1. Main Visa and Work Pass Categories

1. Visa-free Visits and the Short-Term Social Visit Pass

The mutual visa-exemption agreement between China and Malaysia took effect on 17 July 2025.

Eligible holders of ordinary Chinese passports and Chinese passports for public affairs may enter Malaysia without a visa for short-term purposes permitted under the agreement, including tourism, visiting family or friends and business activities.

1. Each visit may not exceed 30 days.
2. The cumulative stay may not exceed 90 days within any 180-day period.
3. The passport and actual entry arrangements must satisfy the applicable conditions.
4. Employment, study and other activities requiring prior approval must receive the appropriate authorization in advance.

Repeated short-term entries cannot replace a work pass or be used to avoid the cumulative stay limit.

For travellers of other nationalities, visa-free eligibility, the permitted length of stay and whether a visa must be obtained in advance depend on the applicant’s nationality, passport type and purpose of travel. Different rules may apply to diplomatic, official, special and ordinary passports.

The Short-Term Social Visit Pass is mainly intended for permitted tourism, family visits and ordinary business activities. The authorized period of stay is determined by the actual entry record. If the traveller needs to extend the stay or change the purpose of the visit, they should confirm whether the relevant procedure is legally available.

An eVISA is an electronic method of applying for a visa. Its permitted use depends on the visa category selected. Holding an eVISA does not automatically provide the right to work.

An entry visa enables an eligible person to travel to Malaysia and request entry. The applicable pass determines the scope of activities and stay permitted inside Malaysia.

Activities such as attending meetings, conducting business negotiations, signing contracts, visiting customers, attending trade exhibitions and carrying out non-productive market research may generally be assessed under the applicable short-term visit arrangements.

Visitors should be able to explain their activities and travel plans and ensure that their actual activities remain consistent with the declared purpose of entry.

The following activities require further assessment to determine whether a Professional Visit Pass, Employment Pass or another approval is required:

1. Installing, repairing or commissioning equipment for a customer
2. Implementing systems, delivering professional training or providing technical services
3. Performing project-delivery work
4. Carrying out an actual position at a Malaysian entity or customer site
5. Entering into a local employment relationship with a Malaysian company
6. Receiving continuing day-to-day management from a Malaysian entity

Continued salary payment by an overseas company does not necessarily mean that the employee may use an ordinary business-visitor route. The assessment should also consider the recipient of the services, the actual assignment, the work location and the employment relationship.

2. Employment Pass

The Employment Pass is mainly used by eligible Malaysian entities to hire foreign professional, technical or managerial employees.

The pass is connected to the approved employer and position. It is not a general permit allowing the holder to work freely for any company.

From 1 June 2026, new Employment Pass applications and renewals are generally assessed under the following basic monthly salary thresholds:

The salary thresholds are based on basic salary. Allowances and other payments are not included.

For certain manufacturing and manufacturing-related service companies regulated by the Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry or the Malaysian Investment Development Authority, Category III applies to a salary range of MYR 7,000 to MYR 9,999. The applicable threshold should be confirmed according to the company’s industry classification.

The salary thresholds and employment periods above form part of the eligibility and duration framework. Meeting the relevant salary threshold does not guarantee approval.

Existing passes that remain valid will not normally become invalid automatically when the new salary policy takes effect. However, renewals must be reviewed under the applicable new conditions.

A bachelor’s degree is not the only standard qualification route for an Employment Pass application:

The applicant’s education, certificates and experience should be relevant to the proposed position. The application remains subject to review by the competent authorities.

Regulated professions and specialized industries may have additional requirements.

The employer normally needs the appropriate corporate and industry eligibility and must complete the applicable foreign-talent registration, position approval and industry-approval procedures.

A new-hire application may also involve prior approval to employ a non-citizen, local recruitment procedures or an applicable exemption, and approval of the company’s need for foreign talent.

An exemption from one requirement does not mean that all other requirements are also waived.

Succession-plan requirements for Category II and Category III take effect from 1 January 2027 and focus on developing local talent and transferring job-related knowledge.

This implementation date is different from the new salary thresholds, which took effect on 1 June 2026.

An Employment Pass application normally includes:

1. A valid passport and photograph
2. A résumé
3. Academic degrees, diplomas or technical certificates
4. Evidence of relevant work experience
5. An employment contract
6. A job description and basic salary information
7. Approval documents required for the employer and its industry

The employer normally supports the application. The company should first complete the applicable corporate and position-related prerequisites, followed by the individual Employment Pass application and any required entry, endorsement or electronic-pass procedures.

The employee should only begin performing the approved role for the approved employer after the work status becomes effective.

The employment-duration framework of up to 10 years does not mean that a first-time applicant will receive a 10-year Employment Pass.

A single Employment Pass is limited by the employment contract and the approval of the relevant authority. A single pass may be valid for up to 60 months, and the actual approved period may be shorter.

At renewal, the authorities reassess the basic salary, position, employer and application requirements that apply at that time.

A change of employer requires a new application. An employee cannot continue using the Employment Pass issued for the previous company.

After an Employment Pass application is approved, the applicant must still complete the required entry, endorsement and electronic-pass procedures in accordance with the approval conditions.

The application approval letter and the final effective work pass should be treated as separate documents.

The employee must work within the employer, position and scope of activities stated on the pass. Changes involving the company, customer site or project arrangement should be reviewed promptly to determine whether they affect the pass conditions.

The employer must also comply with continuing obligations associated with the pass.

Local internship-placement requirements following Employment Pass approval arise from specific talent-policy obligations. They should not be interpreted as a general quota requiring every foreign employee to be matched with a fixed number of permanent local employees.

3. Professional Visit Pass

The Professional Visit Pass applies to individuals who have the relevant professional qualifications or skills, retain overseas employment or professional status, and temporarily enter Malaysia to provide services or receive practical training.

Common situations include approved technical services, training, installation and other professional assignments.

The applicant should have a clearly defined overseas employment or professional status, local sponsoring entity, assignment, activity location and duration.

A Professional Visit Pass may only be used for the approved company and activities. It does not directly establish an ordinary long-term local employment arrangement.

A Professional Visit Pass may be issued for up to 12 months at a time. The actual duration depends on the assignment and approval decision.

Where the assignment is extended, the sponsoring company changes or the project scope is modified, the parties should confirm in advance whether the pass can be renewed or amended or whether a new application is required.

A Professional Visit Pass holder cannot apply for a Dependant Pass solely on the basis of the Professional Visit Pass. If family members need to accompany the holder, the appropriate visit or residence arrangement should be assessed separately.

Certain eligible urgent or short-term professional assignments may be assessed under specific arrangements such as PLS@XPATS.

Eligibility depends on the nature of the assignment, sponsoring entity and official approval. This arrangement should not be interpreted as a general work exemption available to every business traveller.

2. Entry, Family Members and Other Arrangements

1. Entry Documents and the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card

Travellers should generally prepare:

1. A valid passport
2. Return or onward travel arrangements
3. Proof of accommodation
4. Evidence of sufficient funds
5. Documents explaining the purpose of the visit

Business travellers may also need an invitation letter or meeting documents.

Travellers to whom the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card requirements apply should complete the required declaration before arrival.

The Malaysia Digital Arrival Card is an entry-information declaration. It does not replace a visa, Employment Pass or other authorization required for the proposed activity.

The Malaysian immigration authorities determine whether the traveller may enter Malaysia and the actual period of stay granted.

Individuals planning to perform activities under an Employment Pass or Professional Visit Pass should complete the applicable entry visa, entry arrangement and pass-endorsement procedures in accordance with the approval conditions.

Visa-free eligibility or an application approval letter alone should not be treated as confirmation that every work-authorization procedure has been completed.

2. Territorial Scope

The standard Expatriate Services Division and Employment Pass framework described in this guide primarily applies to Peninsular Malaysia.

Individuals planning to work in Sabah or Sarawak, transfer between regions or work at a customer site in either state should separately confirm the applicable local work permit, immigration and entry requirements.

3. Accompanying Family Members

Eligible Employment Pass holders may assess whether their family members qualify for a Dependant Pass or Long-Term Social Visit Pass under the principal applicant’s pass category and the rules in force.

Eligibility may be affected by the family relationship, age, validity of the principal applicant’s pass and the policy applicable when the family application is submitted.

An Employment Pass Category III issued under an earlier policy does not automatically gain dependant eligibility merely because a new policy takes effect. Eligibility should be checked according to the policy applying to the principal pass.

A dependant pass does not normally provide an automatic right to work. A family member planning to work in Malaysia must obtain the appropriate work authorization separately.

4. Study

Studying in Malaysia normally requires support from an educational institution and an application for the appropriate Student Pass.

The permitted activities under student status differ from those authorized by an Employment Pass. Internships and part-time work should be assessed according to the Student Pass and the applicable approval conditions.

5. Transit and Other Residence Arrangements

Whether a transit visa is required depends on the traveller’s nationality, route, connection time and whether the traveller must complete Malaysian entry procedures.

Investment, long-term residence and other specialized routes have separate requirements. They should not be treated directly as ordinary employment authorization.

3. Renewals, Changes, Termination and Status Maintenance

The work pass, employment relationship and lawful stay must be maintained together.

Applicants should rely on the actual cancellation, effective-date and approval documents. They should not determine whether they may continue working or staying in Malaysia solely from the expiry date printed on the pass.

4. How sailglobal Can Help

If your company plans to arrange for employees to visit Malaysia for business, take up local employment, provide temporary professional services or bring accompanying family members, sailglobal can help you understand the applicable route and application requirements based on the applicant’s qualifications, basic salary, job responsibilities, work location and actual assignment.

Visa, work pass and stay applications are independently reviewed by the relevant Malaysian authorities. sailglobal cannot guarantee an approval result or a fixed issuance date.