Search
Contact
Login
Share this article
IMPACT – MEDIUM
What is the change? Malaysia has recently begun enforcing an existing rule that foreigners holding new passports take steps to transfer their employment passes and other passes to their new passports.
What does the change mean? Foreign nationals who obtain a new passport should observe “transfer of endorsement” rules to avoid delays while entering or exiting.
Background: Foreigners who obtain a new passport typically travel with both their new passport and their old passport containing their employment pass, dependent pass or other type of pass. However, holders of these passes are required to complete the transfer endorsement of them to the new passport based on immigration guidelines. Malaysian authorities are enforcing these rules because once an old passport is canceled, the pass in the old passport is assumed to be invalid. Authorities are requiring holders of employment passes and dependent passes to process the transfer of endorsement as soon as a new passport is issued.
Foreigners returning to Malaysia with old and new passports can expect immigration authorities at checkpoints to stamp their new passport with a “Report to Immigration” stamp instructing them to complete the transfer of endorsement process by a given deadline. If they fail to complete the process, they are likely to be held up at exit or entry points and stopped from traveling into or out of the country.
BAL Analysis: Foreigners should be aware of the recent enforcement measures of this rule and be sure to transfer their employment passes and dependent passes to a new passport as soon as it is issued.
This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice group and our network provider located in Malaysia. For additional information, please contact your BAL attorney.
Copyright © 2016 Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. All rights reserved. Reprinting or digital redistribution to the public is permitted only with the express written permission of Berry Appleman & Leiden LLP. For inquiries please contact copyright@bal.com.
A federal court temporarily blocked the Trump administration from proceeding with recent terminations of Temporary Protected Status (TPS)…
U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services announced it published a July 31, 2025, edition of the Form G-1055, Fee Schedule, that…
The Office of Foreign Labor Certification (OFLC) announced updates to its email naming conventions and centralized mailing address,…
The Employment and Training Administration (ETA) of the U.S. Department of Labor (DOL) announced a temporary suspension of H-2A…