Sarawak work permits and visas
Sarawak controls its own immigration. You file with the Sarawak Immigration Department, on state platforms, under state policy, and none of it runs through Putrajaya.
The short answer
Sarawak issues its own work permits and expatriate passes under the Malaysia Agreement 1963. A federal Employment Pass issued in Kuala Lumpur does not authorise work in Sarawak. Since November 2025 new expatriate applications begin on the ALIANCE platform, with certain vacancies advertised on JobSarawak first. Professional Visit Pass, Spouse Programme, Dependent Pass and expatriates’ domestic helper passes remain manual processes.
What changed for Sarawak Employment Passes in 2026?
- Applications start on ALIANCE, the state platform, rather than being filed manually. The pilot began 1 November 2025.
- JobSarawak replaced MYFutureJobs as the advertising portal for expatriate vacancies.
- An administrative charge of RM1,854 per application (RM2,002.30 with SST) applies to new applications on ALIANCE from 1 January 2026.
- A labour quota may now be required for expatriate hiring, not only for foreign workers.
What you get for it is speed, and it is a real gain. Positions that do not need advertising are coming back approved in under a month, against five to eight months on the old manual process. Positions that do need advertising are running at about two months.
Which Sarawak applications are still manual?
- Professional Visit Pass
- Spouse Programme Employment Pass
- Dependent Pass
- Passes for the domestic helpers of expatriates
No administrative charge has been announced for these.
What do we handle in Sarawak?
- Employment Pass (Sarawak) ALIANCE registration, JobSarawak advertising, application and renewal
- Professional Visit Pass (Sarawak) Short assignments on a foreign payroll
- Labour quota application Before any foreign worker recruitment begins
- Foreign worker permits Sector-approved non-executive hiring
How do Sarawak renewals work now?
Existing Employment Pass holders renew on ALIANCE, and your company has to be registered on the platform before you can file. That is what catches people out. Registration is not instant, and a renewal will not wait for you.
Companies that file through us
A sample of the employers whose passes and permits we handle.
Sources
- Immigration Department of Sarawak Jabatan Imigresen Sarawak
- GENESIS Sarawak Sarawak State Government
- Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak Ministry of Human Resources
Tell 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