Malaysia visas
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.
5 routes · 3 without a sponsor · 0 lead to settlement
Official portal
Primary source
Immigration Department of Malaysia ↗ · Immigration Department of Malaysia
Link last verified:
Regulators of immigration advice
- Malaysian Bar (Malaysian Bar) — Statutory body regulating advocates and solicitors in Peninsular Malaysia; verify any legal representative against the Bar.
Visa routes (5)
Employment Pass (EP)
Employer-sponsored work pass for expatriate professionals, issued in Categories I, II and III with a tiered minimum-salary structure, processed via the Expatriate Services Division.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T)
A ten-year renewable pass for highly skilled expatriates already established in Malaysia, allowing them to change employers without reapplying.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Professional Visit Pass (PVP)
A short-term pass for foreign professionals providing services or undergoing training in Malaysia while remaining employed by an overseas company.
Sponsor required · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
DE Rantau Nomad Pass
A Professional Visit Pass variant for foreign digital nomads and remote workers serving non-Malaysian clients, administered by MDEC.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 24 July 2026
Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H)
A long-stay social visit pass programme for foreigners meeting financial criteria, offered in Platinum, Gold, Silver and SEZ/SFZ categories.
No sponsor needed · Non-settlement · Last reviewed 9 July 2026
Planning life after your move?
Organise documents, arrival money, housing and the practical steps after visa approval. Your route conditions remain the starting point.
Frequently asked questions
How many visa routes does Malaysia have?+
We cover 5 Malaysia visa routes in these categories: sponsored work, skilled migration, visitor and short business, digital nomad, and general residence. Each one links to its primary government source and carries a last-reviewed date.
Which Malaysia visas do not need an employer sponsor?+
3 of the 5 Malaysia routes we cover can be pursued without an employer sponsor, which helps if you do not have a job offer yet. The remaining 2 are employer-sponsored.
Which Malaysia visas lead to permanent residence?+
The Malaysia routes we cover are temporary rather than direct settlement routes.
Need tailored advice?
We do not provide legal advice. For an application that depends on your exact circumstances, consult a regulator-listed immigration advisor.
Find a regulated advisor in Malaysia