Employment Pass Application in Malaysia

Malaysia’s growing economy and tax incentives have drawn many investors who have decided to set up a company in Malaysia. Whether you are a business owner or a professional seeking employment in Malaysia, it is important to understand the types of work pass available and the process for employment pass application.

This article will run through a deep dive into the conditions, requirements, and application process for employing foreign workers, to give some insight into our employment pass services.

Before hiring foreign workers, employers will need to consider several terms and conditions highlighted by the Ministry of Home Affairs – Immigration Department of Malaysia:

1. The foreign workers are only allowed to work within these sectors:

• Manufacturing
• Construction
• Plantation
• Agriculture
• Services

2. Employers must first obtain the quota to hire foreign workers from the Ministry of Home Affairs, One Stop Centre (OSC)

3. Foreign workers must be the age of at least 18 years old or above but below 45 years old at the time the application is made

4. The certified PASS for Immigration Security Clearance (ISC) can be retrieved at the source country based on this list.

5. The foreign workers must be deemed fit and healthy as approved by the medical centre in the source country based on this list.

6. The foreign workers must not be one of those listed foreign individuals who are prohibited from entering Malaysia under Section 8(3) of the Immigration Act 1963.

For more information about the types of work passes in Malaysia, check out our Comparative Guide to Malaysia Work Visas. Below is a summary of the three types of Malaysia employment passes:

Before securing employment in Malaysia, there are some requirements that you should take note of, which include:

Work passes in Malaysia in general last between six months and five years. This depends on the type of pass the employee has and the duration of the work. Dependants of the work pass holder, who are above 21 years, have to apply for their permits if they would like to work in Malaysia. Dependants pass holders above 21 years old who followed their family into the country have to apply for their permits if they would like to work in Malaysia.

The eligibility criteria for a Malaysia Work Pass are listed below:

To apply for your employment pass in Malaysia, the following documents are required:

The company needs to apply for an “expatriate post” at one of the following government agencies:

This prior approval is needed as the Malaysian government has currently has strict regulations imposed on the number of foreign workers that a Malaysian-based company can employ. If you intend to hire foreigners under a Malaysian company, they are required to prove to the authority on why the chosen foreigners are important to the position and how can they contribute.

The companies will also need to state reasons on why a local is unable to fill the position. Before proceeding with the Malaysia employment pass application, companies must request a quota from the Immigration Department.

The steps for applying a Malaysia employment pass are as follows:

After getting your Malaysia employment pass approved by the authorities, you can enter the country to finalise the process. Some nationalities require a visa to initially enter the country.

Here are the generic steps to get your employment pass visa on your passport after entering the country.

From 1 March 2023 onwards, all foreign professionals holding the Employment Pass (Categories I, II, III) can now complete their endorsement at ESD Satellite Centre (ESC), Kuala Lumpur International Airport 1 (KLIA1). Applicants need to provide the Confirmation Letter for endorsement.

If unsuccessful, endorsement will be done over the counter at the service centres outside of KLIA1.