Malaysia Employment Visa (EP/ Employment Pass) 2026 Update

Effective 1 June 2026, Malaysia government will implement revisions affecting minimum salary thresholds, visa durations, and eligibility criteria for foreign professionals.

Both current and prospective EP holders need to understand these changes to ensure compliance and successful visa applications.

Note: This article was prepared based on information published as of 16 June 2025. When applying for an EP, please contact a specialist organization in advance. Additional rules or operational changes may be introduced in the future.

 

1. Summary of Changes for the Malaysia Employment Visa (EP)

Main Change: Minimum Salary Requirement

The most significant revision in this EP update is the increase in the minimum salary threshold. For almost all categories, the minimum salary requirement will be approximately doubled. Additionally, a maximum period of stay will be introduced.

Highlights

• Minimum salary requirement will be about 2× higher for most categories

• These changes apply not only to new applications but also to renewal applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026

For example, Japanese nationals working under a condition such as “Category II with RM 7,000–9,000 per month” may no longer meet the requirement when renewing under the new rules.

 

1.2 Applicable From 1 June 2026

These new rules will apply to EP applications (both new and renewal) submitted on or after 1 June 2026. That means:

• People planning to work in Malaysia in the future

• People who already hold an EP and plan to renew it

are both affected.

Holding an EP now does not guarantee you’re safe. What matters is whether you meet the new requirements at the time of renewal.

 

1.3 Maximum Duration of Stay

Under this revision, not only is the salary threshold raised, but the maximum number of years a person can stay on an EP has also been clearly defined:

• Category I & II: Up to 10 years

• Category III: Up to 5 years

 

2. Differences Between EP Categories

So far, we’ve covered changes in minimum salary. However, Malaysia’s Employment Pass system already distinguishes between different categories, and this affects things like whether dependents can accompany the visa holder and how approvals are processed. Considering the upcoming EP changes, these category differences will become even more important.

 

A) Eligibility for Dependent Pass

Item	Category I	Category II	Category III
Spouse & children allowed	Yes	Yes	No
Parents & adult children allowed	Yes	Yes	No

In Category III, family members cannot be brought to Malaysia as dependents.

 

B) Level of Position / Role

Even within the same company, the category depends on role and position:

• Category I

  • Executive/ top management

  • General Managers/ Country Heads

  • Highly skilled professionals

  • Positions with decision‑making authority

 

• Category II

  • Managers

  • Mid‑level specialists

  • Team leaders

 

• Category III

  • Technical staff

  • Administrative staff

  • Junior or entry‑level positions

C) Strictness of Review & Procedures

Item	Category I	Category II	Category III
Difficulty of screening	Lower	Moderate	Higher
Additional approvals required	Rare	Generally not required	Required in some cases
Job description explanation detail	Simple	Standard	Detailed

For Category III, prior approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs Malaysia may also be required, increasing the administrative burden on the hiring company.

 

D) Evaluation of Education & Work Experience

• Category I & II: Provided academic background and career history align with the role, approval is generally easier.

• Category III: Practical experience and skill verification are checked more strictly, and unclear job duties are more likely to lead to refusal.

E) Hiring Burden on Employers

Item	Category I	Category II	Category III
Employer’s explanation burden	Low	Medium	High
Approval processing speed	Fast	Standard	Slower

Category III involves the most burden in company procedures.

 

3. Conclusion

 

This EP system revision will definitely have an impact on Japanese nationals working in Malaysia. Since additional information and detailed rules may be announced in the future, we will continue to update this blog with the latest information as it becomes available.

 

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Reference

Expatriate Services Division, Immigration Department of Malaysia. Revised employment pass salary policy effective 1 June 2026. Immigration Department of Malaysia.