Malaysia Work Visa Guide 2024 (EP, TEP, PVP)

The bureaucratic side of trying to meet the immigration requirements of a new country can be a complicated puzzle to solve. In case you are an experienced professional or foreign employee who wants to accept the job position in Malaysia, the most important and initial step that you have to complete is to obtain the appropriate Malaysian work visa or work permit.

This is a complete guide that divides the necessary steps to apply for the visa of Malaysia visa, the various types of Malaysia work visa, major requirements, and the office authorities to help you effectively complete your application without violating the existing rules and regulations, as per the Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM).

 What Type of Malaysia Work Visa Do You Need?

The type of work pass you apply for depends heavily on your job role, salary, and contract duration.¹ Knowing the right category is crucial for a smooth Malaysia visa application process ²

The following table highlights the key Malaysia Work Visa Types, which are those that refer to the Employment Pass (EP) categories, and are under the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) management. The EP is divided according to the salary and seniority of the expatriate: Category I (RM10,000 and higher per month) has the longest contract duration (up to 5 years) among senior professionals; Category II (RM5,000-RM9,999) is that of middle skilled workers with a 2-year contract term; and Category III (RM3,000-RM4,999) is that of technical workers with a contract term of 12 months (renewable twice). In the case of highly-skilled people who dedicate themselves to a long-term stay, the Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) with a minimum salary of RM15,000 can be up to 10 years and is administered by TalentCorp. Other passes are used by shorter-term and less skilled workers: Professional Visit Pass (PVP) allows assignments of up to 12 months to individuals engaged by a foreign company, whereas Temporary Employment Pass (TEP) is applied to industries such as manufacturing and construction, and handled by the Immigration Department up to a period of 2 years.

 The Step-by-Step Malaysia Work Visa Application Process

Unlike a tourist visa, the work visa application process for Malaysia is primarily initiated and managed by the employing Malaysian company on behalf of the foreign talent ⁵

Phase 1: Employer Sponsorship and Post Approval

Your journey begins with a job offer and employer sponsorship. The employer must ensure they meet the criteria for hiring foreign ^{talent 6}

1. Company Registration: The employer must be registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) and, for EP applications, must also be registered with the Expatriate Services Division (ESD), which acts as the official online portal for most skilled passes.⁷
2. Expatriate Post Approval / Foreign Worker Quota: The company must justify the need to hire an expatriate.⁸
   • For the EP, the employer applies for a position approval (Expatriate Post) from the ESD or a relevant Approving Agency (e.g., MIDA, MDEC), depending on the industry.⁹
   • For the TEP, the employer must obtain a foreign worker quota approval from the Ministry of Human Resources/Immigration ¹⁰
3. Job Vacancy Advertising: For positions below a certain salary threshold (e.g., RM15,000), the employer may be required to advertise the vacancy locally for a minimum period to demonstrate that a Malaysian citizen cannot fill the role.¹¹

Phase 2: Online Visa Application & Approval

Once the post/quota is approved, the employer submits the visa application.¹²

1. Online Visa Application Submission: The employer submits your application via the ESD Online system or the relevant portal.¹³ This submission includes all your personal and professional documents.
2. Required Documents for Work Visa (Applicant’s):
   • Copy of your passport (must have a minimum of 6 or 18 months’ validity, depending on the passport).¹⁴
   • Recent passport-sized photo (with blue or white background).
   • Detailed CV/Resume ¹⁵
   • Certified copies of your highest academic qualifications and professional certifications (translated into English and often required to be notarised/apostilled).¹⁶
   • Signed employment contract (duly stamped by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia—MIRB).¹⁷
   • Relevant experience letters.¹⁸
3. Processing & Approval: The Immigration Department of Malaysia (JIM) and relevant agencies review the application.¹⁹ The visa processing time typically takes several weeks.²⁰
4. Visa Approval Letter (VAL): Upon approval, the employer receives the Visa Approval Letter (VAL) (sometimes called Visa with Reference or VDR for certain nationalities).²¹ This letter is crucial for the next step.

   Phase 3: Entry and Endorsement

This phase involves your travel and final pass issuance ²²

1. Visa with Reference (VDR): If you are from a visa-required country, you must take the VAL to the nearest Malaysian Embassy or Consulate in your home country to apply for the Visa with Reference (VDR), which is an entry visa.²³
2. Travel to Malaysia: Enter Malaysia using your passport and VDR/VAL.²⁴
3. Mandatory Medical Examination: Upon arrival, you must undergo a medical examination at a FOMEMA (Foreign Workers’ Medical Examination Monitoring Agency) registered clinic within a specified period (e.g., 30 days).²⁵ You must be Certified fit to proceed. If found unfit, the employer must apply for a Check Out Memo (COM) for your repatriation ²⁶
4. Pass Endorsement: The employer submits the Stage 2 application with the medical report and other requirements (like the Security bond).²⁷ The Employment Pass sticker (or digital ePASS) is then endorsed into your passport at the Immigration Department or MYXpats Centre, officially issuing your Malaysia work permit.²⁸ You will also be issued an i-Kad (your work identity card).²⁹

Maintaining E-A-T Compliance means sticking to the rules and being prepared. Here are crucial data points and requirements.

Post-Approval Compliance and Family

• i-Kad: The i-Kad is your official identification as a foreign worker.³⁰ Always carry it.
• Dependant Pass: EP Category I and II holders earning above RM5,000 per month are generally eligible to apply for a Dependent Pass for their spouse and unmarried children under 21.
• Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP): You can apply for an LTSVP for your parents, parents-in-law, and certain older or disabled children.³¹
• Check Out Memo (COM): The employer is responsible for applying for a COM and ensuring the foreign worker’s repatriation once the employment ends.³² This also facilitates the claiming of the security bond.
• Visa Renewal: Visa renewal applications must typically be submitted at least 3 months before the expiry date to avoid complications.³³

Expert Tip: Changing employers requires a new Employment Pass application.³⁴ You cannot simply transfer your old pass.³⁵ The old pass must be cancelled, and a Check Out Memo issued before the new company applies for a fresh pass. Staying compliant with your pass conditions is non-negotiable.³⁶

 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Who submits the Malaysia work permit application?

The Malaysian company (employer) is solely responsible for initiating and submitting the online visa application through the ESD or the relevant authority.³⁷ The employee provides the necessary documentation.³⁸

Q: What is the Visa with Reference (VDR)?

The VDR is a formal letter issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia instructing the Malaysian Embassy/Consulate abroad to issue an entry visa to the applicant for the purpose of collecting their Employment Pass upon arrival.³⁹ It is a mandatory step for most visa-required nationalities.⁴⁰

Q: Can I bring my family if I have a Temporary Employment Pass (TEP)?

No. TEP (for lower-skilled workers/Foreign Domestic Helpers) holders are generally not allowed to bring their family members on a Dependent Pass or Long-Term Social Visit Pass. Only EP (Category I and II) and RP-T holders have this privilege.

Q: How long is the typical visa processing time?

Application timeline is very diverse, though, with the Employment Pass, the initial processing by the ESD normally takes 1-2 weeks, the VAL/VDR process then takes another 7-14 business days. Final endorsement after arrival is a matter of days or few weeks, including FOMEMA.

Take Control of Your Malaysian Career

The process of acquiring a Malaysian work visa is an undertaking that must be well coordinated with your prospective employer. 42Understanding the various categories of Malaysian work visa and most importantly, the Employment Pass Category I / II / III system, and following the clear instructions given by the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) can help to save ample time and stress.