Employment Pass (EP) Malaysia
The work permit for skilled foreign professionals employed by a Malaysian company, sponsored by that employer. The salary thresholds changed in June 2026, and Emerhub handles the application.
What is the Employment Pass?
The Employment Pass, the EP, is the work permit for skilled foreign professionals employed by a Malaysian-registered company. It lets an expatriate live and work in Malaysia in a specific role for a specific employer, and it is the route most companies use to bring in expertise that is not readily available locally.
The employer applies for it, not the individual, and the sponsoring company must be registered with the Expatriate Services Division, the ESD. Since March 2026, manufacturing and selected services companies under MIDA file instead through the MIDA Expatriate System, the MES. The pass comes in three categories set by salary.
Types of Employment Pass
The category is set by the basic monthly salary, allowances and bonuses do not count toward the threshold. Each category carries its own validity, tenure cap, and obligations.
| Category I | Category II | Category III | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum basic salary | RM20,000 | RM10,000 to RM19,999 | RM5,000 to RM9,999* |
| Validity per pass | Up to 5 years | Up to 2 years | Up to 12 months |
| Maximum total tenure | 10 years | 10 years | 5 years |
| Dependents | Allowed | Allowed | Allowed (new) |
| Succession plan | Not required | Required | Required |
| MyFutureJobs advert | Exempt | Required | Required |
*For the manufacturing and manufacturing-related services sectors, the Category III floor is RM7,000.
What changed under the New Expatriate Employment Policy
The June 2026 reform is the first major overhaul of expatriate employment in Malaysia in nearly a decade.
Employment Pass vs the Temporary Employment Pass
The Temporary Employment Pass, the TEP, is a separate permit for semi-skilled and manual workers in specific sectors. It is handled by the Labor Department, not the ESD, and it does not allow dependents.
| Feature | Employment Pass | Temporary Employment Pass |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Skilled professionals | Semi-skilled and manual workers |
| Authority | ESD, or MIDA for manufacturing | Labor Department |
| Sectors | All sectors | Construction, agriculture, plantation, manufacturing, services |
| Minimum salary | From RM5,000 a month | By sector |
| Validity | 1 to 5 years per pass | Up to 2 years, renewable |
| Dependents | Allowed | Not allowed |
| Medical | At a registered clinic | FOMEMA screening |
The FOMEMA medical screening applies to foreign workers on the TEP, within 30 days of arrival. Expatriates on an Employment Pass complete a medical at a registered clinic as part of the process, but not through FOMEMA.
Documents required for the Employment Pass
The employer submits the Employment Pass application on the expatriate’s behalf. The core set is:
- A recent passport photo, 3.5 by 5.0 cm, on a light-blue background.
- A full copy of the passport with at least 12 months validity.
- An up-to-date resume detailing professional experience.
- The full employment contract on company letterhead, with the job description, stamped by the Inland Revenue Board.
- Company documents: the registration certificate, company profile, and business license.
- The highest educational and professional certificates, translated into English and certified as true copies.
- The personal or security bond form, duty-stamped by the Inland Revenue Board.
- Any supporting documents the approving agencies ask for.
For a renewal or a change of employer, you may also need recent payslips, personal income tax records, and a release letter from the previous employer.
How to apply for the Employment Pass
The employer drives the Employment Pass application. If you have no Malaysian entity, Emerhub can be the employer of record and sponsor the pass.
Register the employer
The sponsoring company registers with the ESD, or the MIDA Expatriate System for manufacturing and selected services. We confirm which route applies.
Advertise and plan
We advertise the role on MyFutureJobs for 14 to 30 days and prepare the succession plan. Category I is exempt from the advertising step.
Submit the application
We file the Employment Pass with the full document set through the ESD or the MES, in the correct category for the salary.
Approval
The ESD reviews and issues approval in principle. We respond to any queries to keep the application moving.
Enter, medical, endorsement
The expatriate enters Malaysia, completes a medical at a registered clinic, and the pass is endorsed electronically as an e-Pass.
Hiring a foreign professional in Malaysia?
Tell us about the role, the salary, and whether you already have a Malaysian entity, and we’ll confirm the right category and run the Employment Pass application end to end.
Employment Pass FAQs
The questions companies and expatriates ask most about the Malaysia Employment Pass.
What is the Employment Pass?
It is the work permit for skilled foreign professionals employed by a Malaysian company. The employer sponsors and applies for it, and it lets the expatriate work in a specific role for that employer for one to five years, depending on the category.
What salary do I need to qualify?
Since June 2026, Category I needs a basic salary of RM20,000 a month, Category II from RM10,000 to RM19,999, and Category III from RM5,000 to RM9,999, or RM7,000 in manufacturing. Only basic salary counts, so allowances and bonuses do not lift you into a higher band.
How long can I stay on an Employment Pass?
Each pass runs up to five years for Category I, two for Category II, and twelve months for Category III, and is renewable. Total time on an EP is now capped at ten years for Categories I and II, and five years for Category III, with anything beyond assessed case by case.
Can I bring my family?
Yes, and as of June 2026 all three categories can, including Category III for the first time. Dependents cover your spouse, children, parents, and a foreign domestic helper. The spouse of a Category I holder can also seek their own employment in Malaysia.
Does the company have to advertise the job first?
For Categories II and III, yes. The role is advertised on the MyFutureJobs portal for 14 to 30 days before the application, to test the local market. Category I is exempt from this step.
What is a succession plan?
For Categories II and III, the employer submits a written plan showing how local employees will be trained to take over the role over time, naming successors and a timeline. There is no fixed format, but MOHA can request it, and a weak plan can affect a renewal.
Employment Pass or Professional Visit Pass?
The Employment Pass is for someone employed and paid by a Malaysian company in an ongoing role. The Professional Visit Pass is for a temporary assignment where you stay employed and paid by an overseas company. Who pays you decides which one fits.
Can Emerhub sponsor the pass if we have no Malaysian entity?
Yes. Through our employer of record service we can employ the person in Malaysia and sponsor the Employment Pass, so you can place someone in the country without first setting up your own company.
Talk to our Malaysia team
A free, no-obligation call: thirty minutes with our Malaysia team to confirm the right category for the salary and role, walk through the documents, and plan the timeline including the MyFutureJobs advert if needed.
Kampung Datuk Keramat
50400 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia