATRIATE SERVICES DIVISION AND MYXPATS
The Expatriate Services Division, or ESD, is part of the Immigration Department of Malaysia. It manages company registration and the immigration framework for expatriates employed in Malaysia. MYXpats processes many Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass and related applications submitted through the ESD system. They can also provide advice on work visas
Expatriate Services Division
Immigration Department of Malaysia
Level 3, Podium
No. 15, Persiaran Perdana
Presint 2
62550 Putrajaya
Telephone: +603 8880 1449
MYXpats Centre
Level 4, Surian Tower
No. 1, Jalan PJU 7/3 Mutiara Damansara
47810 Petaling Jaya
Selangor
Telephone: +603 7839 7171
Email: helpdesk@myxpats.com.my
The MYXpats Centre is normally open from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, Monday to Friday, excluding public holidays and designated lunch closures. Visitors should check current operating hours and whether an appointment is required before travelling.
IMPORTANT NOTICE
Malaysian visa and immigration policies are subject to change. The information above is intended as a general guide and should not be treated as legal advice or a guarantee that an application or entry will be approved. Travellers, employers and prospective residents should confirm the latest requirements with the Malaysian Immigration Department, the relevant approving agency or a properly licensed immigration or MM2H service provider.