Malaysia Visa on Arrival for Indians
Planning on traveling to Malaysia soon? In this blog, I will tell you everything about the Malaysia Visa on Arrival for Indians process, visa fees, and requirements.
22-Mar-2023
12 min read
A Malaysia work visa, also known as the Employment Pass, lets foreigners work legally in Malaysia. You need a job offer from a Malaysian employer to apply.
This visa is issued by the Malaysian government to those who have secured a job offer from a Malaysian employer and meet the required criteria.
In this post, we'll discuss all the nitty-gritty information about Malaysian Work Visas for Indians.
A Malaysia work visa For Indian citizens is a Visa that grants Indian nationals permission to take employment in Malaysia for a specified time.
As an Indian passport holder, you must hold a senior-level, skilled position, such as that of a technical expert, senior executive, or manager.
Also, you must be a skilled and qualified professional or person engaged or appointed by a company, organization, industry, undertaking, etc., in Malaysia on a contract or employment basis.
You can apply for a Malaysia work visa by applying for a Malaysian Visa With Reference (VDR).
Then from there, your employer would apply for the Work Visa/Work Permit category based on the nature of your job and the duration of your contract.
The Malaysia Work Visa For Indians is issued in three categories
You can get the Malaysia Employment Pass if you travel to Malaysia to work for a registered Malaysian company for up to five (5) years or sixty months, depending on your employment contract.
Malaysia's Expatriate Committee firstly issues approval for the Indian nationals applying for the Employment Pass to occupy that particular vacancy through their employer. Afterward, Malaysia's Immigration Department issues the Expatriate Employment Pass.
Note that your Malaysian Employer must apply for the Employment Pass on your behalf.
Your employer can apply for you to get the Malaysia Temporary Employment Pass if you will be working in Malaysia for a period not exceeding twelve months.
Your employer can apply for an extension for up to ten years on its expiry. Three months before your TEP expires, your company must apply to extend it. If they apply after the deadline, they will be rejected.
Your employer can apply under the following sectors for your TEP:
The Temporary Employment Pass is also available for Foreign Domestic Helpers who travel to work in Malaysia as domestic helpers.
If you are an Indian national with sufficient technical skills, you can apply for a Professional Visit Pass (PVP).
You may visit Malaysia temporarily for up to a year to work or receive hands-on training from a Malaysian business. The Professional Visit Pass is valid for up to twelve months from the time of issuance.
You might have several important questions about the Malaysia work visa For Indians. Here is what you'll need to know
Indian nationals planning to immigrate to Malaysia for employment or work purposes can apply for a Malaysia work visa.
Remember that you must have a firm employment offer with a contract to qualify for the Visa. You cannot apply for the Malaysian Work Visa to travel to search for employment opportunities.
The Malaysian Immigration authorities will offer you a Malaysian Work Visa as an expatriate. Also, your employer must submit your Malaysia work visa on your behalf.
After getting your Malaysia Visa With Reference, your employer will apply for your Malaysia Work Pass based on the duration of your contract and the nature of your job.
For different Malaysia Work Permits or Work Passes, you might be eligible for, the Malaysia Visa fees are as follows:
The processing times for your Malaysia work visa will depend on where your employer applies for it.
For instance, if your employer applies for your Malaysia work Visa or Employment Pass through the Malaysian Immigration Department's MYXpats Centre, the processing time is five (5)working days. That excludes public holidays and weekends.
Suppose your employer applies for your Malaysian Work Visa at the Immigration Department of Malaysia. In that case, the processing time is no longer than three (3) working days.
Your employer can apply for your Malaysia work visa For Indians online using the Malaysian Immigration Department's MYXpats Centre.
Through MYXpats Centre's website, your employer can submit your Employment Pass application, upload supporting documents, and check the Employment Pass application status.
Your employer can also apply for your Malaysia work visa/Malaysia Employment Pass at the Immigration Department of Malaysia's offices.
There are several Malaysia visa types available for those traveling to Malaysia including:
The duration of your stay in Malaysia with a Malaysia work visa will depend on your work permit and the nature of your job. The type of Malaysia Work Permit the government of Malaysia issues is based on the duration of your work contract.
To apply for the Malaysia Employment Pass, you must earn at least RM 3000 per month, approximately 55 293 Indian Rupee. You may be required to earn more in some cases.
For the Temporary Employment Pass, you'll be required to present Bank/Insurance Guarantee valid for at least eighteen (18) months.
The same also applies to the Professional Visitor Pass.
Yes, you can. The Temporary Employment Pass is valid for a single year.
However, your employer can apply for its extension annually, up to the fifth year, three months before its expiry. This is because the maximum validity period of the Professional Visit Pass is 12 months. Still, your employer can apply for it to be extended by another 12 months.
Your employer should apply for your Malaysia work visa while you are still in India. We recommend that the application is made for your Malaysia Work Permit for at least month before traveling to Malaysia. That is to allow sufficient time for authorities to process your Malaysia Work Permit application.
To apply for a Visa With Reference, you must meet the following visa requirements:
For a Malaysia Temporary Employment Pass, you must have the following documents when applying:
Your employer/sponsor must have the following documents when applying for a Professional Visitor Pass for you:
You must meet all the minimum requirements before seeking a Malaysia Work Permit For Indians. This includes knowing which type of permit you can apply for based on the nature and contract length of your work.
Before you arrive in Malaysia, your employer or sponsor must submit an application for a work permit on your behalf. The general procedures you and your company should adhere to while requesting a Malaysian work permit are as follows:
Step 1: Your employer applies for permission to hire foreign workers Your employer must apply to one of the Malaysian agencies designated for each economic sector to hire you to fill a vacancy in their company.
These agencies are responsible for approving applications in different sectors. For example, if you are going to work in the construction industry, your employer must apply to the Construction Industry Development Board Malaysia (CIDB).
If the relevant agency approves your employer's application, you can proceed to the next step.
Step 2: Apply for a Malaysia Visa With Reference
After your employer's application to hire you has been approved, you can apply for a Malaysia Visa With Reference (VDR). This visa allows you to enter Malaysia for the purpose of work. You can apply for the VDR at the Malaysian embassy or consulate in India.
Alternatively, your employer can file your VDR and Employment Pass (EP) applications simultaneously while you are still in India. The EP is the work permit that allows you to work in Malaysia. Your employer will need to apply for the EP after your VDR application is approved.
Step 3: Your employer applies for your work permit
Once your VDR application is approved, your employer can apply for your work permit. The type of work permit you need depends on the nature of your job and the duration of your stay in Malaysia. There are several types of work permits, including:
Your employer can apply for your work permit through the Malaysian Expatriates Services Division website.
Step 4: You get your work permit issued in Malaysia
Once your work permit application is approved, you can travel to Malaysia with your VDR letter. Upon arrival, you will need to get your passport stamped with a relevant work pass. The immigration officer will check your VDR letter and work permit application to ensure that everything is in order. After that, you can start working legally in Malaysia.
You must present your Passport and make payment for the Pass at the Immigration Department of Malaysia once you've arrived in Malaysia.
Before entering Malaysia, you must also present other supporting and travel documents. Your application will be processed at the Immigration Department of Malaysia's offices.
With many employment opportunities offered by Malaysia to foreign nationals, there is no reason why you should not take those opportunities up and settle there.
Whatever kind of work permit you need, you are guaranteed to get it to work easily in Malaysia.
Government Sources
The information on this blog was gathered from all the trusted Malaysian government websites.
The information was fact-checked with the assistance of AI.
Here are the other Malaysia visas available for you, depending on your trip purpose and how long you want to stay in Malaysia.
You can also apply for these through Atlys
Only Indians with Employment Passes are permitted to bring their families to Malaysia. However, you may bring the following family members if you have an EP:
Your partner
Your dependent children that are younger than 18
Your parents
You can bring them to Malaysia through a Malaysian Dependent Pass
You cannot change employers or employment sectors while residing in Malaysia through a Malaysian Work Permit. You must remain with your employer until your permit expires before attempting to do so. You can then restart the Malaysian Work Permit application with your new employer if you wish.
No, unfortunately, that is not possible on arrival in Malaysia. You must follow the above steps to apply for your Malaysian Work Visa. It would be best if you also did well before the commencement of your employment period in Malaysia.
To obtain a work visa for Malaysia from India, you must first secure a job offer from a Malaysian company. Once you have a job offer, your employer can apply for a work permit on your behalf through the Malaysian Immigration Department.
Yes, Indian citizens can work in Malaysia. However, they must obtain a valid work visa and work permit before starting work in the country.
The cost of a Malaysia work visa varies depending on the type of Visa and the duration of your stay. Generally, the cost ranges from RM 120 to RM 1,500 (approximately INR 2 200 to INR 27 657)
Yes, Malaysia is open for work permits for foreign workers.