Hiring foreign talent should not mean months of paperwork and rejected applications. As a work permit agency Malaysia employers rely on, Marie J & Co (MJCO) handles your company's immigration setup and Employment Pass applications from start to finish.
We are a chartered accounting and MAICSA-registered company secretarial firm in Kuala Lumpur and Selangor. Because we also handle your SSM records, licences and accounts, your company is ready for immigration approval faster.
Enter the candidate's monthly basic salary to see the Employment Pass category under the rules in force since 1 June 2026.
Basic salary only. Allowances and bonuses don't count.
Type a salary to see the result.
Expatriate work passes in Malaysia are applied for by the employer through the Immigration Department's Expatriate Services Division (ESD). The right pass depends on the role, salary and how long the person will work here. As a Malaysia work visa agency, we help you choose the right one.
Registers your company with Immigration so it can hire expatriates. Required before any Employment Pass application.
The main work visa for foreign professionals and managers employed by a Malaysian company. Three categories by salary.
For experts still employed overseas who come to Malaysia for a specific project, for up to 12 months.
Lets an EP holder's spouse and children live in Malaysia, subject to the EP category and ESD rules.
For eligible family members who don't qualify for a Dependant Pass, such as parents.
EP renewals, employer changes, and pass cancellation when an employee leaves Malaysia.
Immigration rejects applications for small gaps: a capital shortfall, a missing licence or a job description that doesn't justify the salary. A Malaysia work visa agency checks all of this before anything is submitted.
We check paid-up capital, office tenancy and licences before ESD registration.
Job descriptions, contracts and succession plans prepared to ESD standards.
We handle the ESD portal, Immigration queries and endorsement for you.
We track pass expiry dates and file renewals in good time.
Malaysia raised the Employment Pass salary thresholds for all new and renewal applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026. The thresholds are based on basic salary only.
| Category | Monthly basic salary | Maximum duration | Succession plan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Category I | RM20,000 and above | Up to 10 years | Not required |
| Category II | RM10,000 – RM19,999 | Up to 10 years | Required |
| Category III | RM5,000 – RM9,999 Manufacturing: RM7,000 – RM9,999 | Up to 5 years | Required |
Valid passes continue until they expire. Renewals filed on or after 1 June 2026 must meet the new thresholds, so plan salary adjustments before the renewal date.
Source: Baker McKenzie, Jan 2026. Rules can change; we confirm current ESD requirements for every case.
Before any Employment Pass, your company must register with ESD. Select your ownership structure to see the usual minimum paid-up capital.
Many companies stall here, which is where a Malaysia work visa agency with company secretarial expertise makes the difference. MJCO can increase paid-up capital through a share allotment, update your SSM records as your company secretary, and apply for your business licence, all before ESD registration.
Capital figures follow ESD guidelines as commonly applied in 2026. Some sectors have their own requirements.
Click through each step to see how our work permit agency Malaysia team takes you from first review to the pass endorsed in your employee's passport.
We check your company's capital, office, licences and the candidate's salary and qualifications.
If needed, we arrange a capital increase, SSM updates or a business premise licence.
We register your company on the Immigration ESD portal so it can hire expatriates.
We prepare the job description, employment contract, candidate documents and succession plan where required.
We submit the Employment Pass application through ESD and track its status.
We respond to Immigration queries until the application is approved.
We guide your employee through arrival, medical check where required, and endorsement of the pass.
We remind you before the pass expires and file renewals that meet current rules.
Requirements vary by pass and company. Tick off what you already have:
0 of 10 documents ready
Most visa runners only submit forms. As a full-service work permit agency Malaysia businesses can count on, MJCO prepares your whole company for immigration approval, because ESD looks at your company as closely as your candidate.
For applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026, the minimum monthly basic salary is RM5,000 for Category III (RM7,000 in manufacturing), RM10,000 for Category II and RM20,000 for Category I.
People often use "work permit" for any foreign work pass. For professionals and managers, the correct pass is usually the Employment Pass. Semi-skilled foreign workers use a different pass with its own quota process.
Yes, if it meets ESD requirements: SSM incorporation, enough paid-up capital, a proper office with a tenancy of at least 12 months, and a business premise licence. We help new companies meet each of these.
As a guide, ESD usually expects RM250,000 for a Malaysian-owned company, RM350,000 for a joint venture with 30% or more foreign ownership, and RM500,000 for a 100% foreign-owned company. Some foreign-owned trading and retail businesses need RM1,000,000.
It depends on whether your company is already ESD-registered and how complete the application is. First-time ESD registration adds time, so start early.
EP holders can apply for Dependant Passes for their spouse and children, subject to their EP category and current ESD rules. Other family members may qualify for a Long-Term Social Visit Pass.
No. An ESD-registered company can apply directly. An agency saves time and reduces the risk of rejection, especially when your company is registering with ESD for the first time.
Category II and III applications must include a plan showing how the company will train local staff to take over the role over time, with activities and a timeline.
Valid passes continue until they expire. Renewals submitted on or after 1 June 2026 must meet the new salary thresholds.
An Employment Pass is for someone employed by a Malaysian company. A Professional Visit Pass is for someone still employed overseas who works here temporarily on a specific project, for up to 12 months.
A work permit agency Malaysia employers hire checks your company's eligibility, registers it with ESD, prepares the application documents, submits the pass application and handles Immigration queries until the pass is endorsed.
Semi-skilled foreign workers go through a separate quota and recruitment process. Contact us and we'll advise on the right route for your business.
Fees depend on whether ESD registration is needed and how many passes you're applying for. Government fees are separate. We give a fixed quote after reviewing your case.
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