KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 13): The minimum salary requirements for expatriates’ employment passes (EP) in Malaysia are set to double across most categories starting June 1 this year, according to an announcement by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) on its website.
The revision, the first major update to the thresholds since 2016, will see entry-level requirements for high-tier categories increase significantly (see table).
According to MDEC, the new thresholds for applications and renewals submitted from June 1, 2026.
“All new and renewal employment pass applications submitted from June 1, 2026, onwards must comply with the revised minimum salary requirements,” MDEC said.
“Companies are strongly advised to plan ahead and align their foreign knowledge worker workforce strategy accordingly in order to avoid potential disruptions to upcoming engagements and renewable applications,” it added.
The changes were made under the purview of the Ministry of Home Affairs. This reclassification is significant because under current Immigration Department guidelines, Category III pass holders are generally not eligible to bring family dependents while Category I and II pass holders are allowed to do so.
The pass validity also varies across the three categories, with Category I being valid for up to five years and Category II for up to two years. Both categories are allowed unlimited renewals, subject to employment contracts. Category III passes are only valid for a maximum of one year and are limited to two renewals.