Malaysia Dependent Pass

Foreign nationals who are in Malaysia for employment or studying purposes are allowed to bring their family members with them through the Dependent Visa for Malaysia, ie. the Malaysian Dependent Pass.

However, not every Employment or Student Pass holder can bring their family members to Malaysia. There are also restrictions regarding which family members you are allowed to bring along.

Who is eligible to apply for a Malaysia Dependent Pass?

You can bring your dependents with you through a Dependent Pass Malaysia if you are:

• An Employment Pass holder Category 1 (in a key role in the company and with a monthly salary of at least RM10,000).
• An Employment Pass holder Category 2 (in a managerial and professional position in a company and with a monthly salary between RM5,000 and RM9,999).
• A Malaysia Student Pass holder who is undergoing Master and Ph.D studies in a Malaysian educational institution.

Holders of an Employment Pass Category 3, Temporary Employment Pass, or a Professional Visit Pass are not allowed to apply for a Dependent Pass for their family members.

Student Pass holders who are in BA studies or lower, or in a language school are not allowed to apply for a Dependent Pass Malaysia for their family members.

What family members can you bring with a Dependent Pass to Malaysia?

If you are an eligible Malaysia Employment Pass holder you can apply for a Dependent Pass Malaysia for the following family members:

• Your legal spouse (husband/wife)
• Children under 21 years of age (biological, adopted, or stepchild)
• Dependent children regardless of age (if they have a physical or mental disability rendering them dependent on you)

If you want to bring your common-law spouse (unmarried), dependent parents or parents-in-law, or children over 21, you must apply for the Malaysia Long Term Social Visit Pass.

If you are a Student Pass holder, you can apply for a Malaysia Dependent Pass for the following family members:

• Your legal spouse (husband/wife)
• Your children under 21 years of age (biological, adopted, or stepchild)
• Dependent children regardless of age (if they have a physical or mental disability rendering them dependent on you)
• Your parents

Requirements for a Malaysia Dependent Pass

The following documents are required for a Malaysia Dependent Pass application:

• Two recent passport size pictures of the applicant
• Complete copy of your family members’ passports, including the cover, personal information pages, any visas you have received as well as the empty pages.
  • The passport must be valid for at least 12 months from the intended date of arrival in Malaysia.
  • Marriage certificate, for legal spouses
  • Birth certificate for children/parents
  • Custody letter for the child (if applicable)
  • Adoption papers for the child (if applicable)

  The copies of the marriage and birth certificates you submit have to be translated into English, if they are not already. The translations have to be done by either the Embassy or Consulate of your family members’ respective country in Malaysia or the Institut Terjemahan Buku Malaysia.

  Additionally, the documents must be endorsed as a Certified True Copy (CTC) by the Embassy or Consulate of your family members’ respective country in Malaysia or the Malaysian Embassy/Consulate in your family members’ country.

  How to apply for a Malaysia Dependent Pass?

  If you are an Employment Pass holder, you can apply for the Malaysia Dependent Pass either:

  • Along with your Employment Pass application
  • After your Employment Pass has been approved and you are in Malaysia

  You or your employer must submit the application through the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

  If you are a Student Pass holder, you can only apply for a Malaysian Dependent Pass only after your Student Pass has been issued. Your educational institution is in charge of handling the Malaysia Dependent Pass application on your behalf. They must apply through the EMGS website, where your own Student Pass application was also submitted.

  Malaysia Visa Approval Letter for Dependent’s Pass applicants

  Before your dependants can travel to Malaysia, the Immigration Department of Malaysia must issue them with a Visa Approval Letter (VAL). Your family members must then use the VAL to apply for a Malaysia Visa With Reference in the nearest Malaysian embassy or consulate.

  The Malaysian government issues Visas With Reference to foreign nationals who wish to enter the country for purposes other than tourism or short-term social visits.

  Arriving in Malaysia

  After your family members arrive in Malaysia, they must submit their passports to the Immigration Department of Malaysia so they can receive the Malaysia Dependent Pass sticker.

  Check with your school or employer because in many cases, it is them who handle the passport submission to receive the Dependant Pass.

  Validity of the Malaysia Dependant Pass

  Your family members will receive a Dependent Pass with the same duration as your own Employment Pass or Student Pass. It can be renewed in the same manner as well.

  Working with a Malaysia Dependant Pass

  Malaysia Dependent Pass holders are not allowed to work under the conditions of the Dependent Pass. If your family member wants to start working, they must convert their Dependent Pass into an Employment Pass.

  As such, they would be subject to the requirements and conditions of the Employment Pass, including duration.

  Their employer has to apply for the Employment Pass the Visa, Pass and Permit Division of the Immigration Department of Malaysia or at any State Immigration Office.

  • Malaysia Work Visa
  • Malaysia Professional Visit Pass
  • Malaysia Temporary Employment Pass
  • Malaysia Employment Pass