Visa & Immigration Update - Malaysia Approval Letters Required

Effective Date: Immediate 
Impacted Country: Malaysia 

Policy Change(s): 

Previously, foreign nationals seeking employment in Malaysia could enter the country and wait for the application to be approved. 

Effective as of the 1st day of August 2016, under the new process, Malaysia’s Expatriate Services Division strictly requires that all employment pass applicants and their dependents are to have their approval letters issued before traveling to Malaysia, and foreign nationals from controlled countries must also wait to obtain a visa with reference.

Impact(s): 

• If an employment pass applicant has entered Malaysia without obtaining an approval letter, he/she must exit the country and wait until the approval letter is granted before re-entering the country.
• Expatriate employees applying to change employers may complete the process in-country, but if they leave the country and their existing employment pass expires, the Expatriate Services Division may require the employees to remain abroad until the approval letter is granted.

Our Recommendation(s): 

SIRVA strongly recommends that foreign employees and their dependents not travel to Malaysia until the completion of the first stage of the application and approval letters are issued.

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has also implemented this rule and companies with MSC and ICT status should be prepared for a similar change.

For any questions, please reach out to Ryhan Aziz, SIRVA Immigration Specialist in Malaysia.