Quick answer: For an IT or tech company applying through MDEC, the requirements fall on three things. The company must be an MD status company in operation, or an operating ICT company without MD status that meets the paid-up capital, office and assessment rules. The worker must qualify as a foreign knowledge worker. The post must meet the salary for its category, and the company needs JTKSM section 60K approval and a MyFutureJobs acknowledgement before applying for a new pass.
- Company: MD status in operation, or a non-MD ICT company with paid-up capital and a physical office.
- Worker: degree, or diploma with relevant experience, or a qualifying professional role.
- Post: basic salary of at least RM5,000, with category set by salary.
- Approvals: JTKSM section 60K and MyFutureJobs acknowledgement for new applications.
- Applicant stays outside Malaysia until the Approval Letter is issued.
Requirement 1: The Company
| MD status company | Non-MD ICT company | |
|---|---|---|
| Who it is for | Company with MD (or MSC Malaysia) status that is in operation and complies with its conditions | Malaysian-incorporated ICT company without MD status, fully operational, ICT as core business |
| Paid-up capital | No amount stated on MDEC's MD page | RM250,000 (100% local), RM350,000 (local and foreign), RM500,000 (100% foreign) |
| Office | Not stated on MDEC's MD page; the company must be in operation | Physical office in Malaysia required |
| First-time set-up | About 2 working days | About 30 working days, with site visit and possible interview |
| Employment Pass MDEC fee | RM2,160 | RM3,024 |
| Diploma holder qualifies with | 2 years' relevant multimedia or ICT experience | 5 years' relevant experience |
Requirement 2: The Worker
MDEC treats an individual as a foreign knowledge worker if the person holds one or more of the following: a bachelor's degree from a higher learning institution in any field; a diploma in multimedia or ICT, or a specialised ICT certification, with relevant experience (2 years on the MD route, 5 years on the non-MD route); or a professional, executive, management or technical role in IT-enabled services, such as IT or IS professionals, finance and accounting, or business administration.
MDEC also lists exemptions for Global Business Services roles needing knowledge-based skills not common in Malaysia, and Creative Content and Technologies roles. The FKW's activities must match the activities approved in the company's MD or MSC Malaysia letter.
Requirement 3: The Post and Salary
| Category | Minimum basic salary (MDEC) | Maximum contract (MDEC) |
|---|---|---|
| Category 1 | RM20,000 per month | Up to 60 months, subject to MDEC discretion |
| Category 2 | RM10,000 per month | Up to 24 months |
| Category 3 | RM5,000 to RM9,999 per month | Not exceeding 12 months |
The category table above is as MDEC publishes it on its Expats Service Centre pages. Immigration's revised salary policy applies to applications received on or after 1 June 2026 and its FAQ says companies may apply for employment periods of up to 60 months, without listing validity by category. The two sources do not match on duration, so confirm the period you can request with MDEC before you quote it in an offer letter.
Requirement 4: Approvals Before You Apply
| Approval | Who decides | What the sources say |
|---|---|---|
| Section 60K, Employment Act 1955 | Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) | Required for new Employment Pass applications (approval requirement since 1 January 2023, submitted through Xpats Gateway from 1 July 2025); valid 12 months; one application per company; processed in 10 working days |
| MyFutureJobs advertisement | PERKESO (SOCSO) | Acknowledgement letter required for new Employment Pass applications from 1 July 2025, with exemptions for renewals, in-country position or category changes and positions on PERKESO's exemption list |
| FKW Projection | MDEC FKW Approval Committee | Only approved projection headcount allows individual FKW applications |
| Employment Pass | MDEC and Immigration jointly | Approval or rejection letter issued by MDEC |
Hiring a foreign IT professional? WhatsApp us. We will check your case before you apply.
Requirement 5: Entry Rules
- The applicant must be outside Malaysia when the Approval Letter is issued.
- An applicant who needs a visa must obtain a Visa with Reference while abroad.
- Entry is allowed only after the Reference Visa or eVisa is obtained, if required.
- The Employment Pass covers employment in West Malaysia with the hiring company only.
Pre-Application Checklist
- The business activity is not one MDEC excludes, such as trading, staffing or staff augmentation.
- Your authorised person is named, and the Authorised Person Letter and Expatriate Service Agreement are uploaded.
- The role fits the FKW definition and the activities approved for the company.
- Basic salary meets the category minimum. Allowances do not count.
- Section 60K approval and the MyFutureJobs acknowledgement are in hand, or an exemption applies.
- Education certificates are certified in the way MDEC specifies.
Common Mistakes
Counting allowances toward the minimum salary
Immigration's revised policy FAQ says the minimum is measured on basic salary only.
Hiring for an activity outside the MD approval
The FKW's activities must match the approved activities in the MD or MSC Malaysia letter.
Applying while the worker is already in Malaysia
MDEC requires the applicant to be outside Malaysia when the Approval Letter is issued.
How We Help
What we handle for you
Before you apply
- Check which MDEC route your company fits, MD status or non-MD ICT, and whether the post, salary and category match.
- Prepare the JTKSM, MyFutureJobs and supporting documents with your team and review them against MDEC's checklist.
Application
- Prepare the FKW projection and pass application for your company's authorised person to submit, and help you respond to MDEC and Immigration queries.
- MDEC states that companies are discouraged from nominating a third-party agent as the authorised person, so the submission stays under your own account.
Why companies choose us
End-to-end under one roof
- We handle company incorporation, Malaysia Digital status, accounting and payroll as well as expatriate pass preparation, 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
Straight answers to the questions we hear most.
Which companies can apply through MDEC?
MDEC's Expats Service Centre serves companies with Malaysia Digital (MD) status, or MSC Malaysia status, that are in operation and comply with the conditions of that status. It also serves ICT companies without MD status that are fully operational and use ICT as their core business, subject to a minimum paid-up capital, a physical office and an assessment by MDEC. Companies in non-qualifying activities, such as trading, staffing and staff augmentation, do not qualify.
Who counts as a foreign knowledge worker?
On MDEC's MD route, a foreign knowledge worker holds a bachelor's degree in any field, or a diploma in multimedia or ICT, or a specialised ICT certification, with at least 2 years of relevant experience, or holds a professional, executive, management or technical role in IT-enabled services. On the non-MD route the experience requirement for diploma and certificate holders is 5 years. MDEC also lists exemptions for Global Business Services and Creative Content roles.
Is the minimum salary basic salary only?
Yes. Immigration's revised policy FAQ says the minimum salary is measured on basic salary only, and allowances and other payments are excluded. It applies to applications received on or after 1 June 2026. Complete applications received before that date are assessed under the previous policy.
What is section 60K approval?
Section 60K of the Employment Act 1955 requires employers to get approval from the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia (JTKSM) before employing an expatriate. It applies to private sector employers in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan under amendments effective 1 January 2023, applications go through Xpats Gateway from 1 July 2025, and it is required for new Employment Pass applications, valid for 12 months, and decided in 10 working days. Xpats Gateway states that operating without the required approval carries a fine of up to RM100,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
Do we have to advertise the job on MyFutureJobs?
For new Employment Pass applications from 1 July 2025, Xpats Gateway requires the MyFutureJobs advertisement acknowledgement letter from PERKESO, with exemptions for renewals, in-country position or category changes, and positions on PERKESO's exemption list. PERKESO decides, and employers must follow its advertising guidelines. MDEC's pages describe this as SOCSO approval after advertising the vacancy.
Can the foreign hire be in Malaysia when the application is approved?
For a new Employment Pass, MDEC states that the applicant must be outside Malaysia when the Approval Letter is issued. The applicant may enter Malaysia only after obtaining the Reference Visa or eVisa, if one is required for the applicant's nationality. Someone who needs a visa must obtain a Visa with Reference while abroad.
Can an Employment Pass holder work anywhere in Malaysia?
MDEC states that the Employment Pass allows employment in West Malaysia with the hiring company only. The sources reviewed do not describe a separate arrangement for East Malaysia, so confirm with MDEC before posting a foreign employee there.
How must education certificates be certified?
MDEC's June 2026 announcement says education certificate copies must be certified by a Malaysian embassy, high commission or consulate-general in the country concerned, by the foreign embassy in Malaysia, or by a Commissioner for Oaths for applicants who studied overseas. The rule applies only to education certificates. Marriage and birth certificates follow the certification rules of the relevant authorities.
Where is the full document list?
MDEC publishes an Employment Pass Checklist for MD Companies and one for Non-MD Companies, both version 3 with file names dated 28 May 2026, and an FKW Projection checklist and template for June 2026. They sit in MDEC's document library, which this page could not reproduce. Download the current version from MDEC rather than relying on any third-party list, ours included.
Does an IT company need Malaysia Digital status?
No, but the route differs. MDEC serves MD status companies and also ICT companies without MD status, which must meet paid-up capital, office and assessment rules and pay a higher MDEC fee.
What is the minimum salary for an IT Employment Pass?
On MDEC's pages the lowest category is RM5,000 to RM9,999 per month in basic salary, with higher categories at RM10,000 and RM20,000. Immigration's revised policy applies to applications received from 1 June 2026, so confirm the figure for your role with MDEC.
Is there a degree requirement?
A bachelor's degree in any field qualifies. A diploma in multimedia or ICT, or a specialised ICT certificate, qualifies with 2 years' relevant experience on the MD route or 5 years on the non-MD route. A professional or technical role in IT-enabled services also qualifies.
Do requirements change after the pass is issued?
MDEC states that the company must keep meeting all eligibility criteria during its subscription and for the validity of any passes issued. Non-qualifying activities may lead MDEC to revoke passes or MD status.
Sources
Official sources
- MDEC, Expats Service Centre: services and eligibility
- MDEC, Pre-application process for MD companies
- MDEC, Pre-application process for non-MD companies
- Immigration Department (ESD), Revised Expatriate Salary Policy FAQ (updated 12 February 2026)
- Immigration Department (ESD), Xpats Gateway FAQ
- MDEC, FKW declaration, headcount and additional requirements (June 2026)
This page is general information, not legal advice. Agencies change their requirements, so confirm the current rules with MDEC, the Immigration Department (ESD) and MIDA, or with us, before you act. Checked November 2026.
Talk To Us Now
Hiring a foreign IT professional? We will check your case first. All consultations are by video call.