Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa Guide

The essentials

Income referenceUS$24,000 tech / US$60,000 non-tech yearly

Length of stay3–12 months; up to 24 months total

FamilyPartner, eligible children and main applicant’s parents

Application routeMDEC online application + endorsement

Guide review · 26 October 2026

Rechecked MDEC FAQ v10 dated 28 August 2026 and separate employee/freelancer mandatory lists: profession categories, US$24,000/60,000 annual references, 3–12 month pass and 24-month total, family, passport, three-month work and income proof, conduct/education/bond/tax-registration and insurance evidence, RM1,080/540 processing fees, endorsement/autogate rules, no appeals from 1 August 2026, and processing-delay notice dated 23 September 2026. Existing equality caveat retained because sources use both minimum and above wording.

Who this route is for

Eligible remote employees, digital freelancers and independent contractors. The DE Rantau Nomad Pass has separate tech/digital and non-tech profession categories.

Check your income reference

Estimate the income reference for your household in the currency shown.

Profession category

Your monthly income (USD)

Spouse or partner

Children

Other dependantsCheck which relatives qualify.

Monthly income referenceUS$24,000 tech / US$60,000 non-tech yearly

Enter your income to compare the guide reference.

Monthly equivalents: US$2,000 for tech/digital talent and US$5,000 for eligible non-tech professions. MDEC assesses qualifying annual income and profession. Dependant approval is separate; no family uplift is inferred here. At exact equality, confirm with MDEC: its FAQ uses both minimum and above-threshold wording.

Your document checklist

All passport pages; at least fourteen months validity and six empty pages.Current CV and highest education certificate.Employees: signed foreign-employer contract stating remote work, role, salary and duration; employment started at least three months before applying.Employees: three months of payslips and matching bank deposits; recent income statement or tax return.Freelancers: signed client agreements with scope, duration and payment terms; contracts started at least three months before applying.Freelancers: three months of invoices, payment receipts and bank statements.Evidence meeting the annual income threshold for the selected profession category.Letter of good conduct from the relevant home or residence authority.Prescribed personal bond form and sponsorship arrangements.Malaysia-valid medical insurance covering applicable dependants; submit by endorsement and cover the pass period.LHDN tax registration slip for endorsement.Digital marketing applicants: compulsory marketing portfolio or performance report.Dependants: passport and relationship records requested by MDEC.Clear PDF documents in English or with certified English translations.

Your ticks are saved on this device. Use the official checklist for your filing location.

How to apply

Apply online through MDEC. After approval, arrange the entry permission specified in the approval letter, enter Malaysia and complete endorsement. Tourist-pass applicants must leave and re-enter for endorsement; follow the rules for any existing long-term pass.

What to keep in mind

MDEC’s 23 September 2026 notice reports processing delays. The usual six-to-eight-week estimate may take longer.
Processing fees including SST: RM1,080 main applicant and RM540 per dependant, non-refundable. Immigration and bond charges are separate.
Spouses cannot work on dependant permission. Children attending school need a Student Pass through the school; home-schooled dependants are exempt from this requirement.
This guide covers the federal route for Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan. Sarawak has a separate programme; check it directly for a Borneo base.
Complete first endorsement within one month of entry and within the approval letter’s six-month validity. Remain in Malaysia until the e-Pass is issued.
Use the official profession lists and separate employee/freelancer document PDFs linked here.
For the first endorsement entry, use a normal Immigration counter and obtain an entry stamp; do not use the Autogate.
MDEC accepts no appeals for rejected applications from 1 August 2026. Applicants may submit a new application once eligible.

Reviewed 26 October 2026. Confirm the current official checklist for your passport, residence, and filing location.

MalaysiaDigital Nomad Guide