29 September 2022

Malaysia to introduce new digital nomad visa

New Malaysia visa hopes to attract foreign talent.

Estimated reading time: 2 minutes

Malaysia is to make further efforts to attract foreign talent with new routes for people able to work remotely.

From October 1 2022, the Malaysian government will begin accepting applications for their new Digital Nomad Pass.The pass will form part of Malaysia’s new Nomad Pass Program, which aims to attract workers from all over the globe.

Currently, around 16,000 British people live in Malaysia, with a further 500,000 visiting each year.

The pass’s introduction comes after other countries, including Sri Lanka and Thailand, also introduced digital nomad schemes of their own. Such schemes are aimed at attracting foreign nationals who can work from anywhere in the world.

Who will be able to apply?

Foreign nationals able to work remotely from Malaysia – including digital freelancers and remote workers – will be able to apply for the Nomad Pass if they earn over $24,000 (around £22,500) per year. They will also be able to take their dependents with them.

Holders of the pass will be able to stay and work in Malaysia for between three and 12 months, with the option to extend their visa for up to 12 months per application.

One of the key benefits of the Digital Nomad Pass is that it will allow holders to work with multiple companies, compared to the already existing short-term Professional Visit Pass, which only allows foreign nationals to work for a Malaysian company.

Requirements

Freelance applicants will be required to show proof of an active contract with a total duration of over three months. The contract must be with either a local or foreign company.

Remote worker applicants, meanwhile, will be required to show proof of an active employment with a duration of over three months with a foreign company.