How to obtain a remote work visa in Malaysia and what are its conditions?

Kuala Lumpur

- With the impact of the Corona pandemic receding, and the country entering the stage of full recovery from the epidemic, the Malaysian authorities sought to develop plans and enact several laws in order to restore the vitality of the economy and move its wheels.

And with the beginning of last June - the date of announcing the return of life in Malaysia to normal - the government took measures to address the negative effects on the economy resulting from the restrictions and continuous closures during the previous two years.

In addition to facilitating the return of tourists and the operations of receiving foreign students and opening the way for the return of labor from abroad, the authorities have put in place new legislation that guarantees the reception of thousands of employees who work remotely as one of the policies to identify with the new data of the market imposed by the repercussions of the pandemic.

boost the economy

The Malaysian authorities launched a visa program to attract remote workers, and opened work with it in early October, in an effort to boost the country's economy and turn it into a center for Southeast Asia to receive this type of employee.

The program aims - according to the official website - to promote the adoption of digitization and promote professional digital work and tourism in the country.

The program announced by Malaysia will be the first of its kind in the Southeast Asian region, and it provides accommodation for people working remotely, who are constantly on the move.

The program is part of a strategy spearheaded by Malaysia's National Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), a government agency responsible for promoting the digital economy.

The program aims to promote the adoption of digitization and the promotion of professional digital work and tourism in the country (Shutterstock)

Program beneficiaries

The program welcomes digital marketers, web and software developers, content creators, IT professionals, and others from around the world.

Citizens from any country can apply for this visa, as long as they are doing jobs that allow them to work remotely, or those who are self-employed.

The cost of issuing a residence visa - according to this program - is about $ 220, and this visa allows remote employees to stay in Malaysia for up to one year, and it can be extended for an additional year.

The wife and children can also be added to the residence visa application at an additional cost of about $120 per person.

Submission terms

Applicants for this visa are required to submit an official work contract valid for at least 3 months with a foreign or Malaysian company, or evidence that the applicant is working on a private project. The program also accepts several short-term contracts as long as the required period is completed.

In addition, applicants are required to obtain a document of good conduct from their country.

According to the terms of the program, the minimum annual wage for applicants must be at least two thousand dollars per month, or the equivalent of $24,000 annually.

Those who obtain this visa are required to obtain a health insurance certificate, either from their country or from the designated centers in Malaysia, in order to cover the medical expenses of the person himself and his family members, if necessary.

Anwar Ibrahim pledged that his government would work to establish a digital platform to employ foreigners and reduce their recruitment costs (Reuters)

Incentives for applicants

This visa enables its holder to enter and reside in the country easily, but it will not allow him to obtain citizenship or permanent residence in the country, as this is very difficult in light of the strict Malaysian laws that prevent this.

Holders of this visa will be able, during their stay in Malaysia, to obtain the benefits and services granted to residents, and holders of this type of visa will not have to pay income tax to the Malaysian government.

The country is seeking to establish remote work centers, with fast internet connections across the country.

What encourages many foreigners to go to Malaysia is the low cost of living compared to the United States, European countries and some Asian countries, and the language will not be an obstacle, as English is considered the second language in the country.

Malaysia enjoys a picturesque nature and cultural and environmental diversity that makes it a home for those looking for a comfortable work environment, in addition to the presence of an integrated infrastructure, including schools, universities, roads, transportation networks, means of communication, markets and restaurants.

Upon assuming the duties of his new position, Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim pledged that his government would work to establish a digital platform to employ foreigners, reduce their recruitment costs, and bypass the routine complexities that broker offices put in place.

persistent need

These policies coincide with the announcement by the Federation of Employment Agencies in Malaysia that the country needs more than one million foreign workers, in several sectors, to sustain operations this year, after the end of the pandemic restrictions.

A report issued by this union says that the demand for foreign workers has become very urgent in many sectors, especially agriculture, construction, services and manufacturing, considering that foreign labor represents a vital necessity to move the local economy.

It is also estimated that the number of officially registered foreign workers decreased to 900,000 during the lockdown period, and movement was restricted, compared to 2.2 million workers before the pandemic.