Malaysia to Raise Visa Filing Fees for Foreign Workers, Expatriates, and Dependents Starting September 1
Malaysia will implement significant increases in visa filing fees starting September 1, 2024, affecting expatriates, their dependents, and foreign workers.
Malaysia will implement significant increases in visa filing fees starting September 1, 2024, affecting expatriates, their dependents, and foreign workers. The changes, announced by the MYXpats Centre, a division of the Immigration Department's Expatriate Services Division, will impact key visa categories including the Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass, and Long-Term Social Visit Pass.The new fee structure introduces a substantial rise in costs for the Employment Pass, which enables expatriates to work in Malaysia. The filing fee for this pass will increase to MYR 2,000 (approximately INR 38,727), up from the current MYR 800 (about INR 15,490). This pass allows expatriates to work with Malaysian organizations under contracts of up to 60 months. Additionally, the fee for Dependent Passes, which permit family members of Employment Pass holders to reside in Malaysia, will rise to MYR 500 (around INR 9,681) from MYR 450 (approximately INR 8,713).The Professional Visit Pass, issued to foreign professionals for service provision or training on behalf of an overseas company, will see its fee increase to MYR 1,200 (approximately INR 23,235) from MYR 800 (about INR 15,490). This pass allows holders to stay in Malaysia temporarily for up to one year.The Long-Term Social Visit Pass, granted to foreigners for stays of at least six months, will also experience a fee hike. The new fee will be MYR 500 (approximately INR 9,681), up from MYR 450 (around INR 8,713). This pass is commonly used by foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens, allowing them to stay for up to five years and engage in paid employment or business activities without needing to convert to an Employment Pass or Visitor’s Pass (Temporary Employment).In addition to the fee increases, the Immigration Department of Malaysia will reduce the processing time for applications from Tier 1, Tier 2, and Critical Sector companies from five working days to three. This change aims to expedite the application process for expatriates and improve efficiency for companies that depend on foreign talent.The fee hikes may impact expatriates and their employers, especially in sectors heavily reliant on foreign expertise. However, the reduced processing times are expected to alleviate some of the burden by facilitating quicker approvals and minimizing delays for businesses awaiting their expatriate staff's permits.The MYXpats Centre has stated that applications submitted before September 1, 2024, will be processed under the current fee structure, offering a brief opportunity for those seeking to avoid the higher costs.
