Malaysia vs Kingdom of Norway
A neutral side-by-side of immigration systems, routes and regulators. Each row links to the underlying visa page with its primary government source.
Last reviewed:
Malaysia
Work and residence routes are administered by the Immigration Department of Malaysia under the Ministry of Home Affairs, with most expatriate work passes processed through the Expatriate Services Division (ESD). Headline routes include the Employment Pass for sponsored professionals, the Residence Pass-Talent for highly skilled long-term residents, the DE Rantau Nomad Pass for remote workers, and the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) long-stay programme. The Employment Pass salary policy was revised with effect from 1 June 2026.
- Official portal
- Immigration Department of Malaysia
- Languages
- Malay
- Currency
- Malaysian ringgit
Kingdom of Norway
Norway's immigration is administered by the Directorate of Immigration (UDI). As an EEA member (not EU), Norway participates in free movement for EU/EEA nationals. Third-country nationals require a residence permit for skilled workers, with employer sponsorship and a salary meeting the going rate. Self-employment, family immigration, and student permits are also available. Permanent residence after 3 years of continuous legal residence on a work permit.
- Official portal
- Utlendingsdirektoratet (UDI)
- Languages
- Norwegian (Bokmål), Norwegian (Nynorsk)
- Currency
- Norwegian krone
How Malaysia and Kingdom of Norway differ
| Dimension | Malaysia | Kingdom of Norway |
|---|---|---|
| Total routes covered | 5 | 4 |
| Routes without employer sponsor | 3 | 1 |
| Routes leading to permanent residence | 0 | 1 |
| Typical full settlement timeline | — | — |
| Dominant skilled visa | Employment Pass (EP) | Skilled Worker Residence Permit (Oppholdstillatelse som faglaert) |
| Skilled visa salary minimum | — | — |
| Skilled visa processing time | — | — |
| Skilled visa government fees | — | — |
| Official languages | Malay | Norwegian (Bokmål), Norwegian (Nynorsk) |
| Currency | Malaysian ringgit | Norwegian krone |
| Primary regulator | Malaysian Bar | Advokatforeningen |
| Policy changes (last 12 months) | 0 | 0 |
Skilled-route head-to-head
Comparing each country’s most-used skilled-migration route side by side.
Routes unique to Malaysia
Visa routes side by side
Malaysia (5)
Employment Pass (EP)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 60 months per issuance, depending on the employment contract and Expatriate Committee discretion.
Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Ten years, renewable.
Professional Visit Pass (PVP)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · No longer than 12 months per issuance.
DE Rantau Nomad Pass
No sponsor · Non-settlement · 3 to 12 months, renewable for up to a further 12 months.
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Multiple-entry Social Visit Pass; validity varies by category - confirm on the official MM2H portal.
Kingdom of Norway (4)
Skilled Worker Residence Permit (Oppholdstillatelse som faglaert)
Sponsor · To settlement · 1–3 years initially; renewable.
Job-Seeker Visa (Oppholdstillatelse for aa soeke arbeid som faglart)
No sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 1 year (previously 6 months — extended to support recruitment); non-renewable.
Intra-Company Transfer (ICT Permit)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · Up to 3 years for managers/specialists; 1 year for trainees.
Student Residence Permit (Oppholdstillatelse for studier)
Sponsor · Non-settlement · 1 year; renewable for duration of studies.
Frequently asked questions
Which country has an easier skilled-migration route, Malaysia or Kingdom of Norway?+
Malaysia’s Employment Pass (EP) is the dominant skilled route; Kingdom of Norway’s Skilled Worker Residence Permit (Oppholdstillatelse som faglaert) is the dominant skilled route. “Easier” depends on your salary, sponsor situation, and nationality — see each visa’s eligibility detail.
Does Malaysia or Kingdom of Norway have more visa routes without an employer sponsor?+
Malaysia has more: 3 of its covered routes can be pursued without an employer sponsor, against 1 for Kingdom of Norway. No-sponsor routes — such as digital-nomad, self-employment, and points-based skilled migration — matter most if you do not yet have a job offer.