Short-term to permanent residence
Malaysia visas and work permits
Explore your visa options for living, working, and investing in Malaysia. The Emerhub team helps you find the right one, then handles the pass, the sponsorship, and the renewals.
Long-term residence
Find your visa by what you're doing.
These are the long-term options, the passes that let you live in Malaysia for a year or more. Each one maps to a specific situation. Find yours, then open the detail page for requirements, costs, and timelines.
Employed by a Malaysian company
Employment Pass
The main work visa for skilled foreign professionals hired by a Malaysian employer. Graded into three categories by salary, which set the duration, and tied to the sponsoring company.
Employment Pass details→Running or investing in a company
Employment Pass (own company)
Foreign directors and shareholders of a Malaysian company (Sdn Bhd) hold an Employment Pass sponsored by their own company. We set up the company and the pass together.
On a short overseas assignment
Professional Visit Pass (PVP)
For a foreign professional on a temporary Malaysian assignment, up to 12 months, while staying employed and paid by their overseas company. No salary threshold.
PVP details→Working remotely for a foreign employer
DE Rantau Nomad Pass
For remote workers and freelancers in digital and professional fields earning from non-Malaysian sources. Run by MDEC, valid up to a year and renewable. Covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan.
DE Rantau details→Highly skilled, not tied to one employer
Residence Pass-Talent
For top-tier expatriates with a strong track record in Malaysia. Valid up to ten years, not tied to a single employer, and lets your spouse work without a separate pass.
RP-T details→Long-stay by financial means
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
A long-stay residence program for financially independent individuals, structured into tiers by deposit and property commitment. Only the top tier permits working or running a business.
MM2H details→High-net-worth long-stay
Premium Visa (PVIP)
A 20-year multiple-entry residence pass for high-net-worth foreigners through the Premium Visa Programme. Lets you live, work, and study in Malaysia with full family inclusion.
PVIP details→Joining an Employment Pass holder
Dependant Pass
For the spouse and children of an Employment Pass or Residence Pass holder. Grants residence; working requires a separate endorsement on the pass.
Spouse of a Malaysian citizen
Long Term Social Visit Pass
For the foreign spouse of a Malaysian citizen, and for certain other long-stay family situations. Renewable, and a step on the route toward permanent residence.
Settling permanently
Permanent Resident (PR)
Indefinite residence for long-term residents, assessed case by case. Routes include continuous residence, marriage to a Malaysian, and a points-based system for skilled professionals.
At a glance
Compare the long-term visas
What each one lets you do, how long it lasts, and whether it renews. Exact requirements and current figures live on each visa's own page.
| Pass | Best for | Work in Malaysia | Typical validity | Renewable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass | Skilled employees and directors | Yes, for your sponsor | 1 to 5 years (by category) | Yes |
| DE Rantau Nomad Pass | Remote digital professionals | No (foreign income only) | Up to 12 months | Yes |
| Residence Pass-Talent | Elite expatriates with a track record | Yes, flexible | Up to 10 years | Yes |
| MM2H | Financially independent residents | Platinum tier only | 5 to 20 years (by tier) | Maintained |
| Dependant Pass | Family of a pass holder | With endorsement | Tied to principal | Yes |
| Long Term Social Visit Pass | Spouses of Malaysian citizens | With endorsement | 6 months to 5 years | Yes |
| Permanent Resident | Long-term residents | Yes | Permanent | N/A |
Validity periods and conditions are indicative and change with policy. Confirm current requirements on each visa's page or with our team before applying.
Short stays and short-term work
Short-term options
Not every trip needs a long-term pass. For short visits, and for short-term professional work, Malaysia has lighter options. One local catch worth knowing: Sabah and Sarawak run their own immigration.
Up to 90 days
Visa-free entry
Nationals of many countries enter for tourism or business without a visa. The length depends on nationality, and it does not permit employment.
Visa-required nationals
eVISA / eNTRI
Online entry routes for nationalities that need a visa before traveling, such as China and India. Applied for ahead of arrival.
Up to 12 months
Professional Visit Pass
Lets a foreign expert carry out short-term work for a Malaysian company, such as training or installation, while remaining employed by an overseas one.
Sabah & Sarawak
East Malaysia entry
Both states control their own immigration and issue separate passes. A Peninsular Malaysia pass does not automatically cover travel to or work in either.
Over time
The path to permanent residence
Most people don't arrive on a permanent permit. They move through stages, from a first visit, to a renewable residence permit, toward permanent status. Here's how the stages connect.
Stage 01
Short-term entry
Visa-free entry or a visit pass for tourism or business. No residence rights, and no employment without a separate work pass.
Stage 02
Long-term pass
An Employment Pass, DE Rantau, Residence Pass-Talent, or MM2H. Lets you live and, depending on the pass, work in Malaysia for a defined and renewable period.
Stage 03
Permanent residence
Indefinite residence, assessed case by case after several continuous years, through marriage to a Malaysian, or via the points-based route. A high bar in practice.
Stage 04
Citizenship
Possible by naturalisation, but tightly restricted. It requires long continuous residence, language ability, and approval that is rarely granted.
How it works
Three steps to your pass
Most work passes need a Malaysian company to sponsor you, approval through the Expatriate Services Division, and filings in the right order. We handle all of it on your behalf. You sign where required; we do the rest.
Step 01
Match the pass and sponsor
- We confirm which pass fits what you're doing in Malaysia.
- Where a sponsoring company is required, we arrange it, through your own Sdn Bhd or an Employer of Record arrangement.
Step 02
Prepare & submit
- We assemble the documents and handle the Expatriate Services Division and Immigration Department filings in sequence.
- We submit on your behalf. You sign only where signatures are required.
Step 03
Approval & renewals
- Once approved, we guide you through the pass endorsement in your passport and any registration.
- We track expiry dates and handle renewals before they lapse, including a category change or a change of employer.
Before you apply
Common questions
If your situation isn't covered here, the detail pages go deeper, and our team can advise on your specific case.
What is an Employment Pass?
The Employment Pass (EP) is Malaysia's main work visa for skilled foreign professionals. It is sponsored by a Malaysian company and graded into three categories by monthly salary, which set the duration and conditions. The highest category offers the longest validity, up to five years, while the lower categories are shorter and renew more often. The pass is tied to the sponsoring employer.
Do I need a Malaysian company to sponsor my Employment Pass?
Yes. The Employment Pass is employer-tied, so a Malaysian-registered company has to apply for it on your behalf. If you are setting up your own business, that sponsor is your own Sdn Bhd, which usually needs to meet a minimum paid-up capital before it can sponsor a foreign director. If you don't have an entity, we can sponsor you through an Employer of Record arrangement instead.
Can I work in Malaysia on a DE Rantau Nomad Pass?
You can work remotely for foreign clients or employers, but the DE Rantau pass does not permit working for Malaysian companies or earning local income. It also covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan, but not Sabah or Sarawak, which run their own immigration. For local employment, an Employment Pass is the route.
Can I work on an MM2H visa?
Generally no. MM2H is a long-stay residence program, and only the top (Platinum) tier permits working or running a business. The lower tiers are for residence and lifestyle rather than employment, and all mainland tiers require a fixed deposit and a property purchase. If your aim is to work, an Employment Pass is the better route.
What's the difference between an Employment Pass and a Residence Pass-Talent?
An Employment Pass is tied to a specific employer and has to be reapplied for when you change jobs. The Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T) is for highly qualified expatriates with a track record in Malaysia. It is valid for up to ten years, is not tied to a single employer, and lets your spouse work without a separate pass. It's the more flexible option, but the bar to qualify is higher.
How do I get permanent residence in Malaysia?
Permanent residence is selective and assessed case by case. The common routes are several continuous years of residence on a long-term pass, marriage to a Malaysian citizen, or a points-based system for skilled professionals. It is a high bar in practice and timelines vary, so it's worth planning the long-term pass strategy with that goal in mind from the start.
Not sure which applies?
Talk to our Kuala Lumpur team about your case
Tell us what you're planning to do in Malaysia and how long you intend to stay. We'll confirm the right pass, what's required, and the timeline to get you there.
Emailmalaysia@emerhub.com
Phone / WhatsApp+60 17 684 9718
OfficeC-18-6, KL Trillion
Kampung Datuk Keramat
50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kampung Datuk Keramat
50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia