Expatriates in Malaysia for business, leisure or work

The Malaysian government grants three-month visas to citizens from most European and North American countries, provided that their passports are valid for more than six months after their arrival date, or more than 18 months for those seeking employment. Visas must be applied for at a Malaysian consulate. When applying for the visa, visitors have to show proof of funds for the duration of their stay in Malaysia, and an onward ticket.

When entering Malaysia on business or with the intention of staying on, visitors are required to have a sponsor within Malaysia. In the visa application process, you will be given a reference number so that you can track the progress of your application on the Immigration Department of Malaysia’s official website.

When applying for a visa it is useful to have two extra copies of your passport, a visa application and two extra copies, bank statements showing sufficient funds, a valid air ticket and two extra copies, and an approval letter from the Malaysian Department of Immigration.

Malaysia issues three types of work permits:

• Professional visit pass, which is issued to foreigners employed by an overseas company but working with a company in Malaysia for up to six months.
• Temporary employment pass, which is available for jobs that pay less than RM5,000 per month and lasts two years.
• Employment pass, which is offered for jobs with specific skills, generally technical or managerial jobs. It is usually issued for a minimum period of two years.

Obtaining a work permit is often a lengthy process; however, choosing to work without a valid work permit is not an option because of Malaysia’s strict laws. Requirements for work permits are as follows: the applicant must be over 23 years old if they wish to work in the IT sector and over 27 years for those wishing to work in other sectors. Work permits generally last between 6 months and 5 years, depending on the duration of the work contract and the type of visa.

Expats wishing to travel from Peninsula Malaysia to the Borneo side should be aware that they will need to present their passports on arrival even though they are not leaving the country.