Visa Guide · Malaysia
Long-term visas in Malaysia
The passes that let you live, work, invest, or study in Malaysia for a year or more, each with its own purpose and requirements. Find the one that fits and apply with Emerhub.
The options
Types of long-term visa in Malaysia
Long-term passes let you stay for a year or more, each tied to a purpose. The right one depends on why you are coming and for how long. Below are the main options and what each asks of you.
Employment Pass (EP)
For a foreigner employed and paid by a Malaysian company, in three categories set by salary. The top two run up to 10 years, the third up to 5.
Requirements
- A Malaysian employer to sponsor and apply through the ESD
- Basic salary of RM20,000 (Cat I), RM10,000–RM19,999 (Cat II), or RM5,000–RM9,999 (Cat III)
- Relevant qualifications and experience for the role
- A succession plan for Categories II and III, under the June 2026 rules
Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T)
A ten-year pass for skilled professionals already working in Malaysia, with the freedom to change employers and a spouse who can work.
Requirements
- Three consecutive years working in Malaysia on an Employment Pass
- A basic salary of at least RM15,000 a month
- A Malaysian tax file with tax paid for the last two years
- A degree or professional certificate, and five years of experience
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
A long-stay route for retirees, investors, and expatriates, across four tiers from Silver to Platinum, lasting 5 to 20 years.
Requirements
- A fixed deposit from USD 150,000 (Silver) to USD 1,000,000 (Platinum)
- A property purchase from RM 600,000 to RM 2,000,000, within 12 months
- Minimum age 25 for Silver, Gold, and Platinum; 21 for the SEZ tier
- Proof of financial standing and a clean background
Professional Visit Pass (PVP)
A short-term pass, up to 12 months, for a foreign professional on a temporary assignment while staying employed by their overseas company.
Requirements
- A Malaysian company, ESD-registered, to sponsor and apply before entry
- A defined, temporary assignment, paid by your overseas employer
- No local employment, no other company, and no dependents
- A personal or security bond, depending on nationality
DE Rantau Nomad Pass
Malaysia’s digital nomad visa for remote workers and freelancers with foreign income. 12 months, renewable to 24, run by MDEC.
Requirements
- A remote job or freelance clients based outside Malaysia
- Income of USD 24,000 a year for tech roles, USD 60,000 for others
- A passport valid for 14 months, with six empty pages
- Valid health insurance that covers Malaysia
Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP)
For stays of at least six months: spouses of Malaysians or PRs, non-dependent family of pass holders, and people seeking medical treatment.
Requirements
- A Malaysian sponsor or guarantor to support the application
- Proof of the relationship, or medical documents for treatment cases
- A genuine purpose for the extended stay, family or medical
Premium Visa Programme (PVIP)
A 20-year residency for those with offshore income, free to work, invest, study, and bring family, with no minimum stay.
Requirements
- Offshore income of at least RM40,000 a month, or RM480,000 a year
- A fixed deposit of RM1,000,000 in a Malaysian bank
- A participation fee of RM200,000, plus RM100,000 per dependent
Dependent Pass
For the spouse and children under 18 of an Employment Pass holder, tied to the principal's pass.
Requirements
- A sponsoring Employment Pass holder in good standing
- A marriage certificate for a spouse, or a birth certificate for a child
Student Pass
For international students enrolled at a Malaysian institution, which sponsors the pass.
Requirements
- An offer from a Malaysian institution, which applies through EMGS
- Proof of funds, with a clean medical and background check
How Emerhub helps
Applying for a long-term visa with Emerhub
The steps vary by visa, but the path is the same one we walk with you on each of them.
01
Initial consultation
- We work through the eligibility criteria for the visa that fits your situation, so you apply for the right one rather than the obvious one.
02
Document preparation
- We prepare and certify the documents your chosen visa needs, complete the forms, and translate anything that is not in English.
03
Submission to the authorities
- We file with the right body, the Immigration Department, the ESD, or the MM2H centre, and respond to any queries that come back.
04
Approval and endorsement
- On approval, the visa approval letter is issued by the Immigration Department, and we see the endorsement through to your passport.
Common questions
Long-term visa FAQs
The questions people ask most when choosing a long-term visa for Malaysia.
Do long-term visas in Malaysia need a sponsor?
Many do. The Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass, and Dependent Pass need a Malaysian sponsor, an employer or a pass holder. The investment routes, MM2H and PVIP, do not need a sponsor and rest on your own funds. The RP-T needs an existing employer at the time you apply.
Can I get permanent residency through a long-term visa?
A long-term pass is not permanent residency, and PVIP and MM2H do not lead to PR or citizenship. Long, settled residence on a pass such as the RP-T can support a separate PR application later, but that is assessed on its own and granted at the government's discretion.
What is the difference between the Employment Pass and the RP-T?
The Employment Pass ties you to the one employer who sponsors it. The RP-T is for people already on an Employment Pass for three years, and lets you change employers freely, with your spouse able to work. The RP-T is the more flexible, longer-term step once you qualify for it.
Is medical insurance required for a long-term visa?
For most routes, yes. MM2H requires valid medical insurance, and the other long-term passes generally expect health cover along with a medical check. We confirm the exact requirement for the visa you are applying for.
Not sure which visa fits?
Talk to our Kuala Lumpur team
Tell us why you are coming to Malaysia and how long you plan to stay, and we'll point you to the visa that fits, confirm you qualify, and handle the application end to end.
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