Reference
What is ESD?
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.
Federal Malaysia Expatriate Services Division
Who does it apply to?
Companies employing expatriates in Peninsular Malaysia.
Key facts
- Registration is a one-off, company-level exercise; pass applications are then filed per person.
- Sector, paid-up capital and shareholding structure are all assessed at registration.
- Foreign-owned companies face higher paid-up capital expectations than locally owned ones.
- ESD has no jurisdiction in Sarawak, which runs its own expatriate process.
Related
Sources
- ESD portal Immigration Department of Malaysia
Need help with ESD?
Tell us your situation and we’ll tell you whether this applies to you, and what it means in practice.
Mon–Fri, 9am–6pm · WhatsApp 1 business day · Email 1–2 business days