Earn in Malaysia

In plain termsStart with who pays you. A Malaysian employer → Employment Pass. An overseas employer on a short host assignment → Professional Visit Pass. Three years already on an EP → check Residence Pass-Talent. Stay passes answer remain, not hire.

Three earn doors

Employment Pass — local hire. Basic salary paid by the Malaysian company in ringgit (yes). Categories I / II / III.
Professional Visit Pass-Expert — short assignment while you stay on an overseas payroll (yes). Cap 12 months, not extendable (yes).
Residence Pass-Talent — after 3 years consecutive on an Employment Pass, at basic pay from 15000 MYR. Pass runs 10 years and is not tied to one employer (yes).

Employment Pass — which salary band

Read the band on basic pay, then the duration beside it. Since 1 June 2026 the two move together.

Category	Basic monthly salary	Maximum duration
Category I	From 20000 MYR and above	Up to 10 years
Category II	10000 MYR to 19999 MYR	Up to 10 years, succession plan required
Category III	5000 MYR to 9999 MYR — but 7000 MYR and up if the employer is in manufacturing or manufacturing-related services	Up to 5 years, succession plan required

Floors are read on basic salary alone (yes). A housing allowance does not lift you into the next band. Dual-function job titles are not allowed (yes).

Professional Visit Pass — short, overseas payroll

This is not DE Rantau (yes). PVP-Expert is a host-sponsored assignment: you stay employed overseas, deliver work for one Malaysian sponsor (yes), and cannot bring a Dependant Pass (yes). Filing channel splits by sector: ESD Online / MIDA Expatriate System. Manufacturing and listed MIDA services go through MIDA (yes), with a 1200 MYR MIDA fee and a 15 working days charter.

Stay is not work

A stay stamp alone does not make the job lawful (yes). Enter only after an Approval Letter (yes). A Dependant Pass does not authorise employment (no). Neither does a Social Visit Pass (Long Term) (no). Map stay on /malaysia/visa and tax days on /malaysia/tax.

Before the pass — employer gate and experience floorsESD registration, paid-up capital, sector blocks, succession plan

The employer registers first

yes. Charter about 5 working days when documents are complete. Paid-up capital floors on ESD Online: local 250000 MYR, joint venture 350000 MYR, 100% foreign 500000 MYR, foreign-owned wholesale / retail / trade 1000000 MYR.

Sector gates instead of a closed-job list

Malaysia has not published an Indonesia-style numbered closed-occupation schedule (yes). What it does publish: restricted distributive-trade sectors cannot file long-term Employment Passes (yes), and ICT companies on ESD Online are limited to Professional Visit Pass-Expert (yes).

Experience floors for an EP post

Guidebook minimums: degree with 3 years relevant experience, diploma with 5 years, technical certificate with 7 years. Approval remains with the Expatriate Committee.

Succession plan and the duration clock

Category II and III need a defined succession plan (yes). Duration is counted against the employing company (yes). Category III also lost its minimum-salary exemption (yes) and cooling-off period (yes). Dependants for Category III turn on the pass issue date (yes). Renewals may start 3 months before expiry.

Residence Pass-Talent — after three years on an EPRM15,000 basic, tax history, spouse may seek work

TalentCorp runs RP-T with Immigration. Minimum path: 3 years consecutive on an Employment Pass, basic pay from 15000 MYR, 5 years total work experience, and 2 years of recent Malaysian income tax paid. The pass runs 10 years. A spouse on RP-T may seek employment without a separate Employment Pass (yes).

Evidence and sources53 dated facts for Earn in Malaysia — Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass and Residence Pass-Talent

The readable briefing above uses these cells. Open a source only when you need to verify a number, date, or legal gate.

Revised Expatriate Salary Policy applies to applications from
ESD (Immigration Department of Malaysia) announcement 'Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026', 15 Jan 2026, citing MOHA press release 14 Jan 2026 and Cabinet approval 17 Oct 2025 — the revised thresholds apply to all new and renewal Employment Pass applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026; complete applications submitted before that date are assessed under the previous policy
2026-06-01checked Aug 2026
Employment Pass categories
ESD (Immigration Department of Malaysia) announcement 'Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026', 15 Jan 2026, citing MOHA press release 14 Jan 2026 and Cabinet approval 17 Oct 2025 — Employment Pass Category I, Category II and Category III each carry their own basic-salary floor and maximum employment duration
I / II / IIIchecked Aug 2026
Minimum basic monthly salary, Employment Pass Category I (from 1 Jun 2026)
ESD (Immigration Department of Malaysia) announcement 'Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026', 15 Jan 2026, citing MOHA press release 14 Jan 2026 and Cabinet approval 17 Oct 2025 — Category I revised minimum basic monthly salary RM20,000 and above (previously RM10,000); Employment Pass duration up to 10 years
20000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Lower bound of Employment Pass Category II basic monthly salary band (from 1 Jun 2026)
ESD (Immigration Department of Malaysia) announcement 'Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026', 15 Jan 2026, citing MOHA press release 14 Jan 2026 and Cabinet approval 17 Oct 2025 — Category II revised minimum basic monthly salary RM10,000 – RM19,999 (previously RM5,000 – RM9,999)
10000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Upper bound of Employment Pass Category II basic monthly salary band (from 1 Jun 2026)
ESD (Immigration Department of Malaysia) announcement 'Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026', 15 Jan 2026, citing MOHA press release 14 Jan 2026 and Cabinet approval 17 Oct 2025 — Category II revised band ends at RM19,999; at RM20,000 and above the application sits in Category I
19999 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Lower bound of Employment Pass Category III basic monthly salary band (from 1 Jun 2026)
ESD (Immigration Department of Malaysia) announcement 'Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026', 15 Jan 2026, citing MOHA press release 14 Jan 2026 and Cabinet approval 17 Oct 2025 — Category III revised minimum basic monthly salary RM5,000 – RM9,999 (previously RM3,000 – RM4,999)
5000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Upper bound of Employment Pass Category III basic monthly salary band (from 1 Jun 2026)
ESD (Immigration Department of Malaysia) announcement 'Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026', 15 Jan 2026, citing MOHA press release 14 Jan 2026 and Cabinet approval 17 Oct 2025 — Category III revised band ends at RM9,999; at RM10,000 the application sits in Category II
9999 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Employment Pass Category III floor for manufacturing / MRS employers (from 1 Jun 2026)
MOHA / Immigration Department FAQ 'Revised Expatriate Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026' (updated 12 Feb 2026) Q10 — for companies in the Manufacturing Sector and Manufacturing-Related Services (MRS) under MITI / MIDA purview, the Employment Pass Category III band is RM7,000 – RM9,999; manufacturing sub-sectors must hold a Manufacturing Licence or a Manufacturing Exemption Confirmation Letter
7000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Employment Pass salary floors are measured on basic salary only
MOHA / Immigration Department FAQ 'Revised Expatriate Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026' (updated 12 Feb 2026) Q9 — the salary requirement is based on basic salary only; allowances and other payments are not included in the calculation
yeschecked Aug 2026
Maximum Employment Pass duration, Category I
ESD (Immigration Department of Malaysia) announcement 'Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026', 15 Jan 2026, citing MOHA press release 14 Jan 2026 and Cabinet approval 17 Oct 2025 — Category I Employment Pass duration up to 10 years
10 yearschecked Aug 2026
Maximum Employment Pass duration, Category II (succession plan required)
ESD (Immigration Department of Malaysia) announcement 'Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026', 15 Jan 2026, citing MOHA press release 14 Jan 2026 and Cabinet approval 17 Oct 2025 — Category II Employment Pass duration up to 10 years with a succession plan
10 yearschecked Aug 2026
Maximum Employment Pass duration, Category III (succession plan required)
ESD (Immigration Department of Malaysia) announcement 'Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026', 15 Jan 2026, citing MOHA press release 14 Jan 2026 and Cabinet approval 17 Oct 2025 — Category III Employment Pass duration up to 5 years with a succession plan
5 yearschecked Aug 2026
Succession plan is defined in the primary FAQ, not left to the employer
MOHA / Immigration Department FAQ 'Revised Expatriate Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026' (updated 12 Feb 2026) Q4 — a succession plan is a structured employer plan to prepare local employees to replace expatriate roles within the stipulated employment period: identifying the roles to be taken over, training and mentoring including knowledge transfer, a timeline for readiness, and continuity planning so the transition does not affect productivity
yeschecked Aug 2026
Employment duration clock is tied to the employer, not the person
MOHA / Immigration Department FAQ 'Revised Expatriate Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026' (updated 12 Feb 2026) Q11–Q12 — the expatriate employment period is calculated against the employing company from 1 June 2026; on a change of company the clock starts from the date of employment with the new company, and on a change of pass category from the issuance date of the new pass
yeschecked Aug 2026
The Category III minimum-salary exemption route is closed from 1 Jun 2026
MOHA / Immigration Department FAQ 'Revised Expatriate Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026' (updated 12 Feb 2026) Q18 — minimum salary exemption applications for Employment Pass Category III will no longer apply starting 1 June 2026
yeschecked Aug 2026
The Category III cooling-off period is removed under the revised policy
MOHA / Immigration Department FAQ 'Revised Expatriate Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026' (updated 12 Feb 2026) Q21 — the cooling-off period will no longer apply to Employment Pass Category III following implementation of the revised policy
yeschecked Aug 2026
Whether a Category III holder may bring dependants turns on the pass issue date
MOHA / Immigration Department FAQ 'Revised Expatriate Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026' (updated 12 Feb 2026) Q20 — Category III passes issued before 1 June 2026 remain under the existing policy, which does not allow dependants; Category III applications submitted from 1 June 2026 are subject to the revised policy
yeschecked Aug 2026
Earliest Employment Pass renewal filing before expiry
MOHA / Immigration Department FAQ 'Revised Expatriate Salary Policy Effective 1 June 2026' (updated 12 Feb 2026) Q16 — valid pass holders need not resubmit, but renewal applications may be submitted as early as three months before pass expiry and fall under the revised policy if made after 1 June 2026
3 monthschecked Aug 2026
A stay stamp alone is not Malaysian Employment Pass work authority
ESD Online Guidebook V6 — Employment Pass applications require approval before entering for employment; Dependant Pass / long-term social visit paths are listed as separate instruments from EP
yeschecked Aug 2026
A Malaysian employer must register on ESD Online before filing expatriate passes
ESD Online Guidebook V6 (14 Apr 2025) FAQ — all companies will need to register via ESD Online as a first step; ESD-approved companies can then apply for Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass-Expert, Dependant Pass and Social Visit Pass (Long Term)
yeschecked Aug 2026
ESD company-registration charter
ESD Online Guidebook V6 FAQ — company registration process takes five (5) working days to status notification, subject to complete documentation
5 working dayschecked Aug 2026
ESD paid-up capital floor — 100% local-owned company
ESD Online Guidebook V6 — paid-up capital for 100% locally owned companies: RM250,000 (not applicable to public limited companies, companies limited by guarantee, associations and organisations under specific acts)
250000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
ESD paid-up capital floor — joint venture
ESD Online Guidebook V6 — paid-up capital for joint-venture companies: RM350,000; joint ventures also need minimum 30% foreign shareholding
350000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
ESD paid-up capital floor — 100% foreign-owned company
ESD Online Guidebook V6 — paid-up capital for 100% foreign-owned companies: RM500,000
500000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
ESD paid-up capital floor — foreign-owned WRT company
ESD Online Guidebook V6 — foreign-owned companies (foreign equity 51%+) in Wholesale, Retail and Trade (WRT) sectors: RM1,000,000 paid-up, with mandatory valid WRT approval letter where applicable
1000000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Restricted distributive-trade sectors cannot file long-term Employment Passes
ESD Online Guidebook V6 note (2) — under KPDN Guidelines on Foreign Participation in the Distributive Trade Services Malaysia, applications for any long-term pass (more than 3 months) including Employment Pass for companies in those restricted sectors are NOT ALLOWED
yeschecked Aug 2026
ICT companies on ESD Online are limited to Professional Visit Pass-Expert
ESD Online Guidebook V6 note (3) — the Information, Technology & Communications (ICT) sector is only allowed to apply for Professional Visit Pass-Expert (PVP) via ESD Online
yeschecked Aug 2026
Approval Letter is required before entering Malaysia to take up the job
ESD Online Guidebook V6 Employment Pass / PVP conditions — all applications must obtain an Approval Letter before entering Malaysia for the purpose of employment
yeschecked Aug 2026
Employment Pass basic salary must be paid by the Malaysian employer in MYR
ESD Online Guidebook V6 employment-contract checklist — basic salary (excluding gross salary / allowances / incentives / bonuses) must be paid by the Malaysian company and stated in Ringgit Malaysia
yeschecked Aug 2026
A dual-function job title is not allowed on an Employment Pass
ESD Online Guidebook V6 employment-contract checklist — dual function position is NOT ALLOWED; the position in the contract, ESD Online, job description and Support/Approval Letter must be the same
yeschecked Aug 2026
Minimum relevant experience with a degree for an Employment Pass post
ESD Online Guidebook V6 — minimum for an expatriate post: Degree and above with at least 3 years of experience in the relevant field
3 yearschecked Aug 2026
Minimum relevant experience with a diploma for an Employment Pass post
ESD Online Guidebook V6 — Diploma with at least 5 years of experience in the relevant field
5 yearschecked Aug 2026
Minimum relevant experience with a technical certificate for an Employment Pass post
ESD Online Guidebook V6 — Technical Certificate or equivalent with at least 7 years of experience in the relevant field
7 yearschecked Aug 2026
A Dependant Pass does not authorise employment
ESD Online Guidebook V6 Dependant Pass features — Employment not allowed and requires conversion to Employment Pass
nochecked Aug 2026
A Social Visit Pass (Long Term) does not authorise employment
ESD Online Guidebook V6 Social Visit Pass (Long Term) features — Employment is not allowed and requires conversion to Employment Pass; study is not allowed and requires conversion to Student Pass
nochecked Aug 2026
Professional Visit Pass is the short earn door for people paid by an overseas employer
MIDA Procedures and Guidelines on Application for Professional Visit Pass (1 June 2026) §A/B — PVP allows foreign nationals to enter Malaysia temporarily to provide professional services, technical expertise or training without being employed by a Malaysian company; PVP holders are employed by overseas companies
yeschecked Aug 2026
Professional Visit Pass maximum duration
ESD Online Guidebook V6 PVP — the maximum duration for an expatriate to hold PVP is 12 months; no extensions are allowed beyond 12 months. MIDA PVP Guidelines (1 June 2026) §A — valid for a maximum duration of 12 months and is not extendable
12 monthschecked Aug 2026
Professional Visit Pass is not extendable past 12 months
ESD Online Guidebook V6 PVP + MIDA PVP Guidelines (1 June 2026) — no extensions beyond the 12-month maximum
yeschecked Aug 2026
Professional Visit Pass holders cannot bring dependants on a Dependant Pass
MIDA PVP Guidelines (1 June 2026) §C.11 — PVP holders are not entitled to apply for a Dependant Pass
yeschecked Aug 2026
Professional Visit Pass is tied to one Malaysian sponsor
MIDA PVP Guidelines (1 June 2026) §C.10 — the pass is specific to the Malaysian sponsoring company; PVP holders are NOT allowed to work for other companies in Malaysia. ESD Guidebook — change of employer requires cancel + exit before a new PVP
yeschecked Aug 2026
MIDA processing fee per Professional Visit Pass application
MIDA PVP Guidelines (1 June 2026) §F.7 — processing fees (exclude 8% SST): MIDA RM1,200.00 for each PVP application; Immigration RM180/RM360 pass issuance + visa fee RM6–RM50
1200 MYRchecked Aug 2026
MIDA Professional Visit Pass processing charter
MIDA PVP Guidelines (1 June 2026) §F.3 — client charter processed within 15 working days (including Immigration work process), subject to completeness
15 working dayschecked Aug 2026
MIDA assesses Professional Visit Pass for manufacturing and listed MIDA services sectors
MIDA PVP Guidelines (1 June 2026) §C.1 — sector: manufacturing and selected services sectors under MIDA’s purview; the Malaysian sponsoring company must be within sectors regulated by MIDA
yeschecked Aug 2026
Professional Visit Pass filing channel splits by sponsor sector
ESD Online Guidebook V6 lists Professional Visit Pass-Expert among MYXpats Centre services for ESD-registered companies; MIDA PVP Guidelines (1 June 2026) route manufacturing and selected MIDA services through MIDA Expatriate System via Xpats Gateway. Which channel applies depends on the sponsor’s sector
ESD Online / MIDA Expatriate Systemchecked Aug 2026
Professional Visit Pass-Expert is not the same door as DE Rantau
Contrast grounded in primary: MIDA/ESD PVP-Expert is a host-sponsored short assignment while the holder stays on an overseas payroll; MDEC DE Rantau is a separate Professional Visit Pass track for remote digital nomads. Do not treat the two as the same door
yeschecked Aug 2026
Residence Pass-Talent length
TalentCorp Residence Pass-Talent page — RP-T is a 10-year renewable visa for highly skilled expatriate talent, introduced with MOHA and the Immigration Department
10 yearschecked Aug 2026
Residence Pass-Talent minimum basic monthly salary
TalentCorp RP-T eligibility — earns a basic monthly salary of RM15,000 which excludes any allowances and/or bonuses; yearly basic salary declared should align (at least RM180,000 per annum)
15000 MYRchecked Aug 2026
Minimum consecutive Employment Pass years before Residence Pass-Talent
TalentCorp RP-T eligibility — has worked in Malaysia under the Employment Pass for a minimum of three (3) consecutive years at the time of application; holds a valid Employment Pass with more than 3 months validity at submission
3 yearschecked Aug 2026
Minimum total work experience for Residence Pass-Talent
TalentCorp RP-T eligibility — possesses at least 5 years of total work experience
5 yearschecked Aug 2026
Minimum recent Malaysian tax years paid for Residence Pass-Talent
TalentCorp RP-T eligibility — has a Malaysian income tax file number and has paid income tax for the most recent 2 years (minimum) at the time of application
2 yearschecked Aug 2026
Residence Pass-Talent is not tied to one Employment Pass employer
TalentCorp Residence Pass-Talent highlights — have the flexibility to change employers without converting the pass
yeschecked Aug 2026
An RP-T spouse can seek employment without a separate Employment Pass
TalentCorp Residence Pass-Talent highlights — spouse (legally married) is eligible for the RP-T and as such can seek employment in Malaysia without the need to apply for an Employment Pass
yeschecked Aug 2026
Malaysia has not published an Indo/Thai-style numbered closed-occupation list for expatriates
As of check date, ESD / MOHA primary publish salary floors, succession plans and sector gates (distributive-trade long-pass block; ICT→PVP-only on ESD) rather than a numbered closed-occupation schedule of the Thailand reserved-list / Indonesia personalia-list type. Do not invent a closed-job count
yeschecked Aug 2026

Common questions

Which earn door do I need?

Paid by a Malaysian company for an ongoing role → Employment Pass. Paid by an overseas company for a short host-sponsored assignment → Professional Visit Pass-Expert. Already three consecutive years on an Employment Pass at RM15,000+ basic → Residence Pass-Talent. MM2H and DE Rantau answer stay or remote digital-nomad work, not local hire.

What salary do I need for an Employment Pass?

Under the Revised Expatriate Salary Policy in force from 1 June 2026: Category I needs RM20,000 basic monthly and above, Category II RM10,000–19,999, and Category III RM5,000–9,999 — or RM7,000–9,999 if the employer is in manufacturing or manufacturing-related services. Allowances do not count.

What is a Professional Visit Pass?

A temporary pass for foreign professionals who stay on an overseas payroll while delivering services, training or project work for a Malaysian sponsor. Maximum 12 months, not extendable, no Dependant Pass. Manufacturing and listed MIDA services file through MIDA; other ESD-registered sponsors use ESD Online.

Can my spouse work on a Dependant Pass?

No. ESD materials state employment is not allowed on a Dependant Pass or a Social Visit Pass (Long Term). Conversion to an Employment Pass is required. An RP-T spouse is different — TalentCorp states they can seek employment without a separate Employment Pass.

Can I work on MM2H or DE Rantau?

Not as a substitute for an Employment Pass. MM2H is a stay programme. DE Rantau is a separate Professional Visit Pass for remote digital nomads — not the host-sponsored PVP-Expert door described on this page.