Employment Pass — Malaysia's work visa after the 1 June 2026 reform
The complete guide to EP Categories I/II/III under the new policy in force from 1 June 2026 (ESD Announcement 266): salary thresholds, validity, Succession Plans, documents, timelines and Dependent Passes — plus the paid-up capital your company needs.
The three EP categories (new thresholds)
| Category | Until 31 May 2026 | From 1 June 2026 | Validity (new) | Succession Plan | Family |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Category I | RM 10,000+ | RM 20,000+ | Up to 10 years | Not required | Spouse + children under 21 |
| Category II | RM 5,000–9,999 | RM 10,000–19,999 | Up to 10 years | Required | Spouse + children under 21 |
| Category III | RM 3,000–4,999 | RM 5,000–9,999 | Up to 5 years | Required | Newly allowed |
A Succession Plan (Cat II/III) documents how knowledge and skills transfer to local talent during the expatriate's tenure: the positions concerned, the training/mentoring plan, a reasonable timeline, and business continuity at handover. Sources: ESD MOHA Announcement 266, MOHA FAQ (38 Q&A), MOHA press release 2026-01-14.
Paid-up capital requirements
| Ownership structure | Required paid-up capital |
|---|---|
| 100% Malaysian-owned | RM 250,000 |
| Joint venture | RM 350,000 |
| 100% foreign-owned | RM 500,000 |
| WRT sectors with ≥51% foreign ownership | RM 1,000,000 |
Application process (about 2–3 months)
- Company opens the EP application on ESD (MyEG) — ~1 week
- ESD review (Expatriate Services Division) — 2–3 weeks
- VDR (Visa with Reference) issued — ~1 week
- SEV at the Malaysian embassy in Japan — 1–2 weeks
- Enter Malaysia + medical check — within 7 days of arrival
- EP sticker endorsed in passport — 2–3 weeks
Dependent Pass (family)
- From 1 June 2026, all EP categories (I/II/III) may bring a spouse and children under 21 (Cat III newly opened).
- Application fee MYR 60 per person; marriage/birth certificates with English translation and apostille.
- Spouses can work with a separate endorsement (LTSV); children can attend private/international schools.
Our EP support — free route assessment first
Before you sign anything we assess, free of charge, whether your case fits the MDEC route (digital businesses) or the standard ESD route — the fee is fixed accordingly:
MDEC route
For MDEC-eligible digital businesses.
¥880,000 tax-inclusive, per pass
ESD route
Standard route via ESD.
¥990,000 tax-inclusive, per pass
Start with a free 30-minute consultation
Tell us about your plans for your Employment Pass. English and Japanese support, from our Kuala Lumpur office.