How much does a Malaysia work visa cost?

Government fees are about $400–$500 for the Employment Pass and $400 for the Temporary Employment Pass (USD equivalents; fees can differ by nationality). Translations, medicals, and courier costs come on top.

How long does a Malaysia visa take to process?

Typical processing is 4–10 weeks for the Employment Pass, 12–24 weeks for the Malaysia My Second Home Programme, 3–8 weeks for the Professional Visit Pass, and 8–16 weeks for the Temporary Employment Pass, plus the time needed to gather documents.

Can I move to Malaysia without a job offer?

Yes. The Malaysia My Second Home Programme does not require a job offer from an employer in Malaysia.

What income do I need for a Malaysia visa?

Minimum income is about $28,000–$28,400 a year for the Employment Pass (USD equivalents of thresholds set in local currency).

🇲🇾 Malaysia visas: requirements, costs, and processing times

Last verified: October 1, 2026

We track 4 Malaysia visa routes: Employment Pass, Malaysia My Second Home Programme, Professional Visit Pass, and Temporary Employment Pass. Each is verified against the official government source for Bangladeshis, Indians, and Filipinos.

Compare Malaysia visa costs and processing times

Visa	Gov. fee	Processing	Min. income	Job offer
Employment Passwork	$400–$500	4–10 weeks	$28,000–$28,400/year	Required
Malaysia My Second Home Programmeretirement	—	12–24 weeks	—	Not required
Professional Visit Passwork	—	3–8 weeks	—	Required
Temporary Employment Passwork	$400	8–16 weeks	—	Required

Amounts are approximate US dollar equivalents. A range means the figure differs by nationality.

Malaysia visa types

Employment Pass (Category I, II & III)

work

Employer-sponsored pass with salary bands revised in June 2026: Category I from RM 20,000/month and Category II RM 10,000–19,999 (both up to 10 years); Category III RM 5,000–9,999 (max 5 years, renewal-limited). The employer must be registered with the ESD and hold an approved expatriate quota; Indian nationals also need a Visa with Reference to enter.

Malaysia My Second Home Programme (MM2H)

retirement

Long-stay residence via the restructured tiers: Silver — USD 150,000 fixed deposit plus a RM 600,000 property purchase for a renewable 5-year pass; Gold — USD 500,000 + RM 1M property, 15 years; Platinum — USD 1M + RM 2M property, 20 years (the only tier allowed to work). Applicants must be 30+, apply through a licensed MM2H agent, and spend at least 60 days a year in Malaysia. No income requirement since the restructuring.

Professional Visit Pass

work

Short-term pass (up to 12 months, non-renewable in most cases) for professionals who remain employed and paid by their overseas company while working with a Malaysian host — common for technical support, training, and project assignments. No salary minimum; the host company applies via the ESD, and a personal bond applies.

Temporary Employment Pass

work

The main route for manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture and services work. Recruitment of Bangladeshi workers was frozen in mid-2024 over exploitation and inflated fees, and only reopened for all sectors in late August 2026 — so treat everything about this corridor as newly restarted. Your Malaysian employer must hold an approved quota through the FWCMS eQuota system, and you must be recruited through an agency on the FWCMS-published list: 25 directly selected Bangladeshi agencies plus 250 associates and 62 operating under the state-owned BOESL. Anyone recruiting outside that list, or asking for fees far above the official schedule, is the exact problem that caused the freeze. BMET clearance is mandatory before departure. The pass does not allow family and does not lead to residency.

Malaysia visa guides by nationality

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Frequently asked questions

How much does a Malaysia work visa cost?: Government fees are about $400–$500 for the Employment Pass and $400 for the Temporary Employment Pass (USD equivalents; fees can differ by nationality). Translations, medicals, and courier costs come on top.
How long does a Malaysia visa take to process?: Typical processing is 4–10 weeks for the Employment Pass, 12–24 weeks for the Malaysia My Second Home Programme, 3–8 weeks for the Professional Visit Pass, and 8–16 weeks for the Temporary Employment Pass, plus the time needed to gather documents.
Can I move to Malaysia without a job offer?: Yes. The Malaysia My Second Home Programme does not require a job offer from an employer in Malaysia.
What income do I need for a Malaysia visa?: Minimum income is about $28,000–$28,400 a year for the Employment Pass (USD equivalents of thresholds set in local currency).

Always confirm requirements with the official government source linked on each visa page. This guide is general information, not legal advice. Browse visas for other countries.