An Employment Pass (EP) allows skilled expatriates to work for a specific organization in Malaysia for up to 60 months. At Aseanz Consulting, we streamline this process to ensure your company meets all regulatory hurdles set by the Expatriate Committee (EC) and the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
Employer Specificity: Your EP is tied to a specific company. If you change employers, you must cancel your current pass and submit a new application.
The “Local First” Requirement: Malaysian companies must prove that a position is vital and cannot be filled by a local candidate before hiring a foreign national.
Quota Approval: Companies must secure a quota from the Immigration Department before applying for individual work passes.
To sponsor an EP, your company must meet minimum paid-up capital thresholds based on its ownership structure:
| Ownership Structure | Minimum Paid-Up Capital |
| 100% Local Owned | RM 250,000 |
| Joint Venture (Min. 30% foreign equity) | RM 350,000 |
| 100% Foreign Owned | RM 500,000 |
| Wholesale, Retail, & Trade (WRT) | RM 1,000,000 (Requires WRT License) |
The type of pass you receive depends on your monthly salary and contract length:
Category I: Salary RM 10,000 | Contract up to 5 years.
Category II: Salary RM 5,000 – RM 9,999 | Contract up to 2 years.
Category III: Salary RM 3,000 – RM 4,999 | Contract $\le$ 12 months.
Note: Category III requires a specific exemption letter from the Ministry of Home Affairs or relevant agencies.
Applicants must meet specific educational and experience benchmarks:
Degree Holders: Minimum 3 years of relevant experience.
Diploma Holders: Minimum 5 years of relevant experience.
Technical Certificate Holders: Minimum 7 years of relevant experience.
Shareholders: Must hold at least 30% equity and be an SSM-registered Director or hold a key corporate position.
Certain sectors are closed to EP applications, including traditional medical halls, convenience stores, and non-exclusive restaurants.
The 3-Month Cooling-Off Period applies if:
An EP III holder has renewed their pass twice or stayed for 3 consecutive years.
An EP III holder is changing employers.
Once Aseanz Consulting submits your complete documentation, the standard processing time is 14 working days.
Account Creation: Online registration for your company.
Submission: Digital filing of all applicant and company data.
Review: Immigration Department processing and potential inspections.
Notification: Status update (Approval/Rejection).
Activation: Final company activation for hiring.
© 2026 Aseanz Corporate Services | Aseanz.com | Aurora Prima PLT
All prices in Malaysian Ringgit (RM / MYR). Mobile best viewed in landscape; Desktop best viewed in the latest browser.
