For expatriates intends to take up employment in Malaysia is required an employment permit in the form of an Employment Pass by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
An Employment Pass is a working visa that allows foreigners to legally live and work in Malaysia.
There are 3 types of Employment Permits:
Employment Pass
Category I
|
Employment Pass
Category II
|
Employment Pass
Category III
|
Basic monthly salary of minimum RM10,000.00 |
Basic monthly salary between RM5,000 to RM9,999 |
Basic monthly salary between RM3,000 to RM4,999 |
Valid employment contract up to 5 years |
Valid employment contract up to 2 years |
Employment contract must not exceed 12 months |
Dependants allowed |
Dependants allowed |
Dependants NOT allowed |
Employment Pass
Category I
|
Basic monthly salary of minimum RM10,000.00 |
Valid employment contract up to 5 years |
Dependants allowed |
Employment Pass
Category II
|
Basic monthly salary between RM5,000 to RM9,999 |
Valid employment contract up to 2 years |
Dependants allowed |
Employment Pass
Category III
|
Basic monthly salary between RM3,000 to RM4,999 |
Employment contract must not exceed 12 months |
Dependants NOT allowed |
Company paid-up capital Requirement
Equity |
Paid-Up Capital |
100% local owned |
RM250,000 |
Joint venture (minimum foreign equity is 30%) |
RM350,000 |
100% foreign owned |
RM500,000 |
Foreign-owned companies (foreign equity at 51% and above) operating in the Wholesale, Retail and Trade (WRT) sectors (mandatory requirement to submit valid WRT license, if applicable).
Please refer to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism for WRT license application guideline |
RM1,000,0000 |
Foreign-owned companies (foreign equity at 51% and above) involved in the sub sectors on unregulated services are required to refer to the Services Industry Division, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism on the application guideline to obtain approval. |
The minimum requirements to apply for an expatriate post are as follows:
- 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
Duration of process at Immigration
We can help you apply for an employment pass within 4 to 6 months without fly into Malaysia until it is ready.
Sectors Not Allowed to apply for Employment Pass
The following sectors are restricted from applying for employment pass under the Guidelines on Foreign Participation in the Distributive Trade Services Malaysia:
- Supermarket / mini market (less than 3,000 square sales floor area)
- Provision shop / general vendor
- Convenience store (that opens for business for 24 hours)
- News agent and miscellaneous goods store
- Medical hall (inclined towards traditional alternative medicines plus general dry foodstuff)
- Fuel station with convenience store
- Fuel station without convenience store
- Permanent wet market store
- Permanent pavement store
- National strategic interest
- Textile, restaurant (non exclusive), bistro, jewellery shops
- Others
- Expatriates may only work for the company named in the employment pass.
- If an Employment Pass holder changes employers, the holder is required to submit a new application for a new Employment Pass
- Malaysian Government controls on the number of foreign expatriates for company, the company must proof the foreign expatriates and the position are of vital importance and their jobs cannot be filled by local citizens