Employment Pass (EP)

The Employment Pass is issued in Category I, Category II and Category III, distinguished by minimum-salary tiers and an employment-duration framework. The Ministry of Home Affairs revised the minimum salary thresholds for all three categories with effect from 1 June 2026. Always check the current category thresholds on the official ESD portal before applying.

Eligible Employment Pass holders can apply for a Dependant Pass for a spouse and children under 18. Eligibility depends on meeting the salary level set by the Expatriate Services Division. Confirm the current requirement on the official ESD page.

Yes. The Employment Pass requires a job offer from a Malaysian company registered with the Expatriate Services Division (ESD), and the employer submits the application on your behalf through the ESD portal - you cannot apply on your own.

No. Employment Pass holders can work only for the company named in the pass, and working for any other company is a common cause of refusal or breach. The Residence Pass-Talent, by contrast, is not tied to a single employer and lets holders change jobs without a new pass.

No. The Employment Pass is an employer-sponsored work pass and does not itself lead to settlement; it is issued for up to 60 months per issuance at the discretion of the Expatriate Committee. Highly skilled expatriates already established in Malaysia may later look at the ten-year Residence Pass-Talent.