For expatriates intends to take up employment in Malaysia is required an employment permit in the form of an Employment Pass by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

An Employment Pass is a working visa that allows foreigners to legally live and work in Malaysia.

There are 3 types of Employment Permits:

 

Company paid-up capital Requirement

Equity Paid-Up Capital
100% local owned RM250,000
Joint venture (minimum foreign equity is 30%) RM350,000
100% foreign owned RM500,000
Foreign-owned companies (foreign equity at 51% and above) operating in the Wholesale, Retail and Trade (WRT) sectors (mandatory requirement to submit valid WRT license, if applicable).

Please refer to the Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism for WRT license application guideline		 RM1,000,0000
Foreign-owned companies (foreign equity at 51% and above) involved in the sub sectors on unregulated services are required to refer to the Services Industry Division, Ministry of Domestic Trade, Co-operatives and Consumerism on the application guideline to obtain approval.

The minimum requirements to apply for an expatriate post are as follows:

  1. Degree and above, with at least 3 years’ experience in the relevant field;
  2. Diploma, with at least 5 years’ experience in the relevant field;
  3. Technical Certificate or equivalent, with at least 7 years' experience in the relevant field
 

Duration of process at Immigration
We can help you apply for an employment pass within 4 to 6 months without fly into Malaysia until it is ready.

Sectors Not Allowed to apply for Employment Pass
The following sectors are restricted from applying for employment pass under the Guidelines on Foreign Participation in the Distributive Trade Services Malaysia:

  1. Supermarket / mini market (less than 3,000 square sales floor area)
  2. Provision shop / general vendor
  3. Convenience store (that opens for business for 24 hours)
  4. News agent and miscellaneous goods store
  5. Medical hall (inclined towards traditional alternative medicines plus general dry foodstuff)
  6. Fuel station with convenience store
  7. Fuel station without convenience store 
  8. Permanent wet market store
  9. Permanent pavement store
  10. National strategic interest
  11. Textile, restaurant (non exclusive), bistro, jewellery shops
  12. Others

You need to know

 
  1. Expatriates may only work for the company named in the employment pass.

  2. If an Employment Pass holder changes employers, the holder is required to submit a new application for a new Employment Pass

  3. Malaysian Government controls on the number of foreign expatriates for company, the company must proof the foreign expatriates and the position are of vital importance and their jobs cannot be filled by local citizens