Employment Pass, Peninsular Malaysia
The federal pass for skilled expatriates, filed through the Expatriate Services Division. Check the salary first: the thresholds doubled on 1 June 2026.
The short answer
The Employment Pass is the federal work authorisation for skilled expatriates employed by a Malaysian company in Peninsular Malaysia. It is issued in three categories by monthly salary: EP1 from RM20,000, EP2 from RM10,000 to RM19,999, and EP3 from RM5,000 to RM9,999. The category decides contract length and whether dependants can be sponsored. The employing company must be registered with the Expatriate Services Division first. It does not authorise work in Sarawak, which bands at RM5,000 and RM3,000 instead.
What are the three Employment Pass categories?
Peninsular Malaysia issues three categories, banded at RM20,000, RM10,000 and RM5,000 a month. A salary below RM5,000 does not qualify for an Employment Pass in Peninsular Malaysia.
| Category | Monthly salary | Dependants |
|---|---|---|
| EP1 | RM20,000 and above | Dependants and a domestic helper permitted |
| EP2 | RM10,000 – RM19,999 | Dependants permitted |
| EP3 | RM5,000 – RM9,999 | Dependants not permitted |
| Category | Contract length | Renewal |
|---|---|---|
| EP1 | Up to 5 years | Renewable |
| EP2 | Up to 2 years | Renewable |
| EP3 | Up to 12 months | Limited renewals |
What does the company need to qualify?
- Registration with the Expatriate Services Division.
- Paid-up capital appropriate to the shareholding structure, foreign-owned companies face a higher expectation than locally owned ones.
- A genuine position, with a job description matching the candidate’s qualifications and experience.
- Sector eligibility. Not every sector may employ expatriates.
What documents are required?
- Passport, valid well beyond the intended pass period, with clear scans of every page.
- Degree certificates and transcripts, with certification or attestation where required.
- Employment references covering the claimed experience.
- The signed employment contract.
- Company documents: SSM registration, Form 24/49 or their current equivalents, latest audited accounts.
- A passport-standard photograph meeting the specification.
Does this pass cover Sarawak?
No. Sarawak issues its own Employment Pass through the Sarawak Immigration Department. An employee relocating from Kuala Lumpur to Kuching needs a separate Sarawak application before starting work, even where the employer and the role are unchanged.
Sources
- Immigration Department of Malaysia Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia
- Expatriate Services Division portal Immigration Department of Malaysia
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