Introducing work visas in Malaysia
It is not possible to get a work visa in Malaysia without having an invitation from an employer. In order for an employer to be able to hire someone other than a Malaysian citizen, the employer must first get an employment permit from the Ministry of home affairs and prove that there is no Malaysian work force for the job position. The salary of the foreigner employees must be at least 5,000 ringgit, otherwise the visa will not be issued for them. Also, the age of the job applicant should not be less than 23 years. Depending on the type of the employment contract this visa is usually issued for 6 months to 5 years. The employer must also prove that he or she is in a good financial situation and must guarantee that he or she can pay the employee’s salary, taxes and insurance.
There are three types of work visas in Malaysia.
- Professional Visit Pass
This visa will be issued for 6 months to 1 year. This visa will be issued to foreigners who are hired by an employer in Malaysia for certain services.
- Residence Pass-talent
This type of visa will be issued to people who are highly skilled and have worked in Malaysia for 3 years. This visa can be extended for up to 10 years for the applicant.
- Employment Pass
This visa will be issued for at least two years and is granted to people with high expertise and skills and is usually issued for technical jobs.
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Topics reviewed in this article:
- Malaysian work visa and the required documents for a Malaysian work visa
- Work visas in Malaysia and checking the companion visa in Malaysia
- Work visas in Malaysia and the unemployment rate in Malaysia
- Work visas in Malaysia and the amount of salary in Malaysia
- Work visa in Malaysia and the required jobs in Malaysia
- Work visas in Malaysia and employment agencies in Malaysia
- Work visas in Malaysia and obtaining a residence permit and citizenship in Malaysia
- Work visas in Malaysia and employment agencies in Malaysia

Malaysian work visa and the required documents for a Malaysian work visa
The required documents for a work visa in Malaysia are as follows.
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- cv (applicant’s resume)
- Job invitation from the employer in Malaysia
- Having at least a bachelor’s degree
- Work experience related to the field of study
- Valid passport with at least 18 months of validity
- The applicant must have no criminal records
- Four biometric photos
- Health certificate
- Submitting the completed visa application form
Work visas in Malaysia and checking the companion visa in Malaysia
If a person can get a work visa in Malaysia, he/she can apply for a companion visa for his/her spouse and children under the age of 21 simultaneously (at the same time). Educating in the public schools of Malaysia is free for children. In order for the spouse to be allowed to work in Malaysia, he/she must have a legal work permit, but the spouse is allowed to study in Malaysia.
Work visas in Malaysia and the unemployment rate in Malaysia
Unemployment rate in Malaysia is lower than in developed countries such as Spain, Italy or even the United States. Since October 2018, the unemployment rate in Malaysia has been 3.3 percent, which according to international laws any country with an unemployment rate of 3 percent is considered to be fully employed.
The working and employment laws in Malaysia are such that for hiring employees the priority is Malaysian citizens. Despite the low unemployment rate in Malaysia, there are many restrictions on hiring foreign workers. Foreign workers should not be less than 23 years old, although in most jobs and occupations the minimum age is 27 years. Knowing Malay or English is required to work in Malaysia. So despite the low unemployment rate in Malaysia, it will be very difficult for foreigners to find a job in this county.
Work visas in Malaysia and the amount of salary in Malaysia
The minimum salary/wage for hiring a foreign worker is 5,000 ringgit. This amount is enough to live on to live a normal life in Malaysia. The amount of salary for jobs that require high expertise and people with professional experience in Malaysia is between 10 to 15 thousand ringgit.
Work visa in Malaysia and the required jobs in Malaysia
Some jobs in Malaysia need more work force, so if people specialize in these areas, they will have a better chance of finding a job. Some of these required jobs are listed below.
- 3D designer
- Digital designer
- Visual effects specialist
- Web designer
- Human Resources Manager
- Education Director
- Sales and marketing manager
- Market Research Director
- production manager
- Accountants
- Data analyst
- Evaluation Manager
- Crisis Management
- Data engineers
- Public Relations (PR) Director
- Customer Relationship Manager
- Marketing Communications Specialist
- Graphic Designer
- Animator
- CNC Executive Director
- Financial planner
- Business risk analyst
- Investment analyst
- Credit analyst
- professor
- College professor
- kindergarten’s teacher
- Executive manager
- Tax Advisor
- Mechanical engineer
- Chemical Engineer
- Electrical engineer
- Civil Engineer
- Industrial Engineer
- Systems analysts
- programmer
- Database programmer
- network engineer
- System Administrator
Work visas in Malaysia and employment agencies in Malaysia
In order to have the chance of getting a job invitation from a company or employer in Malaysia, you must send your resume and qualifications(degree) to recruitment agencies, private and public employment agencies and job search websites in Malaysia. Here is a list of job search websites and employment agencies in Malaysia. Agencies that you can also apply for a job in person and are usually located in Kuala Lumpur.
- Randstad Malaysia
- EPS Malaysia – Recruitment & Outsourcing Agency
- Michael Page Malaysia – Recruitment Agency
- Hays – Recruitment Agency Kuala Lumper Malaysia
- Manpower Staffing Services (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd
Here is a list of job search websites that you can look for a job through them by submitting documents.
- https://www.seekers.my/
- https://www.randstad.com.my/
- https://www.michaelpage.com.my/
- https://www.manpower.com.my
Work visas in Malaysia and obtaining a residence permit and citizenship in Malaysia
Getting a work visa in Malaysia and having a residence permit for working in Malaysia will never lead to obtaining a permanent residence permit and Malaysian citizenship. Also according to the laws of Malaysia, Malaysia does not accept dual citizenship
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