Quick answer: For new Employment Pass applications from 1 July 2025, Xpats Gateway requires an acknowledgement letter from PERKESO (SOCSO) showing the vacancy was advertised on the MyFutureJobs portal. PERKESO decides, and employers must follow its advertising guidelines. Exemptions cover renewals, in-country position or category changes, and positions on PERKESO's exemption list. MDEC's pages describe this requirement as SOCSO approval after advertising the vacancy on MyFutureJobs.
- Required for new Employment Pass applications from 1 July 2025.
- PERKESO decides and issues the Acknowledgement Letter.
- Exempt: renewals, in-country position or category changes, and positions on PERKESO's exemption list.
- Enter the vacancy link at the Employment Details step in Xpats Gateway.
- Follow PERKESO's advertising guidelines.
What the Requirement Is
Xpats Gateway connects the Employment Pass application with PERKESO's MyFutureJobs system. The employer advertises the vacancy on MyFutureJobs, and PERKESO's decision produces an Acknowledgement Letter that status shows as either Completed-Approved or Completed-Rejected. The employer downloads the letter and the application continues. MDEC's pages list this as an approval from SOCSO after advertising the vacancy on MyFutureJobs.
How It Works in Xpats Gateway
Start the application
Open the application section. For MDEC the label is Application or Apply for EP Application.
Reach Employment Details
If the application type is New, the MyFutureJobs checklist appears.
Enter the vacancy link
Paste the MyFutureJobs vacancy link and click Check.
Download the letter
When status is Completed-Approved or Completed-Rejected, download the Acknowledgement Letter.
Upload manually if needed
If it does not appear, download it from the MyFutureJobs system or email and upload it to your eXpats application.
Who Is Exempt
| Case | MyFutureJobs step |
|---|---|
| New Employment Pass application | Required |
| Position on PERKESO's exemption list | Exempt, select the reason in the dropdown |
| Employment Pass renewal | Exempt |
| In-country position or category change | Exempt |
Timing With the Other Steps
Advertise early, because the acknowledgement must be in hand before the individual application and the page reviewed gives no processing time for the MyFutureJobs step. Section 60K runs separately and takes 10 working days. Keep both letters ready for the projection and individual application stages.
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Where to Get Help
- PERKESO: [email protected], 1300-22-8000 (Xpats Gateway FAQ).
- MYXpats Helpdesk: [email protected], 03-7839 7171.
- MDEC Expats Service Centre: [email protected], 03-8315 3106 or 03-8315 3157.
Example: Advertising a Developer Role
Example. A company posts a senior developer vacancy on MyFutureJobs, copies the link into the Employment Details step, and clicks Check. The status returns Completed-Approved, so it downloads the letter and continues. If the status were Completed-Rejected the letter is still downloaded, because the Xpats Gateway FAQ says to download the acknowledgement for either status. The FAQ does not say what a rejected status means for the Employment Pass decision, so ask PERKESO or MDEC.
Common Mistakes
Advertising with vague or non-compliant wording
Employers must follow PERKESO's advertising guidelines.
Waiting until the last step
The acknowledgement is needed before the individual application.
Applying the exemption wrongly
Select the exemption reason in the dropdown only where it genuinely applies.
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.
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.
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.
What is Xpats Gateway?
It is the government's single-window platform for Employment Pass applications. MDEC states that since 24 April 2024 all new and renewal Employment Pass applications under MDEC go through Xpats Gateway, using the same login as the MDEC Expats System. Once an application is forwarded to the MDEC eXpats system it can no longer be edited in Xpats Gateway, and changes must be requested from MDEC.
What is an FKW Projection Request?
It is the request through the eXpats system for the number of foreign knowledge workers a company may hire. Under MDEC's June 2026 announcement, a company seeking new or additional FKW headcount files the request with all mandatory documents, MDEC reviews it, and the FKW Approval Committee decides. Only approved projection headcount allows the company to file individual FKW applications.
How long does an Employment Pass application through MDEC take?
MDEC states about 14 working days for an FKW Projection Request, about 7 working days for an individual FKW application, and 10 working days for the JTKSM section 60K approval that comes first. Endorsement takes 3 working days for an applicant already in Malaysia, and immediate endorsement at ESC KLIA Terminal 1 for an applicant arriving from abroad. A first-time MD company subscription takes about 2 working days, and a non-MD registration about 30 working days. These are stated service times for complete submissions, not guarantees.
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.
Who do we contact at MDEC?
The Expats Service Centre, MDEC, 2360 Persiaran APEC, 63000 Cyberjaya, Selangor, at [email protected] or 03-8315 3106 and 03-8315 3157. For JTKSM section 60K questions, Xpats Gateway lists [email protected] and 03-8000 8000. For the MyFutureJobs step it lists PERKESO at [email protected] and 1300-22-8000.
What if the application is rejected?
MDEC issues a Rejection Letter. For section 60K, Xpats Gateway states there is no cooling-off period before reapplying. The MDEC pages reviewed do not describe an appeal procedure for FKW applications, so ask the Expats Service Centre what options apply, and correct the cause before you resubmit rather than resubmitting the same file.
Who decides on the MyFutureJobs acknowledgement?
PERKESO, per Xpats Gateway's FAQ.
Is there a fee for the MyFutureJobs step?
The Xpats Gateway FAQ does not mention a fee.
Does the requirement apply to renewals?
No. Renewals are exempt, per Xpats Gateway's FAQ.
Does it apply to a change of position within the company?
In-country position or category changes for Employment Pass holders are exempt, per the same FAQ.
What does Completed-Rejected mean for my application?
The FAQ says to download the letter for either status. It does not explain the consequence of a rejected status, so ask PERKESO or MDEC before relying on it.
How long must the advertisement run?
The pages reviewed do not state a duration. Follow PERKESO's advertising guidelines.
Can an agent post the advertisement?
The pages reviewed do not address it. The employer remains responsible for compliance with PERKESO's guidelines.
Sources
Official sources
- Immigration Department (ESD), Xpats Gateway FAQ
- MDEC, Pre-application process for MD companies
- MDEC, Pre-application process for non-MD companies
- MDEC, Submission of Employment Pass applications via Xpats Gateway
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.
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