Malaysia – Improvements and Enhancements to Immigration Processes

Highlights

1. Simplified application process for annual Foreign Knowledge Workers (“FKW”) quota projections with Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation Sdn Bhd (“MDEC”) for Companies with Malaysia Digital (“MD”) status or in the Information, Communication and Technology (”ICT”) industry.¹
2. Introduction of additional online applications for expatriates in Expatriate Services Division (“ESD”) platform effective 1 July 2024 (gradual deployment) and revision of service fees effective 1 September 2024.²  
3. Extension of applications for support letters via Xpats Gateway.³
   
4. Improvement initative on PLS@XPATS for emergency/critical task/work.⁴   
   
5. Introduction of ESD Satellite Centre (“ESC”) at Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2.⁵   
6. Extension of Digital Nomad Pass for non-tech professionals.⁶    
7. Extension of the visa exemption for Chinese tourists up to 31 December 2026.⁷

More Details

1. The application process for annual FKW quota projections with the MDEC for Companies with Malaysia Digital (“MD”) status or in the information, communication, and technology (”ICT”) sector has been simplified.  The application usually takes approximately 1 to 1.5 months for processing by MDEC after receiving the document-heavy application.  Documents such as the application form, corporate documents, and the annual Self-Declaration Form need to be prepared.  With the simplication, the application will be approved upon submission of the application with required projections and a brief reason.  Upon approval of the projections, the company may proceed to submit the Employment Pass applications.

2. The introduction of additional online applications for expatriates in the ESD platform, effective 1 July 2024, were on hold, initially anticipated to be deployed fully to the public by 2 August 2024.  As of the present time, only the following applications have been deployed:

• Amendment / cancellation of an approved application;  
• Transfer of Pass endorsement to a new passport including take-up of the balance of the approved period of the Pass;
• Shortening / cancellation of the Pass.

Other applications to be deployed next are:

• Permission to study for children of expatriates;
• Permission to work at second location / branch / site office.

The above applications which were previously submitted physically ‘over the counter’ for processing at an ESD office will be submitted online after full deployment.  Submission of the individual’s passport to the ESD’s office is expected to be no longer required.  An email notification of the acknowledgement slip will be provided instead after the applications are approved.  However, for the transfer of endorsement application, the printed Pass will be couriered to the company to be affixed on the original passport.   

Along with the improvements, the ESD is revising the processing fees charged effective 1 September 2024.

3. The Xpats Gateway platform (launched on 15 June 2023) had served as a platform for a total of 23 sectors for applications for support letters with the respective government agencies/regulatory bodies prior to applications for Employment Pass for expatriates by companies that are regulated.  

Companies under the following approving and regulatory agencies’ purview are now added on to submit the applications for support letters via the Xpats Gateway platform:

• MDEC for companies with MD status or part of the tech sector;
• Private education institutions under the Ministry of Higher Education;
• Companies operating in Iskandar Malaysia.

4. The application for Permission to Work under the Social Visit Pass (i.e., PLS@XPATS), which was introduced on 3 October 2022, will see a reduction of processing time from three working days to one working day, upon submission of a complete application.  This Pass is only applicable for foreign nationals who need to work in Malaysia urgently for emergency or critical task reasons or work under select sectors / industries such as security & defence, manufacturing, construction, and aviation, to name a few. 

5. Further to the opening of the ESD Satellite Centre in Kuala Lumpur International Terminal 1 in 2023 to facilitate the endorsement of various long-term passes newly approved by the ESD or MDEC, a similar Satellite Centre is now opened at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport Terminal 2 offering the similar endorsement facility upon the individual’s arrival at Terminal 2.  

6. The DE Rantau Nomad Pass programme offered by MDEC for foreign nationals and local Malaysians was initially applicable for freelancers and remote workers working in the tech industry.  However, the applications are now opened to those who are not from the tech industry with a higher salary requirement policy in order to be eligible.

7. The Immigration Department of Malaysia website and the FAQ in the eVISA application portal updated the visa exemption duration for Chinese passport holders travelling to Malaysia thereby extending the exemption to 31 December 2026.  Under the FAQ, the exemption is only for tourism purposes. 

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