Quick answer: An immigration consultant should check that your company and the post meet the Employment Pass requirements, prepare accurate documents and submit the application, while the company stays in control of its own ESD account. Pass applications are made by the company: a director signs the Letter of Undertaking for the ESD account, and Immigration warns of legal action for neglect or misrepresentation. No consultant can guarantee approval, because the Expatriate Committee decides, and fees to Immigration or MIDA are separate from consultant fees.
- The company applies, and a director signs the Letter of Undertaking.
- No consultant can guarantee approval. The Expatriate Committee decides.
- Government fees are separate from the consultant's fee.
- Immigration warns of legal action for neglect or misrepresentation.
- Ask for a written scope and fee.
What a Good Consultant Does
| Stage | What you should expect |
|---|---|
| Before applying | Check company capital, registration, salary category and post classification |
| Application | Prepare documents and submit accurately in the company's ESD or MES account |
| After approval | Guide the visa, entry and endorsement |
| Ongoing | Renewals, changes of employer and cancellations, plus dependants |
Who Stays in Control
The company holds the ESD account. A company director must be present to sign the Letter of Undertaking and appoints the person who manages the account. Do not hand a consultant sole control of the account. Keep your own login, review each submission and keep copies of everything filed.
Questions to Ask
- Who prepares and who submits, and who holds the login?
- What is included in your fee, and what are the government fees?
- What happens if the application is returned or rejected?
- Will you review the contract, job description and salary against the policy?
- Do you advise on renewals, cancellations and dependants?
- Can you explain the 2026 salary policy and the succession plan?
Red Flags
- Guarantees approval or a fixed timeline.
- Suggests inflating salary or job titles.
- Wants you to sign blank forms or share your login without oversight.
- Will not give a written scope or fee.
- Suggests working on a visit pass while waiting.
Need a pass sorted out? WhatsApp us. We will check your case before you apply.
Mistakes
Believing a guarantee
The Expatriate Committee decides.
Giving up control of the account
The company is responsible.
Choosing on price alone
Errors cost time and fees.
How We Help
What we handle for you
Before you apply
- Check that your company meets the requirements and that the post and salary fit the right category.
- Prepare your business plan and financial plan from your company idea or business model, where the application needs one.
Application
- Prepare and submit the pass application and respond to Immigration's queries.
Why companies choose us
End-to-end under one roof
- We handle company incorporation, accounting and payroll as well as expatriate pass applications, so your structure, payroll and hiring plan stay aligned.
- The company is set up correctly from day one.
We check before you invest
- We confirm eligibility, including whether you can hire the expatriates you need, before a foreign investor decides to incorporate in Malaysia.
- Neutral Consulting PLT is a Kuala Lumpur firm led by a Managing Partner who is a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Quick answers.
What does an immigration consultant do?
Checks eligibility, prepares and submits the application, and guides endorsement and renewals.
Can a consultant guarantee approval?
No. The Expatriate Committee decides.
Who applies for the Employment Pass?
The company, through its ESD account or the MIDA Expatriate System.
Who signs the Letter of Undertaking?
A company director, in person.
Should the consultant hold my ESD login?
Keep control of the account and review each submission.
Are Immigration fees included in consultant fees?
They are separate. Ask for a breakdown.
What if the application is rejected?
The company can appeal within 14 days. Ask the consultant about appeal support.
What are red flags?
Guarantees, inflated salary, blank forms and no written scope.
Do I need a consultant?
Not necessarily, but errors in an application cause returns and delays.
Is misrepresentation risky?
ESD's guidebook warns of legal action under the Immigration Act 1959/63.
Should the consultant handle renewals?
Ask for renewals, cancellations and dependants to be in scope.
Can your firm help?
Yes. We handle incorporation, accounting, payroll and the pass application together.
Sources
Official sources
- Immigration Department (ESD), Company registration FAQ
- Immigration Department (ESD), ESD Online Guidebook V5 (September 2024)
- Immigration Department (ESD), Updated appeal application FAQs
- Immigration Department (ESD), Revised Employment Pass Salary Policy effective 1 June 2026
This page is general information, not legal advice. Agencies change their requirements, so confirm the current rules with the Immigration Department (ESD) and MIDA, or with us, before you act. Checked November 2026.
Talk To Us Now
Hiring or relocating an expatriate? We will check your case first. All consultations are by video call.