---
title: "Malaysia digital nomad pass 2026: requirements and cost"
url: https://nostos.navoy.io/visas/malaysia
description: "Malaysia's DE Rantau Nomad Pass is a Professional Visit Pass run by MDEC for remote workers and digital freelancers earning at least US$24,000 a year…"
dataset: 2026.10.7 (2026-10-13)
license: CC BY 4.0
---

# Malaysia digital nomad pass 2026: requirements and cost

Malaysia's DE Rantau Nomad Pass is a Professional Visit Pass run by MDEC for remote workers and digital freelancers earning at least US$24,000 a year (US$60,000 for listed non-tech roles). It is granted for three to twelve months, renewable once for twelve, costs RM1,080 to process plus RM360 a year in pass fees, and is applied for online with endorsement in Malaysia after arrival.

Digital nomad visa. Official name: DE Rantau Nomad Pass (Pas Lawatan Ikhtisas, Professional Visit Pass). Facts updated 2026-10-04. Not yet reviewed by a person.

## Key facts

| Fact | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Who can apply | Any nationality |
| Minimum income | $2,000/month (US$24,000 a year (tech or digital talent) or US$60,000 a year (non-tech professions)) |
| Fee | about $353 (RM1,080 non-refundable processing fee (including 8% SST) plus RM360 immigration pass fee for 12 months (RM90 per three months); multiple-entry visa charges vary by nationality) |
| Processing time | 6 weeks to 9 weeks |
| Initial stay | 1 year, renewable up to 2 years |
| Renewable | yes |
| Leads to permanent residence | no |
| Where to apply | Consulate, then in the country: Online at mdec.my/derantau (application status at malaysiadigital.mdec.my). After approval you enter Malaysia, with an eVISA or Visa with Reference if your nationality needs one, and complete the endorsement online within one month of entry. |

## Who can apply

Open to all nationalities except citizens of Israel, aged over 18. Tech talent means digital freelancers, independent contractors and remote workers in IT and digital fields (software, cloud, cybersecurity, AI, data, UX, digital marketing, digital content). Non-tech talent covers listed roles such as CEO, COO, CFO, business development, marketing, finance, HR, legal counsel, consultant and technical writer, with the higher income bar. Remote employees must work for a company not registered in Malaysia; freelancers may also serve Malaysian clients.

## What you need

- Passport valid for more than 14 months at submission
- Remote workers: signed employment contract stating remote arrangement, role, duration and salary with a foreign employer not registered in Malaysia, started at least three months earlier
- Freelancers: signed client contracts or freelance agreements stating scope, duration and payment terms
- Payslips (employees) or issued invoices and proof of payment (freelancers) for the last three months
- Bank statements for the last three months showing the matching income
- Employer confirmation letter or portfolio and client testimonials (optional but recommended)
- Health insurance policy covering Malaysia for the whole pass period (minimum three months), for endorsement
- Income tax e-registration slip from the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN), for endorsement
- Signed personal or security bond with a sponsoring Malaysian organisation, or with MDEC as sponsor, stamped with a RM10 revenue stamp
- Certified English translations of any documents not in English, all in PDF

Income proof: MDEC states the thresholds annually in US dollars; US$2,000 is the digital-freelancer and remote-worker figure of US$24,000 divided by 12. Non-tech professionals must show US$60,000 a year (US$5,000 a month). Income is proved with three months of payslips or invoices and matching bank statements; contracts must have started at least three months before applying.

Fee: US$353 is RM1,440 (processing plus a one-year pass) converted at the ECB reference rates of 2026-10-02 (MYR 4.5849 and US$1.1225 per euro). Multiple-entry visa charges set by the Immigration Department are added at endorsement for visa-required nationalities, and if MDEC acts as your sponsor you also pay a refundable security bond of RM200 to RM2,000 depending on nationality (RM1,500 for most Europeans, RM2,000 for US and Canadian citizens). Dependants pay RM540 processing each.

Processing: MDEC processes applications within six to eight weeks of a complete submission, longer if more documents are requested, and the e-Pass is issued within about one week after the endorsement application and payment. Timelines are indicative and expedited processing is not available.

## How to apply

Consulate, then in the country. Online at mdec.my/derantau (application status at malaysiadigital.mdec.my). After approval you enter Malaysia, with an eVISA or Visa with Reference if your nationality needs one, and complete the endorsement online within one month of entry.

1. Check you are over 18, work in a qualifying tech or listed non-tech role and earn at least US$24,000 (tech) or US$60,000 (non-tech) a year from contracts at least three months old.
2. Apply online at mdec.my/derantau with your passport (valid 14+ months), contracts, three months of payslips or invoices and bank statements, and pay the RM1,080 processing fee.
3. Receive the approval letter, valid six months, then arrange an eVISA or Visa with Reference if your passport needs one; if you are already in Malaysia as a tourist you must leave and re-enter.
4. Enter Malaysia through a staffed immigration counter (not the autogate) to get an entry stamp, buy health insurance covering Malaysia and register with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) for a tax e-registration slip.
5. Within one month of entry upload the endorsement documents and personal bond on the portal, pay the RM360 pass fee and any visa charges, stay in Malaysia until the e-Pass is issued (about a week).

## After you arrive

Stay and renewal: The pass is issued for three to twelve months, with the option to renew once for a further twelve months, giving a maximum of 24 months. Renewal can be filed up to three months before expiry and takes six to eight weeks.

Residence: A Professional Visit Pass is a temporary pass and does not lead to permanent residence; Malaysia's long-stay alternatives are the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme and employment passes.

Family: Your spouse or common-law partner, children, adopted children and stepchildren under 18, disabled children of any age and your own parents can apply as dependants for RM540 each; they are assessed separately, may enter with you or later, cannot work, and school-age children need a student pass through their school unless home-schooled.

Taxes: MDEC's FAQ sets out the Inland Revenue Board position: remote employees are exempt if they spend 60 days or less in Malaysia in a year, and taxable at rates based on residence status from 61 days; foreign freelancers' income from outside Malaysia is taxed under the Income Tax Act subject to the residence rules, and Malaysian-source freelance income faces 10% withholding for the first 182 days. You must register with LHDN before endorsement; double-tax agreements may reduce the bill.

## In practice

- The pass covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan only; you can visit Sabah and Sarawak but enter them as a tourist, so Kota Kinabalu is a tourist-pass stay rather than a DE Rantau base.
- Most Malaysian banks do not open accounts for Professional Visit Pass holders, so plan on foreign cards and e-wallets.
- A tourist pass cannot be converted: if you are in Malaysia when approved you must exit and re-enter. Since 1 August 2026 there are no appeals against rejections and the processing fee is never refunded.
- Do not book non-refundable travel, leases or school fees before the e-Pass is issued; MDEC does not compensate for delays or refusals.
- Kuala Lumpur, Penang and Johor Bahru have the main DE Rantau partner hubs and coworking; Langkawi is quieter and marketed to nomads for island living.

## By passport

| Passports | Note |
| --- | --- |
| EU, EEA, CH | Eligible. Most European passports enter visa-free for 90 days, so you can scout first, but you must leave and re-enter after approval; if MDEC sponsors you the refundable security bond is RM1,500 for Europe. |
| US, GB, CA, AU, NZ | Eligible and visa-free for 90 days as visitors. The MDEC security bond is RM2,000 for US and Canadian citizens and RM1,500 for Australians and most others. |
| IL | Not eligible: MDEC excludes citizens of Israel from the pass. |
| All other passports | Eligible. Nationalities that need a visa for Malaysia must obtain an eVISA or a Visa with Reference (VDR) from a Malaysian mission after approval and before entering for endorsement; bond rates range from RM200 (Singapore) to RM2,000. |

## Cities in Malaysia

- [Cameron Highlands](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/cameron-highlands): Cool tea-country hill station 1,400 m above the Malaysian heat
- [Ipoh](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/ipoh): Malaysia's heritage food town with limestone caves
- [Johor Bahru](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/johor-bahru): Singapore's neighbour at Malaysian prices
- [Kota Kinabalu](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/kota-kinabalu): Borneo's easy-going capital between islands and Mount Kinabalu
- [Kuala Lumpur](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/kuala-lumpur): Modern, English-friendly and underpriced
- [Kuching](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/kuching): Sarawak's easygoing riverside capital with rainforest parks nearby
- [Langkawi](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/langkawi): Duty-free island with long stays and a slower Malaysia
- [Malacca](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/malacca): Historic strait port, two hours from Kuala Lumpur
- [Miri](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/miri): Sarawak's oil town, a quiet base for Mulu, Niah and Brunei
- [Penang (George Town)](https://nostos.navoy.io/cities/penang): Street-food capital with heritage streets

## FAQ

### Who can apply for the Malaysia digital nomad pass?

Open to all nationalities except citizens of Israel, aged over 18. Tech talent means digital freelancers, independent contractors and remote workers in IT and digital fields (software, cloud, cybersecurity, AI, data, UX, digital marketing, digital content). Non-tech talent covers listed roles such as CEO, COO, CFO, business development, marketing, finance, HR, legal counsel, consultant and technical writer, with the higher income bar. Remote employees must work for a company not registered in Malaysia; freelancers may also serve Malaysian clients. Malaysia's DE Rantau Nomad Pass is a Professional Visit Pass run by MDEC for remote workers and digital freelancers earning at least US$24,000 a year (US$60,000 for listed non-tech roles). It is granted for three to twelve months, renewable once for twelve, costs RM1,080 to process plus RM360 a year in pass fees, and is applied for online with endorsement in Malaysia after arrival.

### How much income do you need for the DE Rantau Nomad Pass?

About $2,000 per month (US$24,000 a year (tech or digital talent) or US$60,000 a year (non-tech professions)). MDEC states the thresholds annually in US dollars; US$2,000 is the digital-freelancer and remote-worker figure of US$24,000 divided by 12. Non-tech professionals must show US$60,000 a year (US$5,000 a month). Income is proved with three months of payslips or invoices and matching bank statements; contracts must have started at least three months before applying.

### How much does the DE Rantau Nomad Pass cost and how long does it take?

The fee is about $353 (RM1,080 non-refundable processing fee (including 8% SST) plus RM360 immigration pass fee for 12 months (RM90 per three months); multiple-entry visa charges vary by nationality); US$353 is RM1,440 (processing plus a one-year pass) converted at the ECB reference rates of 2026-10-02 (MYR 4.5849 and US$1.1225 per euro). Multiple-entry visa charges set by the Immigration Department are added at endorsement for visa-required nationalities, and if MDEC acts as your sponsor you also pay a refundable security bond of RM200 to RM2,000 depending on nationality (RM1,500 for most Europeans, RM2,000 for US and Canadian citizens). Dependants pay RM540 processing each. Processing time: 6 weeks to 9 weeks. MDEC processes applications within six to eight weeks of a complete submission, longer if more documents are requested, and the e-Pass is issued within about one week after the endorsement application and payment. Timelines are indicative and expedited processing is not available.

### How long can you stay in Malaysia on the DE Rantau Nomad Pass, and can it be renewed?

1 year, renewable up to 2 years. The pass is issued for three to twelve months, with the option to renew once for a further twelve months, giving a maximum of 24 months. Renewal can be filed up to three months before expiry and takes six to eight weeks.

### Does the DE Rantau Nomad Pass lead to permanent residence in Malaysia?

Not by itself. A Professional Visit Pass is a temporary pass and does not lead to permanent residence; Malaysia's long-stay alternatives are the Malaysia My Second Home (MM2H) programme and employment passes.

### Can family members come with you on the DE Rantau Nomad Pass?

Your spouse or common-law partner, children, adopted children and stepchildren under 18, disabled children of any age and your own parents can apply as dependants for RM540 each; they are assessed separately, may enter with you or later, cannot work, and school-age children need a student pass through their school unless home-schooled.

### Do you pay tax in Malaysia on the DE Rantau Nomad Pass?

MDEC's FAQ sets out the Inland Revenue Board position: remote employees are exempt if they spend 60 days or less in Malaysia in a year, and taxable at rates based on residence status from 61 days; foreign freelancers' income from outside Malaysia is taxed under the Income Tax Act subject to the residence rules, and Malaysian-source freelance income faces 10% withholding for the first 182 days. You must register with LHDN before endorsement; double-tax agreements may reduce the bill.

### Where do you apply for the DE Rantau Nomad Pass?

Consulate, then in the country: Online at mdec.my/derantau (application status at malaysiadigital.mdec.my). After approval you enter Malaysia, with an eVISA or Visa with Reference if your nationality needs one, and complete the endorsement online within one month of entry.

### Who counts as a sponsor for the DE Rantau Nomad Pass?

Malaysian immigration rules require a sponsoring organisation that signs a personal bond for your stay. A Malaysian company that gives you work can sponsor you; otherwise MDEC acts as sponsor in exchange for a refundable security bond of RM200 to RM2,000 depending on your nationality.

### Can I apply for the DE Rantau pass while I am in Malaysia?

You can apply and wait in Malaysia on a valid tourist visa, but once approved you must leave the country and re-enter with the correct visa or entry stamp before the endorsement can be done. Employment Pass or Student Pass holders have separate rules for shortening their existing pass.

## Sources

- [DE Rantau Pass FAQ, version 10.0 (28 August 2026)](https://www.mdec.my/api/media/file/DE-Rantau_Pass_FAQ_v10.pdf), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), the government agency under the Ministry of Digital, retrieved 2026-10-04 (Eligible professions, US$24,000 and US$60,000 thresholds, 3 to 12 months renewable to 24, fees, bond rates, documents, endorsement steps, dependants, tax treatment, Peninsular-only coverage)
- [DE Rantau Digital Nomad Pass](https://www.mdec.my/derantau), Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC), retrieved 2026-10-04 (Official programme page and online application entry point)

Not yet reviewed by a person. Not legal advice; confirm with the issuing authority before you book.

HTML page: https://nostos.navoy.io/visas/malaysia