Malaysian and Sarawak immigration systems, explained
Short definitions of the platforms, passes and agencies that decide immigration files in Malaysia and Sarawak.
The short answer
Malaysia runs two immigration systems. Peninsular Malaysia is administered federally through the Immigration Department and the Expatriate Services Division. Sarawak administers its own under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, on its own platforms. The entries below define each system, pass and agency, and say which jurisdiction it belongs to.
Looking for a single acronym? Every term is in the glossary.
Sarawak systems and platforms
GENESIS Sarawak
GENESIS, the Gateway and Employment for Non-Sarawakians via Sarawak’s Integrated System, is the ALIANCE module covering everyone who is not Sarawakian. Applications once filed on paper at counters in Kuching now start inside its submodules: EXPRT for expatriates, SANSOLS for foreign workers, HAVEN for domestic helpers and eVDR for the visa with reference.
ReadALIANCE Advanced Labour and Immigration Network Aligned Network for Compliance
ALIANCE is the Sarawak platform on which expatriate Employment Pass applications and renewals are filed. New applications have started here since the pilot phase began on 1 November 2025.
ReadHAVEN
HAVEN, the Household and Assistance Vetting and Employment Network, is the Sarawak platform for hiring a foreign domestic helper. State approval, the household labour quota and the calling visa all run through it. It is the household module of the Foreign Worker Transformation Approach, alongside EXPRT for expatriates and SANSOLS for foreign workers.
ReadSANSOLS
SANSOLS is a Sarawak state system used in the administration of labour and immigration compliance, forming part of the same digital ecosystem as ALIANCE and EXPRT.
ReadILC Kuching Immigration and Labour Integrated Centre
The Immigration and Labour Integrated Centre in Kuching brings immigration and labour functions into a single location, so an employer’s file can move between them without separate submissions at separate counters.
ReadJTKSWK licensing
JTKSWK, Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak, licenses private employment agencies operating in Sarawak. A licence is held by a company, never by an individual, and every licensed agency has a licence number that can be checked.
ReadS-MM2H Sarawak Malaysia My Second Home
S-MM2H is Sarawak’s own long-stay residence programme, administered by the Sarawak state government. It is separate from the federal MM2H programme and has its own financial criteria.
ReadFederal Malaysian systems and passes
ESD Expatriate Services Division
The Expatriate Services Division is the Immigration Department unit that handles federal expatriate pass applications in Peninsular Malaysia. A company must be registered with ESD before it can apply for any expatriate pass.
ReadSOCSO / PERKESO Pertubuhan Keselamatan Sosial
PERKESO, known in English as SOCSO, administers Malaysia’s social security schemes. Employers of foreign workers and foreign domestic helpers must register and contribute for the Employment Injury Scheme.
ReadMM2H Malaysia My Second Home
MM2H is Malaysia’s federal long-stay residence programme for foreign nationals. It is granted on financial criteria, and no job offer is involved. It gives you residence and no right to work.
ReadMTEP Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme
MTEP is a federal pass route for foreign technology entrepreneurs, allowing them to establish and run a technology venture in Malaysia without an employer sponsor.
ReadMD Status Malaysia Digital Status
Malaysia Digital Status is a company-level designation for qualifying digital businesses. It unlocks a set of incentives, including a more accommodating route to hiring foreign knowledge workers.
ReadResident Pass-Talent RP-T
The Resident Pass-Talent is a ten-year federal pass for highly qualified expatriates already working in Malaysia. Unlike an Employment Pass it is held by the individual, not tied to one employer.
ReadInvestor Pass
The Investor Pass is a residence route for foreign nationals holding a qualifying shareholding in a Malaysian company. It rests on the investment, and no employment is involved.
ReadApplying in both jurisdictions
PLKS Pas Lawatan Kerja Sementara
The PLKS, or Temporary Employment Visit Pass, is the permit held by a foreign worker in non-executive employment in Malaysia. It is tied to a named employer and an approved sector.
ReadDE Rantau
DE Rantau is Malaysia’s digital nomad pass, for remote workers and freelancers earning income from foreign clients or employers while living in Malaysia.
ReadTell us what you need
Describe your situation and we’ll tell you which pass fits it, what it costs and how long it takes.
Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm · WhatsApp 1 business day · Email 1–2 business days