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Semi-skilled or unskilled foreign workers can travel to Malaysia and work there with a Malaysia temporary employment pass in specific sectors. The Malaysian government issues two categories of Malaysian temporary employment passes:

  • To work in manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture, and services.
  • To Foreign Domestic Helpers (FDH).

A Malaysia temporary employment pass holder must also comply with the specific profession-based age, nationality, and gender requirements.

Eligible Workers for a Malaysian Temporary Employment Pass

Workers, who meet the requirements below, are eligible for a Malaysian temporary employment pass:

How do I Get a Temporary Employment Pass in Malaysia?
  • If the foreigner works in one of the sectors below:
ConstructionPlantationAgriculture
ServicesManufacturing
  • The worker comes from one of the following countries:
BangladeshCambodiaIndia
IndonesiaKazakhstanLaos
MyanmarNepalPakistan
PhilippinesSri LankaThailand
TurkmenistanUzbekistanVietnam

Note: There are some exceptions for the people of these countries: 1- People of Bangladesh can only work in the plantation sector, 2- For Indian workers, the manufacturing sector is off-limits, 3- Indonesian male workers cannot work in the manufacturing sector, 4- Female workers from the Philippines cannot apply for any sector.

  • If the foreigner is aged between 18 and 45 years.
  • A medical center declares a worker cleared and healthy, and fit to work after they have undergone a medical examination.
  • The foreign worker’s employer has a foreign worker quota issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs, One Stop Centre (OSC).
  • They have successfully passed the Immigration Security Clearance (ISC) verification in an ISC Centre in their home country.

Applying for a Malaysia Temporary Employment Pass

Employers who are willing to hire foreign workers must visit the Malaysian immigration department and apply for Malaysia temporary employment passes on behalf of their workers. Obtaining a temporary employment pass has several steps:

Getting the Visa Approval Letter

First, the employer has to get a Visa Approval Letter before their workers can travel to Malaysia. The Immigration Department of Malaysia issues this Approval Letter. On the other hand, the workers must apply for a Visa With Reference to their home countries. Applying for a Visa With Reference needs the approval (reference) letter from the Immigration Department. To get the Visa Approval Letter, an employer must:

  • Get the results of the workers’ Immigration Security Clearance (ISC) verification from an ISC center in the workers’ home country.
  • Visit the Ministry of Home Affairs and get the foreign worker quota approval.
  • Go to the Immigration Department of Malaysia in person or use the e-Service to submit the application along with the required documents.

Workers must apply for the Malaysia Visa With Reference when the Immigration Department issues the Visa Approval Letter.

Applying for the Malaysia Visa With Reference

To get a Malaysia Visa With Reference, workers must apply at the nearest Malaysian Representative Office, embassy, or consulate. The embassy or consulate website has information about Malaysia visa requirements and the office’s opening hours.

Workers can travel to Malaysia only after they receive the Malaysia Visa With Reference.

Applying for the Temporary Employment Pass

There is a medical examination in Malaysia called FOMEMA. When workers arrive in Malaysia, they must go through FOMEMA in 30 days. Once workers get their FOMEMA medical examination results, they can apply for a Malaysia temporary employment pass.

The workers and their employers must pay for the temporary employment pass fee and a security bond at the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

Once the immigration officers approve temporary employment passes, they attach a sticker on the worker’s passport and give them a foreign workers identification card (i-Kad), which allows them to work and live in Malaysia.

Now you have the tools to immigrate to Malaysia as a Pharmacist by reading our comprehensive guide.

The Required Documents for a Malaysia Temporary Employment Pass

The following documents are required to apply for the temporary employment pass Visa Approval Letter. The employer must collect and submit them to the Malaysian Immigration Department:

  • The application form for Malaysia Visa With Reference (forms IM.12 and IM.38).
  • The quota approval letter issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
  • Copy of the worker’s passport.
  • Passport-size picture (workers need to take their pictures based on the Malaysia photo requirements.)
  • Worker’s medical results. The results must be valid for three months from the date they are issued.
  • Worker’s ISC verification results.
  • The receipt of a paid foreign worker levy.
  • The security bond.
  • Foreign Worker Compensation Insurance Scheme.
  • Health insurance (Health Insurance Protection Scheme Foreign Workers (SPIKPA)).

What are the Conditions of the Temporary Employment Pass

Foreign workers must comply with the following conditions if they receive a Temporary Employment Pass for Malaysia. Workers are not allowed to:

  • Change employers.
  • Change the employment sector.
  • Get married in Malaysia, with either a Malaysian citizen or a foreigner.
  • Work as a front liner.
  • Bring your family members with them to Malaysia.

How Long is a Malaysia Temporary Employment Pass Valid?

Initially, the Malaysia temporary employment pass is valid for 12 months. This type of Malaysia pass can be renewed or extended every year for up to 10 years.

Can I extend a Malaysia Temporary Employment Pass?

The worker’s temporary employment pass (TEP) can be renewed if their employer must apply for it three months before it expires. Any application after expiry will be denied.

Who is eligible for a Malaysian Foreign Domestic Helper?

Foreign workers are considered to be eligible for the Malaysia temporary employment pass for Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH) if they meet the requirements below:

  • The worker is a female, aged between 21 and 45.
  • They are from one of the following countries:
CambodiaIndiaIndonesiaLaos
Sri LankaThailandThe PhilippinesVietnam
  • An approved medical center declared these women as medically fit to work.
  • Female workers must receive Immigration Security Clearance (ISC) verification from an ISC center in their country.

Malaysian people cannot normally hire more than one foreign domestic helper. However, if they have a valid reason, they can hire more than one helper in special cases. Foreign domestic helpers may only work for an employer who has:

  • An income of at least RM3,000 to RM5,000.
  • Children under 15.
  • Sick, elderly parents.

How to apply for a Foreign Domestic Helper Employment Pass?

An employer needs approval from the Immigration Department so that they can hire a foreign helper. In another way, the employer can appoint an employment agency to perpetuate the application process on their behalf. Here are the steps for getting a temporary employment pass for Foreign Domestic Helper (FDH):

Applying for the Visa Approval Letter

First, an employer must obtain the Visa Approval Letter to be able to hire foreign helpers. A State Immigration Office in Malaysia issues this letter.

Employers must submit their application along with the required documents to an Immigration Department Office in person.

If the temporary employment pass is approved, helpers will receive the Visa Approval Letter. This letter gives the helpers the green light to apply for the Visa With Reference.

Applying for the Malaysia Visa With Reference

Female applicants must go to a Malaysian Representative Office and apply for the Visa With Reference in their home country. In order to apply for a Visa With Reference, you need a letter of endorsement from the Immigration Office (the approval letter). Traveling to Malaysia is allowed when the helpers receive their Visa With Reference.

Applying for the Foreign Domestic Helper Employment Pass

Upon arrival in Malaysia, the employer and the foreign helper have one month to go to a State Immigration Office or Immigration Headquarters and declare the helper’s presence in the country. During that month, helpers must also go through the FOMEMA medical examination.

Helpers can apply at the Immigration Department for the temporary employment pass for Foreign Domestic Helper once foreign helpers have completed these steps. Immigration officers will place a sticker on the helper’s passport, indicating the duration of the Pass and your right to work.

What are the Required Documents for Foreign Domestic Helper Employment Pass?

The following documents are required from the employer if they wish to apply for a Malaysia temporary employment pass:

  • The application form for a Foreign Domestic Worker (PRA1)
  • Forms IM.12 and IM.38 of Visa application forms
  • RM10.00 revenue stamp on a personal bond form
  • The Contract of Employment for a Foreign Domestic Helper (there must be 2 originals and 2 copies of the contract signed by the helper and employer and stamped with an RM10.00 revenue stamp.)
  • A photocopy of the helper’s passport
  • Passport-size picture of the helper (the pictures must be based on Malaysian photo requirements)
  • Medical reports of health issued by clinics in the helper’s home country and certified by clinics in Malaysia approved by the Ministry of Health.
  • A photocopy of the employers’ identification cards (identification cards of both spouses are required)
  • Employer’s marriage certificate
  • Birth certificates for children, medical certificates for ill parents, etc., are required for the employment of foreign domestic helpers.
  • Payslips and EPF statements from the past three months to serve as proof of the employer’s income.
  • The following forms should be included if the employer is non-Muslim:
    • Declaration form for the employment of foreign domestic helpers who are Muslim
    • Declaration form for foreign domestic helpers who are Muslims
  • If the employer does not submit the application through an employment agency and applies themselves, they have to include a Declaration Form to declare they did not use registered agencies.

What are the Conditions of Foreign Domestic Helper Employment Pass?

Here are the conditions for Foreign Domestic Helpers to be able to work in Malaysia:

  • They must only do housework-related chores.
  • They must accommodate in a place with basic amenities.
  • The employer must be respectful of the helper’s religion and allow them to practice their religion, including:
    • Fasting during Ramadan
    • Praying 5 times a day
    • Be free to refuse chores that oppose their religious beliefs.
  • Helpers cannot marry anyone in Malaysia.
  • Helpers cannot change their employers or the employment sector. However, it is possible if the Immigration Department of Malaysia approves a change.
  • Helpers cannot apply for an Entry Permit.

How Long is a Foreign Domestic Helper Employment Pass Valid?

A Malaysia temporary employment pass for Foreign Domestic Helpers is valid for 12 months. However, the foreign helper’s employer can apply for an extension of the Pass three months before it hits its expiration date.

The Bottom Line…

A Malaysia temporary employment pass is for foreign workers to work in manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture, and services sectors or work as a foreign domestic helper. There are exceptions for each of these categories; for example, only women can be domestic helpers. Each type of temporary employment pass needs specific required documents. To apply for these types, the employer must do most of the application process.

On the Visa Library website, you can learn about other Malaysian work visas (like Professional Pass and Employment Pass) as well as ways to immigrate to other countries.  If you have any previous experience or worked in Malaysia under a temporary employment pass, please share with us in the comment section.

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