Employment Pass, Sarawak
Its own application, nothing to do with the one you may already hold in West Malaysia. Filed with Sarawak Immigration, started on ALIANCE.
The short answer
A Sarawak Employment Pass lets an expatriate work in Sarawak on a Sarawak-registered employer’s payroll. The Sarawak Immigration Department issues it. The federal Expatriate Services Division has nothing to do with it, and a federal Employment Pass will not stand in for one. Sarawak issues two categories: EP1 from RM5,000 a month, EP2 from RM3,000 to RM4,999. There is no EP3 here. Since November 2025, applications start on the ALIANCE platform.
What salary qualifies for a Sarawak Employment Pass?
Sarawak bands the Employment Pass at RM5,000 and RM3,000, and issues only two categories. There is no EP3 in Sarawak. A monthly salary below RM3,000 does not qualify for an Employment Pass here at all.
| Category | Monthly salary | Dependants |
|---|---|---|
| EP1 | RM5,000 and above | Dependants permitted |
| EP2 | RM3,000 – RM4,999 | Dependants subject to approval |
| Monthly salary | Sarawak | Peninsular Malaysia |
|---|---|---|
| RM20,000 and above | EP1 | EP1 |
| RM10,000 – RM19,999 | EP1 | EP2 |
| RM5,000 – RM9,999 | EP1 | EP3 |
| RM3,000 – RM4,999 | EP2 | Does not qualify |
| Under RM3,000 | Does not qualify | Does not qualify |
How is a Sarawak Employment Pass applied for?
- Register the company on ALIANCEDone once, at company level, and required for new applications and renewals alike. It is not instant, so start it well before you need a pass.
- Advertise on JobSarawak where requiredWhether advertising applies depends on the position. JobSarawak replaced MYFutureJobs for this purpose.
- Obtain a labour quota where requiredSince the 2026 changes, expatriate hiring may require a quota. Detailed policy guidance on how quotas are decided has not been published.
- File the pass applicationSubmitted through the platform, with the supporting company and candidate documents.
- EndorsementOn approval, the pass is endorsed in the passport.
- Employment Pass document checklist Everything to gather from your candidate and your company, with the certified copies and the LHDN stamping flagged
What does it cost?
From 1 January 2026 an administrative charge of RM1,854 per application (RM2,002.30 including SST) applies to new Employment Pass applications on ALIANCE. This sits on top of the government fees for the pass itself.
Renewals are charged too, at the same RM1,854. The charge applies to any application approved on or after 1 January 2026, so a case filed in December and approved in January is charged, and one approved in December is not.
How long does it take?
| Position type | Before ALIANCE | Now |
|---|---|---|
| No advertising required | 5–8 months | Under 1 month |
| Advertising required | 5–8 months | Around 2 months |
Those are the timelines reported since digitisation. They are not a promise, and they assume a complete file. An incomplete submission does not pause the clock. It restarts it.
How does renewal work?
Existing pass holders renew on ALIANCE, and you have to be registered on the platform before you can file. Start early enough that onboarding is not on the critical path. If the pass lapses while you are still registering, your employee is an overstayer, and it goes on their record rather than yours.
Sources
- Immigration Department of Sarawak Jabatan Imigresen Sarawak
- 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.
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