Malaysia Visa & Immigration Services

Hudson McKenzie advises individuals, families and international businesses on Malaysian visa, work and residence matters.

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Malaysia provides immigration routes for skilled professionals, international assignees, entrepreneurs, remote workers, students and qualifying family members, as well as longer-term residence options such as the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme and Residence Pass-Talent.

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The appropriate route depends on factors including the purpose and duration of stay, employment arrangements, professional qualifications, salary, family circumstances and longer-term residence objectives.

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Employers and applicants should also consider the correct immigration route before work begins, as business-visitor status, an Employment Pass and a Professional Visit Pass provide different permissions and are not interchangeable.

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Hudson McKenzie can assess the available Malaysian immigration options and assist with application strategy, supporting documentation, family applications, renewals and longer-term residence planning.

The Employment Pass (EP) is the principal immigration route for many foreign professionals employed by a Malaysian company.

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The Malaysian employer or sponsoring company must generally be appropriately registered with the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) before submitting expatriate-pass applications. Employment Pass applications are handled through the relevant ESD and MYXpats processes.

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From 1 June 2026, Malaysia introduced revised minimum salary thresholds and employment-duration frameworks for Employment Pass Categories I, II and III. The revised rules apply to new and renewal applications submitted from that date.

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Employment Pass Category	Monthly Salary From 1 June 2026	Maximum Duration Under Revised Framework	Important Point
Category I	RM20,000 and above	Up to 10 years	Highest Employment Pass salary category
Category II	RM10,000–RM19,999	Up to 10 years	Succession-plan requirements apply
Category III	RM5,000–RM9,999	Up to 5 years	Succession-plan requirements apply

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Salary alone does not guarantee eligibility. The employer, role, applicant, sector and any other applicable regulatory requirements must also satisfy the relevant criteria.

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Employment Pass permission is connected to the approved employment. Where an expatriate changes company, a new application can be required rather than simply transferring the existing pass.

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Hudson McKenzie can advise employers and professionals on the appropriate Employment Pass category, eligibility requirements, supporting documentation and immigration process.

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Not every temporary professional assignment to Malaysia requires an Employment Pass.

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A Professional Visit Pass (PVP) is designed for qualifying foreign professionals who enter Malaysia temporarily to provide services or undertake practical training with a Malaysian company on behalf of an overseas company.

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Under the current ESD framework, a Professional Visit Pass may generally be issued for up to 12 months per issuance. The holder may only work for the Malaysian company named in the approved pass.

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A PVP can therefore be relevant to certain:

international assignments;
specialist technical services;
professional projects;
knowledge-transfer activities;
practical training arrangements; and
temporary intra-group or overseas-company assignments.

The appropriate route depends on the actual working relationship and activities being undertaken. A short duration of stay does not by itself mean that business-visitor status is sufficient.

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	Employment Pass	Professional Visit Pass
Typical purpose	Employment with a Malaysian company	Temporary services or training on behalf of an overseas company
Employment relationship	Malaysian employment	Overseas employment / assignment arrangement
Typical duration	Based on approved EP category and employment	Up to 12 months per issuance
Company-specific	Yes	Yes
Dependants	Potentially available subject to eligibility	PVP holders are not entitled to a Dependant Pass

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The Immigration Department also confirms that Professional Visit Pass applications should be sponsored in Malaysia and approved before the applicant undertakes the relevant professional activity.

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Hudson McKenzie can review the proposed Malaysian assignment and determine whether an Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass or another immigration framework is appropriate.

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Other Malaysia Immigration Routes

‍DE Rantau Nomad Pass & Remote Working: Malaysia’s DE Rantau Nomad Pass is a Professional Visit Pass designed for qualifying foreign digital freelancers, independent contractors and remote workers.

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Published MDEC guidance provides for an initial stay of between 3 and 12 months, with the possibility of renewal for a further period, allowing up to 24 months in total under the published framework. Qualifying immediate family members can also potentially accompany the principal applicant.

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Applicants considering remote work in Malaysia should distinguish DE Rantau from ordinary visitor status and from the Employment Pass framework.

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For broader remote-working advice, see Hudson McKenzie’s Digital Nomad Visas and Remote Working Visas.

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International Students & Student Passes: Foreign nationals undertaking qualifying studies in Malaysia generally require the appropriate Student Pass.

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For higher-education applications, the Malaysian Immigration Department states that applications can be processed through the relevant institution and systems such as EMGS, and applicants are generally required to be outside Malaysia when the application is submitted.

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Students and graduates who subsequently intend to work or remain in Malaysia should assess the appropriate immigration status before undertaking employment or allowing existing student permission to expire.

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Business & Short-Stay Visits: Malaysia permits certain short business activities under its visitor framework, subject to nationality and entry requirements.

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The Immigration Department lists activities such as:

meetings and conferences;
business discussions;
factory inspections;
auditing company accounts;
signing agreements;
investment-opportunity surveys; and
attending seminars

as potential Short-Term Social Visit Pass activities.

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Depending on nationality, a traveller may also require a visa or eVisa before entry. Visitor or business status should not be used for substantive employment where a work-authorised pass is required.

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Why Choose Hudson McKenzie for Malaysia Immigration?

Hudson McKenzie advises businesses, professionals, individuals and families on Malaysian immigration and international mobility matters.

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Our team can assist with:

Malaysia Employment Pass applications;
Employment Pass category and eligibility assessments;
Professional Visit Passes;
international assignments;
employer and expatriate immigration planning;
family and Dependant Pass applications;
Long-Term Social Visit Passes;
Residence Pass-Talent planning;
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) immigration advice;
DE Rantau and remote-working immigration matters;
student and post-study immigration planning;
short-stay and business-travel assessments;
renewals and change-of-status matters; and
longer-term Malaysian residence strategy.

For employers, Hudson McKenzie can assess the proposed role, salary, employment structure and assignment arrangements and determine the immigration route that best reflects the proposed activity.

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For professionals and families, we can assess employment, dependant, MM2H and longer-term residence options according to the applicant’s individual circumstances and objectives.

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Where a Malaysia move forms part of a wider international relocation, our global immigration team can also coordinate the Malaysian requirements with broader cross-border mobility planning.

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Planning to work, relocate or establish longer-term residence in Malaysia? Contact Hudson McKenzie to discuss the immigration options relevant to your circumstances.

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Disclaimer: The information provided on this page is for general guidance only and does not constitute legal advice. Malaysian immigration policies, Employment Pass salary thresholds, MM2H requirements, pass conditions, fees and application procedures are subject to change. Eligibility depends on individual circumstances, the sponsoring organisation where relevant and the immigration rules in force at the time of application. Please contact Hudson McKenzie for advice tailored to your specific circumstances.