Articles on Malaysian and Sarawak immigration
Casework-sourced guidance on work permits, expatriate passes, foreign worker hiring and domestic helper employment. Every article is reviewed before publication and rechecked at least once a year.
Sarawak Employment Pass Requirements via EXPRT for Oil and Gas, Manufacturing, Infrastructure, Retail and Cons
EXPRT, Employment Pass Sarawak, Online Application, Fast, Compliance
Browse by topic
Household employers
Hiring, renewing and lawfully employing a domestic helper in Sarawak and Malaysia.
27 articlesBusiness
Market entry, hiring structures and employer obligations for companies operating in Malaysia.
46 articlesSarawak Visas
Passes issued under Sarawak’s own immigration authority. A federal pass won’t stand in for one.
12 articlesMalaysia Visas
Federal passes issued for Peninsular Malaysia by the Immigration Department and ESD.
11 articlesForeign Worker Hiring
Labour quota, permits and the process of bringing foreign workers onto a Malaysian payroll.
3 articlesAll articles
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Step-by-Step Guide on How to Make SOCSO Payment for your Helper (maid) on ASSIST PORTAL
SOCSO Step-by-step Guide, Helper Registration, Maid SOCSO registration, Malaysia
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One Nation, Three Jurisdictions: Navigating Malaysia's complex and fragmented immigration framework
Malaysia Immigration framework, expatriates, West Malaysia, Sarawak and Sabah
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Is your Malaysian company ready for the New Expatriate Policy Revisions from 1 June 2026?
salary revisions, change of pass, dependent eligibility, cancellation of pass, higher salaries, contract disruptions
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Forced labour and trade implications for Malaysian companies
After China, Malaysian companies have the highest number of Withhold Release Orders issued against them by the US Customs and Border Protection. The trade implications are harsh on the Malaysian economy considering the United States of America is Malaysia’s third-largest trading partner with an export value of RM142.24
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Responsible Sourcing: Your Solution to Finding the Best Domestic Helper (maid)
Time and time again, during conversations with domestic helper employers, we're being told that hiring a good helper is based on luck. What if hiring a good domestic helper is not just “based on luck”?Responsible sourcing and what it means to us?Migratesafe has built a careful process to responsibly source suitable hel
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Digital Nomad vs MTEP vs MD Status: Which pathway is the best for you?
Breakdown of the tech ecosystem for tech market entry in Malaysia, digital nomad, mdec, sdec, mtep, and MD status
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A complete guide to the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) Company Registration in Malaysia
Expatriate Services Division (ESD) company registration, requirements, eligibility, paid up capital requirements and permitted industries.
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Malaysia visa entry for foreign artists, photographers, production houses
Central Agency Committee for Application for Filming and Foreign Artists Presentations (Unit Permohonan Penggambaran Filem Asing dan Persembahan Artis Luar Negara
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Complete Visa Guide for Malaysia with 2026 updates
Visas in Malaysia, employment pass, work permit, residency visa, family visas, all types of visas Malaysia
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Everything you need to know about visas in Sarawak (2026) - New updates
Are you a foreigner or West Malaysian or Sabahan living in Sarawak? You will need a visa. Check out our visa guide for Sarawak to figure out which visa applies to you.
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How much does it cost to hire a Filipino helper (maid) in Sarawak and Malaysia? New Updates 2026
Cost of hiring a Filipino helper in Sarawak, new updates, HAVEN system, new administrative cost of RM1854, new salary updates of USD 500
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2026 update: New process for Employment Pass in Sarawak
New Employment Pass process Sarawak, 2026, Renewal of Employment Pass, Sansols, Aliance, Exprt, new administrative cost RM1854
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2025 in review: Immigration News and Updates for Sarawak
This article outlines the changes to employment pass, domestic helper applications and foreign worker labour quota and applications in Sarawak over 2025 brought about by the implementation of FWTA, ALIANCE, SANSOLS, EXPRT, and HAVEN.
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Cost implications for employers of domestic helper (maid) in Sarawak from 1 January 2026
Increased cost to hire domestic helper (maid) in Sarawak, 2026, digitisation
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FAQ for domestic helpers (maids) SOCSO contributions in Malaysia 2026
It is now mandatory to make SOCSO contributions for your domestic helpers (maids) in Malaysia. This applies to both Indonesian and Filipino helpers. The rate of contribution is 1.25% of the helpers' monthly salaries. There are no contributions required from the helpers. Here are some of the Frequently Asked Questions (
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Document Checklist for Expatriate Services Division Company Registration in Malaysia
Expatriate Services Division Company Registration Document Checklist West Malaysia
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Immigration Pathways for Foreign Tech Founders in Malaysia
Market Entry, Company Set Up, Digital Nomad, Malaysia Digital, MDEC, SDEC, Malaysia Tech Entrepreneurship Visa
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Signs of non-compliance for the hiring of Foreign Domestic Helper (maid) in Sarawak
Many employers unknowingly end up with non-compliant hires because they are not aware of Sarawak’s immigration requirements. Here are the key warning signs to look out for.
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Can employers bring domestic helpers (maids) from West Malaysia to Sarawak?
West Malaysia helper permits, Sarawak work permits, Sarawak helper permits
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DE Rantau Sarawak Pass: A Unique Opportunity for Digital Nomads seeking Nature, Culture and Exclusivity
Digital Nomad Sarawak, DE Rantau, Malaysia, Digital Nomad, 2025
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New costs to hire Foreign Workers in Sarawak (2025)
foreign worker hiring costs, SANSOLS, sarawak, foreign worker recruitment
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Compliance Checklist for the Hiring of Migrant Workers (Foreign Workers) in Malaysia
foreign workers, migrant workers, compliance, employer pays, housing accommodation, immigration levies, permits, labour quotas
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Resident Pass-Talent, the most desired Employment Pass in Malaysia
Resident pass talent, employment pass, work permit, visa, residency, Malaysia
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Non-Residency Tax Rates for Expatriates and Returning Malaysians
tax rates, 30% flat tax, non-residency tax, 182 days, other ways to gain tax residency in Malaysia
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General Information about Student Passes and Guardian Visas Malaysia (2025)
Student visa, guardian visa, dependents, income requirements, document checklists Malaysia
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How to apply for the Investor Pass Malaysia (2025)?
Investor pass, Director visa, Investor visa, Foreign Direct Investments, Malaysia, Data Centers, Manufacturing, Tech Exploration
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Market Entry Strategy to Sarawak - What do businesses need to know?
Market entry to Sarawak, things to know, rules and regulations, licensing, land acquisition, immigration, visas, family relocations.
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Employer of Record (EOR) Arrangements in Malaysia
Employer of Record (EOR), outsourcing, manpower, people management and payroll management in Malaysia
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Internship, Secondment, and Training Visa Options in Malaysia (2025)
Internship visa, secondment visa, temporary placement visa, training visa in Malaysia
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Sarawak's Labour Policy on Foreign Worker Recruitment and Expatriates
Foreign Worker Policy and Expatriate Policy in Sarawak or Labour Policy in Sarawak
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What do Foreign Direct Investors need to know about hiring in Malaysia?
Foreign Direct Investment and hiring in Malaysia
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Permitted Sectors to Hire Expatriates in Sarawak and Malaysia
What are the permitted sectors?There is no exhaustive list of permitted sectors to hire expatriates in Sarawak. Generally, the industries that allow the hiring of expatriates in Sarawak and Malaysia are:Certain sectors are also considered on a case by case basis depending on the need of the State. The Sarawak governmen
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What is the Sarawak Foreign Worker Transformation Approach?
Sarawak's Foreign Worker Transformation Approach (FWTA) for foreign workers and immigration processes
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An agency perspective: On ethical recruitment in ASEAN 2024
Migratesafe is a full service employment agency dedicated to the safe migration of migrant workers from the Indonesian and Filipino corridor to Sarawak, Malaysia. For the past 2 years, we have been rolling out ethical recruitment solutions in the domestic worker market, explored conversations with manufacturers for eth
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Malaysia visa entry for religious students, preachers or setting up of religious institutions
There are special procedures for the visa entry of persons involved in religious activities in Malaysia. In both West and East Malaysia (Sarawak and Sabah), prior permission must be sought from the relevant authorities before an application can be submitted to the Immigration Department of Malaysia. In West Malaysia, p
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What happens when your domestic helper (maid) develops a serious medical condition?
In Malaysia, the medical screening criteria for foreign workers including foreign domestic helpers (or maids) is designed to vet for long term chronic illnesses. For example, according to FOMEMA's website*, if a worker is found to have Tuberculosis, STD (Syphilis), Pregnancy, Malaria, HIV, Hepatitis B, Hepatitis C and
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How much does it cost to hire an Indonesian helper (maid) in Sarawak and Malaysia (2024)?
Budget to hire Indonesian helpers or maids in Sarawak and Malaysia
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How to hire Filipino Helpers (Maids) in Sarawak? Everything you need to know (2024)
Here's everything you need to know about hiring a Filipino maid in Sarawak.
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How to apply for a work permit in Sarawak?
Firstly, who requires a work permit in Sarawak?According to the Sarawak Labour Ordinance, any person who is a non-resident employee under Section 119 will require a work pass to work in Sarawak. This means anyone who is a non-Sarawakian, whether West Malaysian, Sabahan or ForeignerWhat is the process to apply for a wor
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Can West Malaysian spouses work in Sarawak, and how?
Many West Malaysians married to Sarawakians move to Sarawak, knowing very little about the nuanced immigration situation that will soon dictate many aspects of their lives in Sarawak. Sabahans and foreigners face the same issues too. Very little information can be found online. And when you visit the immigration depart
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How to manage the risk of hiring foreign domestic helpers?
Hiring domestic helpers from abroad has inherent risks. At Migratesafe, we take a preventive approach to maximise the chance of your family finding a successful placement. Here's how Migratesafe's processes delivers a seamless and transparent process to you and your family. Our website and its contents are provided for
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List of International Schools in Sarawak
Looking for an International School in Sarawak? This article is for you!📍Kuching1. Lodge International School 📆School term starts in JanuaryCurriculum Offered: • Cambridge Primary, Year 2 to Year 6 (for aged 7-11 years old) • Cambridge Secondary, Year 7 to Year 11 (for aged 11-17 years old) • Cambridge A-levelClick h
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Hiring an Indonesian helper vs Filipino helper (maid) in Malaysia 2024
If you're looking to hire a domestic helper (maid) for the first time, you may be considering hiring either from Indonesia or the Philippines. Here are some of the differences to take note of. Language Most Filipinos speak Tagalog as a first language and English as a second language. Generally, most Filipino helpers do
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Rest day management for domestic helpers (maids) in 2024
If your family hires a domestic helper (maid) in Malaysia, it's important to take note of rest day requirements. For Filipino helpers, rest days have been compulsory and mandated by their standard form contract for many years. For Indonesian workers, rest day entitlements are still new (since 2022). Why are rest days i
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Professional Visit Pass Sarawak Document checklist 2024
The professional visit pass is a short term work permit for West Malaysians or foreigners to work in Sarawak. This is typically applied for when companies are engaged for short term project work in Sarawak in oil and gas, infrastructure or professional services industries. 

Eligibility requirements Here are
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Declaring overseas income to hire a domestic helper in Sarawak or Malaysia
Many Malaysians live and work abroad (such as in Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, the United States, or Europe), but still have elderly parents living in Malaysia. Being far away, overseas Malaysians may choose to make care arrangements by hiring a domestic helper in Malaysia. The Malaysian immigration department requi
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Key Principles of Ethical Recruitment for Migrant Workers
According to the latest available estimates by the ILO, there are 169 million international migrant workers globally. Which means, international migrant workers make up 4.9 per cent of the global labour force. However, many migrant workers around the world are still vulnerable to abuse of human rights, such as forced l
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Understanding Ethical Recruitment for Domestic Helpers (maids) in Malaysia and What it Means
What is Ethical Recruitment? According to the IOM, ethical recruitment means hiring workers lawfully and in a fair and transparent manner. Ethical recruitment ensures that all candidates are treated with respect to their human rights.Many domestic workers ("helpers") in Asia come from rural and semi rural loc
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Document Checklist for Labour Quota Application in Sarawak
Are you planning to hire foreign workers in Sarawak? This article may help in guiding you to prepare the necessary documents for the application.Foreign workers are generally allowed to work in approved sectors, which are:1. Manufacturing2. Plantation3. Agriculture4. Construction5. Services (Restaurant, Laundry, Wareho
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Do West Malaysians or Sabahans need work permits in Sarawak?
Sarawak work permits for West Malaysians and Sabahans
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Where can Filipino Helpers find Catholic Churches in Sarawak
Are you looking for a church to go during your weekly rest day? Here are our recommendations! Kuching1. St. Joseph's Cathedral - The Archdiocese of KuchingMass Services:Saturday Sunset : 6:00pm (English)Sunday Evening: 5:00pm (English)2. St. Peter's Church, Padungan Mass Services:Saturday Sunset: 6:00pm (English)Sunday
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Comparison chart between Sarawak's S-MM2H and the MM2H program
S-MM2H, MM2H, Malaysia My 2nd Home information and comparison
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How to manage your domestic helper's (maid) schedule in Malaysia?
Domestic helper (maid) schedule in Malaysia
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Alternative retention strategies for Indonesian helpers in Malaysia
Tips on how to manage your Indonesian helper, so you can have a long and healthy working relationship!
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How to hire foreign workers in Sarawak/ Malaysia?
Hiring foreign workers is a great alternative to resolving some of your labour issues in Malaysia, particularly where locals are not able to fill or stay in the vacancies. Typically foreign workers are hired in labour intensive industries such as construction, manufacturing and plantation.There are many regulations and
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Can non-Sarawakians/ foreigners hire domestic helpers in Sarawak?
Hiring a live in domestic helper is a common practice in Asia. Live in helpers provide an essential service for certain care services such as elderly mobility care, companionship, childcare and infant care. Household employers also hire live in helpers as an affordable option for regular house management, meal preparat
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Indonesian helper contract salary, payments, rest days and overtime pay (2023)
As of April 2022, the Indonesian and Malaysian government have negotiated a new contract for the hiring of Indonesian helpers in Malaysia. Basic salary The basic salary of Indonesian helpers is now RM1500 monthly. Rest day and overtime pay Indonesian helpers are now entitled to 1 weekly rest day. If they are required t
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How to transfer your helper (maid) from West Malaysia to Sarawak
Are you relocating from West Malaysia to Sarawak? Here are the steps to bring your helper to Sarawak from West Malaysia. Step 1Shorten the existing pass and apply for a special pass for the purposes of transfer to Sarawak with the immigration department where the pass is issued. Step 2 Request for a letter of transfer
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Labour Recalibration Program (RTK 2.0) Sarawak - Legalise your overstayed workers
Sarawak's Labour Recalibration Program (RTK 2.0) is now live from 1 July 2023 to 31 December 2023. What is the Labour Recalibration Program (RTK2.0)? Labour Recalibration Program is a temporary measure by the government to legalise overstayed foreign workers in Malaysia. This is often introduced by the government, when
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Professional Visit Pass in Sarawak 2023
Are you an oil and gas company, construction company or manufacturing company bringing in short term contractors to complete project works in Sarawak? With the professional visit pass, you can bring in West Malaysian temporary skilled workers or experts to Sarawak quickly and efficiently. Which companies will require t
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Hiring a domestic helper VS nursing home care VS on demand home care in Malaysia (2023)
Comparison between hiring a domestic helper, nursing home or on demand care services in Malaysia
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Navigating the Right Channels: Understanding Calling Visas and Avoiding Illegal Placements
How to apply for work permit for domestic helpers in Sarawak and Malaysia
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How to reduce worker runaways in the domestic helper (maid) industry
Abscondment or runaway cases for domestic helpers (maid)
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Can plantations in Malaysia survive the labour drought?
Malaysia and Indonesia produce up to 80% of the global palm oil supply. This industry is highly labour intensive due to hilly terrains and vast land masses that makes logistics and automation challenging. The labour intensive nature of work also means that these jobs are undesirable and hazardous, despite being more fi
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Can West Malaysian companies hire migrant workers in Sarawak?
Those who live in Malaysia will know that Sarawak and Sabah have its own jurisdiction over certain matters, especially employment and immigration. West Malaysian companies can set up businesses in Sarawak, but must comply with the Labour Ordinance 1958 and the immigration requirements to hire "non-resident employe
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Does the Minimum Wage Order apply to migrant workers?
The short answer is, yes. The Minimum Wage Order In Malaysia, the minimum wage is reviewed by the Minimum Wage Consultative Council from time to time acting under statutorily conferred powers. Through a process of consultation with stakeholders and benchmarking with minimum wage internationally, the Council makes recom
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Labour quota application Sarawak
What is a labour quota application? To hire foreign workers in Sarawak, you need an approved labour quota from the labour department. The labour quota will state how many foreign workers you are allowed to hire at your worksite. You can proceed to apply for permits for new applicants with the immigration department onl
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How to renew Indonesian worker passport in Sarawak (2023)
This is how you can renew your Indonesian helper's passport with the Indonesian High Commissioner in Kuching, Sarawak. First, make an appointment via this whatsapp number: +60109546570 Photo taken at Indonesian Consulate, Kuching, Sarawak on 29 November 2022 Secondly, prepare the following documents: PASSPORT RENEWAL R
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Minimising worker abscondment at your worksite
What is abscondment? "Abscondment" is a form of termination where a worker leaves his or her worksite without notice, and without intention to return to the job. "Abscondment" is also used interchangeably with "runaway". These two words are frequently used in the context of employment of m
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