The Expatriate Service Division (鈥淓SD鈥�) of the Immigration Department of Malaysia has issued an updated announcement on the full deployment of online applications as well as improvements to processes to handle more applications.听 (For related coverage, see听GMS Flash Alert听2024-165, 7 August 2024.)
WHY THIS MATTERS
Application processes and timelines will be impacted by these changes, in many cases, making things simpler and more convenient.
However, as the process is new and with digitalisation, delays or setbacks may be expected at the early stages of deployment.
Highlights
- Simplified application process for the Professional Visit Pass with a reduction in the required documentation.1
- Full deployment of online applications by the ESD with effect from 15 August 2024, where manual applications will no longer be accepted over the counter.2
A company鈥檚 ESD account activation and admendment of the Letter of Undertaking (鈥淟OU鈥�) to update details of the authorised personnel to liaise with the ESD on behalf of the company, has been made available online effective from 20 August 2024.3
More details
- The simplified process for the Professional Visit Pass means a reduction by up to seven (7) documents previously required for the application.听 The following documents are no longer required for submission:
- Offer letter from the receiving company in Malaysia;
- Acceptance letter from the employer in home country;
- Job description of the assignment;
- Work schedule during the assignment in Malaysia;
- Applicant鈥檚 academic certificate and resume;
- Bank guarantee (for Chinese and Bangladeshi nationals).
听
- The online applications which were partially deployed are now fully deployed.听 The following applications are to be applied online via the ESD鈥檚 online system:
- Amendment / cancellation of an approved application; 听
- Transfer of Pass endorsement to a new passport including take-up of the balance of the approved period of the Pass;
- Shortening / cancellation of the Pass;
- Permission to study for children of expatriates; and
- Permission to work at a second location / branch / site office.
The implementation of the online process for a company鈥檚 ESD account activation, after the company is successfully registered with the ESD, will eliminate the requirement for the company鈥檚 director to visit the ESD鈥檚 office in person to sign the LOU. 听Subsequent amendments to the LOU will also be submitted online via the ESD鈥檚 system.
乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 INSIGHTS
The improvements and enhancements around digitalisation are expected to give companies a greater degree of flexibility with respect to:
- making applications at their fingertips 24/7,
- reducing limitations affecting working hours (which should cement Malaysia鈥檚 reputation as a business-friendly country).
This is expected to have a positive effect on economic growth.听
There may be a 鈥榝lip side鈥� to all this, however. 听While the number of documents may seem to be reduced, in actual practice, all the details and information must still be provided in the template letter or filled in the online form in the ESD鈥檚 system. 听
Nevertheless, the changes are still welcome because, as noted, they are expected to reduce the time it takes to prepare all the necessary documentation and travel to the ESD鈥檚 office for manual submission.
Companies must make sure that all conditions and requirements are complied with, such as maintaining updates to the company鈥檚 details in the ESD鈥檚 online system, renewing in a timely manner relevant business required licenses, obtaining prior approvals from the Department of Labour, just to name a few, so that they are compliant with all the relevant regulations.
Contacts
Additional Resources
Footnotes
听
1听 See: Expatriate Services Division, 鈥淪IMPLIFIED DOCUMENT REQUIREMENTS FOR PROFESSIONAL VISIT PASS APPLICATON (12 August 2024) at: https://esd.imi.gov.my/portal/latest-news/announcement/announcement-233-simplified-document/.
2 听See: Expatriate Services Division, 鈥淐OMPLETE REDEPLOYMENT OF ONLINE SUB-PRODUCT SERVICES VIA ESD ONLINE SYSTEM鈥� (15 August 2024) at: https://esd.imi.gov.my/portal/latest-news/announcement/announcement-234-complete-subproducts/.
3听 See: Expatriate Services Division, "LOU DIGITALISATION : ONLINE COMPANY ACTIVATION & LETTER OF UNDERTAKING (LOU) AMENDMENT (EFFECTIVE 20 AUGUST 2024) (16 August 2024) at: https://esd.imi.gov.my/portal/latest-news/announcement/announcement-235-lou-online/.
Also see: Expatriate Services Division, Guidebook V5 at: .
Disclaimer
* Please note the 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 International member firm in the United States does not provide immigration or labour law services. However, 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 Law LLP in Canada can assist clients with U.S. immigration matters.
The information contained in this newsletter was submitted by the 乐鱼（Leyu）体育官网 International member firm in Malaysia.
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