Malaysia digital nomad visa: the DE Rantau Nomad Pass

The main applicant must be over 18. Tech talent covers digital freelancers, contractors and remote employees in software, cloud, cybersecurity, AI, data, UX and UI, digital marketing and content creation, with a minimum income of USD 24,000 a year. Non-tech roles such as founders, managers, accountants, lawyers, consultants or customer service professionals need USD 60,000 a year. All contracts must have started at least three months before the application.

The pass is open to all nationalities except Israel. Remote employees must work for a company that is not registered in Malaysia. A tourist pass cannot be converted into DE Rantau, and from 1 August 2026 MDEC no longer accepts appeals for rejected applications.

Remote employees provide a signed employment contract that mentions the remote arrangement, job title, salary and the foreign employer, plus payslips and matching bank statements for the last three months; an employer confirmation letter is recommended. Freelancers provide signed client contracts, invoices and proof of payment for the last three months and bank statements showing income above the threshold. Everything must be in English or come with a certified translation, as clear PDF files.

Passports of the applicant and dependants must be valid for more than 14 months when the application is submitted.

MDEC charges a non-refundable processing fee of RM1,080 per applicant and RM540 per dependant, including 8 percent SST, regardless of the outcome. At endorsement the immigration pass fee is RM90 for every three months or RM360 for a year, plus a multiple entry visa charge where applicable.

Every holder needs a Malaysian sponsor. If you have no sponsoring company, MDEC acts as sponsor against a refundable personal bond whose amount depends on nationality; nationals of European countries and of countries not listed separately pay RM1,500, refunded when the pass expires.

MDEC processes complete applications in six to eight weeks. The approval letter is valid for six months and cannot be extended. If you are in Malaysia on a tourist pass when approved, you must leave and re-enter with the visa or entry method named in the approval letter, using a manual immigration counter rather than the autogate so that you get an entry stamp.

Within one month of entry you upload the passport, entry stamp, any VDR or eVISA, a health insurance policy covering Malaysia for the whole pass period, the income tax e-registration slip from the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and the signed bond, then pay the pass fees. You must stay in Malaysia until the e-Pass is issued, usually within a week.

The pass is valid only in Peninsular Malaysia and the Federal Territory of Labuan; Sabah and Sarawak are entered on a tourist pass. Most banks do not open accounts for Professional Visit Pass holders. Income from abroad can become taxable once you stay more than 182 days, so check your position with the Inland Revenue Board. Renewal can be filed up to three months before expiry and takes six to eight weeks.