How to obtain a work visa Malaysia?

The Malaysia work visa will allow you to live a new professional experience.
Malaysia, this Southeast Asian country has become a real financial hub that attracts many companies and investors.
Malaysia’s development is phenomenal. You will only have to make a short visit to Kuala Lumpur to see the economic potential of Malaysia.
If you want to know more about working in Malaysia, we invite you to read our article work Malaysia.

The evolution of business activities in Malaysia is not surprising. Today, the country is one of the main commercial centers of the Asian continent. Malaysia’s economy is based on skills, new technologies and improved infrastructure. All these data attract many expatriates.

To work in Malaysia, you will need a Malaysia work visa in the form of a work permit. There are three types of documents to work in Malaysia (Work Permit, Temporary Work Permit and Professional Business Card).
The type of work permit issued by the immigration office depends on the expatriate’s skills.
If you want to know more about work permits in Malaysia, this guide is for you.

The Malaysia work visa : a work permit or “Employment Pass”

The work permit allows expatriates to work for a company in Malaysia.
This document is issued to expatriates with specific skills in a particular field, usually for technical or managerial positions.
First of all, you must find an employer, who will then take care of the administrative procedures to obtain the work visa.

There are three categories for this work permit:

I. First category : “EP1”

These are usually the senior positions.
Among the criteria, you have the following:

• Job seekers receive a monthly salary of RM10,000 or more.
• The job seekers have an employment contract for a maximum of 5 years.
  P.S.: Job seekers in this category may bring dependents, such as children or parents, as well as a spouse.
  Their work permit can be renewed.

II. Second category : the “EP2”

• These job seekers receive a monthly salary of more than RM5,000 and less than RM10,000.
• They have an employment contract that is valid for less than 2 years.
  P.S.: Job seekers in this category may bring dependents. Their work permit can be renewed as well, like the EP1s.

III. Third category : the “EP3”

The monthly salary of EP3 employees is less than RM5000 and equivalent to or more than RM3000.
Job seekers have a work contract of one year or less.
P.S.: Job seekers in this category are not allowed to bring dependents. Their work permit can be renewed up to two times.

In this category, we can find, for example, the cleaning ladies, the security staff (guards, surveillance agents, etc.).

Regardless of the category, it is the employer who must apply for the work permit.
First, the company must apply for an expatriate position with one of the government agencies.
The employer must first apply for an expatriate position with one of the government agencies.
The employer will need to submit the following documents to the immigration department:

• The application form for a work permit;
• A copy of the applicant’s passport;
• Letter of approval from the immigration office;
• Employment contract;
• CV and educational certificates; and
• Company profile.

Work visa Malaysia: temporary work permit

The temporary work permit is intended for semi-skilled job seekers in specific fields.
The temporary work permit is valid for one year.
Companies can request an extension on an annual basis for up to 10 years.

In what area of work?

Job seekers must work in construction, agriculture, planting, manufacturing and services and foreign domestic help.
The temporary work permit is only available to citizens of certain countries:
Bangladesh, Cambodia, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Laos, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.

P.S.: There are many government restrictions, depending on the country of origin of the job seeker. For example, Bangladeshi citizens are only allowed to work in the plantation sector. Citizens of India are not allowed to work in the manufacturing sector. However, male citizens of Indonesia are only allowed to work in the manufacturing sector. For female citizens of Indonesia, they can work in any field.

How to get it?

As with the first work permit, it is the employer who must file the application. The company will also need to apply for a visa approval letter from the Malaysian Immigration Department. At the same time, the company shall provide the following documents:

• Application form for VDR (Visa with reference);
• A letter of approval from the Ministry of the Interior regarding the approval of the quota;
• Visa application form;
• Receipt of payment of the levy;
• Bail;
• Copy of the job seeker’s passport;
• Passport size photo of the applicant;
• Medical certificate issued by a medical center in the applicant’s country of origin and valid for a minimum of three months; and
  Health Insurance;

P.S.: The application for a visa with reference (VDR) is made after the visa approval has been obtained. The application is made to the Malaysian Embassy in the applicant’s country of origin. At the same time, the job seeker must obtain an immigration security clearance from an immigration center in their home country.
The job seeker will only receive a temporary work permit after passing the medical examination (FOMEMA).

Other types of work visas Malaysia : business card

The professional business card is granted to job seekers with the necessary skills to work in Malaysia.
It is valid for a maximum of 12 months.

Job seekers must have an employment contract with a company in their home country and provide their services to a Malaysian company through the company in the home country.
P.S.: Job seekers are not allowed to bring dependents.

Like other work permits, the application must be made by the Malaysian company.
The employer must provide the following documents to the Immigration Department in Malaysia:

• Copy of the job seeker’s passport;
• Visa application form;
• Letter of offer from the Malaysian company;
• The company’s profile in Malaysia; and
• Academic certificates.

Individuals who may apply for the business card must fall into one of the following categories:

• Islamic missionaries;
• Artists;
• Government representatives;
• Volunteers;
• International students coming to Malaysia on an industrial training or mobility program; and
• Other religious missionaries.

P.S.: There are several restrictions related to the job seeker’s mission or country of origin. For example, Chinese citizens must add a bank certificate. For religious missionaries, they must add a letter of approval from the Department of Religion. They must also be under forty years old.

P.S.: As with the temporary work permit, the application for a visa with reference (VDR) is made after the visa approval has been obtained. After the employee arrives in Malaysia, it is mandatory to go to the immigration office to receive the business visit sticker on the passport.

Working in Malaysia is a very rewarding experience.
The process is very long, but the opportunity is worth the effort.

Read also

• Opening a company in Malaysia
• Employment Malaysia: work permits, search sites and more