Employment Pass (Category I/II) for Philippines citizens
Last verified: August 31, 2026
Overview
Employer-sponsored pass with salary bands revised in June 2026: Category I from RM 20,000/month, Category II RM 10,000–19,999 (both up to 10 years), Category III RM 5,000–9,999 (max 5 years). The employer must be ESD-registered with an approved expatriate quota. Filipino workers also complete DMW processing for an Overseas Employment Certificate before departure.
Requirements
| Minimum annual income | $28,400/year |
| Minimum savings | No requirement |
| Job offer required | Yes |
| Degree required | Yes |
| Family can join | Yes |
| Path to permanent residency | No |
Processing time & costs
Typical processing takes 4–10 weeks after applying. The government fee is approximately $400. Difficulty: 3/5.
Documents you'll need
- Job offer meeting the June 2026 salary bands
- Employer ESD registration & expatriate quota
- Degree certificate & documents for submission
- Employer submits the EP application on ESD
- DMW processing & Overseas Employment Certificate
- Travel & pass endorsement
- Onboarding: insurance, bank account, tax file
The full ordered checklist — with timing, dependencies, apostille and translation flags, and personalized due dates — is part of the paid plan.
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Check my eligibilityAlways confirm requirements with the official government source. This guide is general information, not legal advice.