The Malaysian government has introduced interim endorsement slips as a temporary substitute for long-term pass stickers.

Key Points:

  • Interim endorsement slips will now be issued to holders of long-term passes that were approved by the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation and the Expatriate Services Division.
  • The interim endorsement slips are recognized for official use in both English and Bahasa and serve as temporary replacements for long-term pass stickers alongside a passport for interstate and international travel.

Additional Information: The Malaysian government is also introducing a separate initiative to better manage applications within Expatriate Services Division Online. Beginning Oct. 1, the MYXpats Centre will automatically cancel any inactive applications that are not resubmitted within 90 days. Companies will receive notification emails at several stages before the cancellation occurs, but authorities will not process any refunds on the processing fees for canceled applications.

BAL Analysis: The Malaysian government intends for these initiatives to streamline immigration processes.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

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The Malaysian government announced updated document requirements for Professional Visit Pass (PVP) applications.

Key Points:

  • Effective Aug. 16, Expatriate Services Division (ESD) will require only six general documents for each PVP application; they previously required 13 documents.
  • The following documents are still required: passport copy with all pages (including six empty pages); an application letter from the sponsor; personal or security bonds; award letter(s) or contract; memorandum of understanding (MoU); and supporting documents if applicable.

Additional Information: Officials stated that a bank guarantee, offer letter, acceptance letter, job description, working schedule, academic certificate and updated resume are no longer required. Applicants may utilize the ESD online system to access sample documents and a guidebook for reference when completing PVP applications.

BAL Analysis: The government is expanding their online systems, allowing companies to submit more applications electronically for convenience and to improve processing times for applicants.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. 

Copyright © 2024 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.

The Malaysian government announced the implementation of new online applications within the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) online system for certain services.

Key Points:

  • The new process within the ESD online system aims for applicants to have no physical submission via MYXpats or an immigration counter for the following application types:
    • Amendment of an approved application
    • Shorten of pass
    • Cancellation of application
    • Transfer of endorsement/take-up balance
    • Permission to study
    • Permission to work at a second location
  • The ESD system currently only requires companies to file certain applications through the online filing system, including dependent, employment, professional visit and long-term social visit passes.
  • The processing time for these online applications is estimated at three working days after submission and then an additional 24 hours for online payment processing and five days for postal delivery. This time frame is down from the previous 3-5 business day processing time via in-person filing at MYXpats or immigration counters.

Additional Information: Officials also recently announced a revised fee structure that will take effect Sept. 1 for applications such as an employment pass, professional visit pass and dependent passes. Recently, the government has also implemented new measures to standardize existing procedures and consolidate online filing platforms. As BAL previously reported, Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation-registered companies are now required to use the Xpats Gateway online portal to file initial and renewal employment pass applications online.

BAL Analysis: The Malaysian government is expanding its online systems and is expected to require additional immigration-related applications to be filed online going forward. The expansion is designed to allow companies to submit more applications electronically for convenience and to improve processing times for applicants.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 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.

The Malaysian government announced all initial professional visit pass applications will now require pre-approval from the Department of Labor Peninsular Malaysia online portal.

Key Points:

  • Companies registered under the Expatriate Services Division must now obtain pre-approval from the online form all initial professional visit pass applications. This procedure was also recently implemented for initial employment pass applications.
  • Renewal applications are not required to obtain pre-approval.

Additional Information: Officials stated that a pre-approval should take one to two business weeks to process. The approval document can be downloaded online within the portal once granted. ESD-registered employers are required to submit the pre-approval with each new application.

BAL Analysis: The government has expanded this process to the initial professional visit pass application to standardize their existing procedures for other employment authorization applications in the hopes of creating faster processing times for applicants and registered companies.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 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.

 

The Malaysian government has stated that Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation registered employers should now file employment pass applications through the Xpats Gateway system.

Key Points:

  • Effective April 24, all new and renewal applications for employment passes are required to be made through the Xpats Gateway system for MDEC registered companies.
  • Companies are advised to use their existing MDEC Expats system login information.
  • The Xpats Gateway system is now open to IT sectors; previously, it was open only to non-IT sectors.

Background: The government implemented the new Employment (Amendment) Act 2022 in order to protect local labor in Malaysia. MDEC is a government agency under the Ministry of Digital and was established in 1996 to lead Malaysia’s digital economy. The government launched a digital initiative to encourage and attract global talent and grow Malaysian businesses and the economy.

BAL Analysis: The Malaysian government intends for this updated procedure to be similar to the existing procedure for expatriate services division registered companies and to improve processing times for applicants.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 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.

The Malaysian government has announced the details of their visa liberalization plan to attract foreign tourists and generate additional revenue.

Key Points:

  • As previously reported, officials recently announced a new policy granting visa-free entry for Chinese and Indian nationals for stays of up to 30 days as part of the liberalization effort.
  • Additionally, efforts to improve existing immigration facilities have begun with key updates including:
    • Creating a 30-day multiple-entry visa for nationals of Brunei, Singapore and Thailand, easing entry and exit capabilities.
    • Introducing a long-term graduate social visit pass for international students from 23 countries who have completed their bachelor’s or graduate degree at an institution of higher learning in Malaysia.
    • Improving the long-term graduate social visit pass, valid for 12 months and multiple entries, by including 23 additional eligible countries.
    • For countries that require a visa for entry, the validity period for all multiple-entry visas will be extended to six months until Dec. 31, 2026.

Additional Information: Additionally, the Malaysian government has announced that all foreign nationals need to obtain a Malaysia Digital Arrival Card prior to arrival. Individuals must apply online at least three days prior to arrival. Those transiting through Singapore without seeking immigration clearance as well as permanent residents and automated clearance system holders are exempt. For additional information on Malaysia’s entry requirements, please visit the official travel site.

BAL Analysis: The Malaysian government hopes these initiatives will strengthen key industries and attract greater investment and tourism from the Asian region. The plan represents a big policy shift to benefit travelers by easing entry requirements and employers by providing greater access to foreign talent.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2024 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.

The Malaysian government has reminded employers registered on the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) online portal to submit their Employment Pass (EP) and Professional Visit Pass (PVP) quota projections for 2024.

Key Points:

  • Employers can now submit their 2024 EP and PVP quota projections through the ESD online portal.
  • To submit 2024 projections, companies must log in through this website and follow the guided prompts.
  • Unused projections approved for 2023 will not be carried into 2024.
  • Malaysian authorities will process projection requests within five to 10 working days after the application is received.

Additional Information: More information regarding the projections application process is available here. The current processing timeline normally takes within one working day to process the projection application from submission date. This timeline may be impacted by the volume of applications processed and reviewed by the approval panel.

BAL Analysis: Companies should plan to submit their projections as soon as possible to avoid possible delays.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2023 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.

Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim announced a new policy now granting visa-free entry for Chinese and Indian nationals for stays of up to 30 days.

Key Points:

  • Malaysia’s Home Affairs Ministry clarified that the visa exemption for Chinese and Indian nationals will be effective until Dec. 31, 2024.
  • Malaysia recorded a total of 782,425 tourist arrivals from China and India from January through June of this year, according to government data.

BAL Analysis: Other neighboring countries are taking similar measures, as China recently announced visa-free entry for Malaysian nationals and five European countries. The new policy is part of a wider Malaysian policy to boost tourism, and the government intends to provide further visa liberalization in the future. BAL will provide more information as it becomes available.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2023 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.

Immigration authorities announced they have reinstated the issuance of i-KAD cards for Employment Pass holders, effective Oct. 24.

Key Points:

  • The Expatriate Services Division is now issuing i-KAD cards for Employment Pass holders, as well as Resident Pass holders and their dependents under the talent category.
  • Applicants whose endorsement payments were made before Oct. 24 are not eligible to obtain an i-KAD card at this time.

BAL Analysis: The i-KAD card serves as an official identification document alternative to a valid passport, and the reinstatement is welcome news as it provides additional convenience to foreign nationals traveling in Malaysia. Foreign nationals should still always carry their original passports for travel and identification purposes.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group.

Copyright © 2023 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.

IMPACT — MEDIUM

The Malaysian government announced that it will introduce a new online platform for Employment Pass applicants.

Key Points:

  • Beginning June 15, employers under the Expatriate Services Division authority will be able to apply for support letters in one centralized location through Xpats Gateway.
  • Previously, employers who needed support letters were required to apply through designated approving agencies.
  • Employers can continue to obtain their support letters directly from their designated approving agencies until the full implementation of Xpats Gateway on Aug. 15.

Additional Information: More information regarding the implementation of Xpats Gateway is available here.

BAL Analysis: Malaysian authorities are introducing Xpats Gateway to simplify the process for obtaining support letters for EP applications.

This alert has been provided by the BAL Global Practice Group. For additional information, please contact berryapplemanleiden@bal.com.

Copyright © 2023 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.