Quick answer: Budget 2027, tabled on 9 October 2026, says that from 1 January 2027, spouses of expatriates holding a Category I Employment Pass, who themselves hold a Dependant Pass, will be allowed to work in Malaysia, subject to prescribed conditions. The Ministry's summary of measures describes the change for Dependant Pass spouses without naming Category I. The conditions and the procedure have not been published in the sources reviewed, so do not tell a spouse to start work yet.
- Budget 2027 speech: from 1 January 2027, spouses of Category I Employment Pass holders with a Dependant Pass may work, subject to prescribed conditions.
- The Ministry summary describes it without naming Category I, so the scope is unclear.
- Conditions and procedure are not published in the sources reviewed.
- Immigration's revised policy FAQ: Category III applications submitted from 1 June 2026 follow the revised dependant policy.
- MDEC's charge for a Dependant Pass is RM540.
What Budget 2027 Said
The Prime Minister's Budget 2027 speech says that from 1 January 2027, spouses of expatriates holding a Category I Employment Pass, who hold a Dependant Pass, will be allowed to work in Malaysia, subject to prescribed conditions. The Ministry of Finance's summary of measures describes the same change for spouses of Dependant Pass holders without naming Category I. This page follows the speech, which is more specific, and flags the difference.
What Is Confirmed and What Is Not
| Point | Status |
|---|---|
| Spouse of Category I EP holder, Dependant Pass, work allowed from 1 January 2027 | Stated in the Prime Minister's speech |
| Applies to spouses of other categories | Not clear from the Ministry summary. Confirm |
| Conditions, application procedure, any endorsement | Not published in the sources reviewed |
| Who may employ the spouse, and any sector limits | Not published in the sources reviewed |
The Dependant Pass Today
MDEC states that the Dependant Pass is for the spouse and children under 18 of an Employment Pass holder, and for disabled children of any age, at RM540 per applicant. Immigration's revised policy FAQ adds that Category III Employment Pass applications submitted from 1 June 2026 are subject to the revised policy on dependants, while passes issued under the earlier policy stay under the old rule, which does not permit dependants.
| Item (per applicant, new and renewal) | MD company | Non-MD company |
|---|---|---|
| Employment Pass, MDEC charge | RM2,160 | RM3,024 |
| Dependant Pass | RM540 | RM540 |
| Social Visit Pass (parents, parents-in-law, children 18 to 25, common-law spouse) | RM540 | RM540 |
| Amendment of approval letters | RM108 | RM108 |
| Immigration fee | Separate Immigration schedule | Separate Immigration schedule |
What IT Employers Should Do Now
- List expatriate employees by Employment Pass category and whether a spouse holds a Dependant Pass.
- Tell the employee that the change is announced but the conditions are pending.
- Do not advise a spouse to start work or accept an offer until Immigration publishes the conditions.
- Watch Immigration's and MDEC's announcements for the procedure.
- If your company would employ a spouse, plan the contract and payroll once the conditions are clear.
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Why It Matters for Hiring
For senior hires in Category 1, a spouse's right to work can be a factor in accepting an offer. Employers should avoid promising it until the conditions are published, and should present it in offer discussions as announced, with conditions to follow. Our guide on Budget 2027 tax changes covers the other measures.
Example: A Category 1 Hire With a Spouse
Example. A company offers a senior engineer RM22,000 basic. The engineer asks whether the spouse can work. The company answers that the speech announces the change from 1 January 2027 for Category I holders with Dependant Pass spouses, subject to prescribed conditions, and that it will confirm once Immigration publishes them. It does not put a work promise in the offer letter.
Common Mistakes
Telling the spouse to start work on 1 January
Conditions are pending.
Assuming it covers all categories
The speech names Category I.
Putting a promise in the contract
Use wording that depends on Immigration's conditions.
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.
Can the employee bring family?
MDEC states that the spouse and children under 18 are eligible for a Dependant Pass, and unmarried children over 18, parents and parents-in-law are eligible for a Long-Term Social Visit Pass. MDEC's charge is RM540 per applicant for each. Immigration's revised policy FAQ adds that Category III Employment Pass applications submitted from 1 June 2026 are subject to the revised policy for dependants, while passes issued under the earlier policy stay under the old rule, which does not permit dependants.
What does an Employment Pass cost through MDEC?
MDEC's published charge is RM2,160 per applicant for an MD company and RM3,024 per applicant for a non-MD company, for new and renewal applications. A Dependant Pass or Social Visit Pass is RM540 per applicant, and an amendment of an approval letter is RM108. Immigration's own fees are on a separate Immigration schedule that MDEC links to, and this page does not quote them. Confirm the current amounts with MDEC before budgeting.
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 does the employer file for the spouse?
MDEC processes Dependant Pass applications alongside the Employment Pass, at RM540 per applicant. The spouse's right to work is a separate matter that depends on Immigration's conditions once published.
When does the spouse work change take effect?
The speech says from 1 January 2027, subject to prescribed conditions. The conditions and procedure are not published in the sources reviewed.
Does it apply to Category 2 or 3 holders?
The speech names Category I. The Ministry summary does not name a category. Confirm with Immigration.
Can a spouse on a Dependant Pass work now?
Do not assume so. The announced change takes effect from 1 January 2027, subject to conditions. Ask Immigration about the position today for your case.
Will the spouse need a separate pass?
The sources reviewed do not say. The speech describes spouses who hold a Dependant Pass being allowed to work, subject to prescribed conditions.
Is the MDEC Dependant Pass charge changing?
The sources reviewed announce no change to the RM540 MDEC charge.
Does the MTEP spouse position differ?
Yes. MDEC's MTEP FAQ says a spouse of an RP-MTE holder may work in Malaysia, which is a different programme.
Where do I read the speech?
The Prime Minister's Office and Ministry of Finance publish the Budget 2027 speech. Links are in the sources below.
What is the Category III dependant change?
Immigration's revised policy FAQ says Category III applications submitted from 1 June 2026 are subject to the revised policy for dependants, while passes issued under the earlier policy stay under the old rule, which does not permit dependants.
Sources
Official sources
- Prime Minister's Office, Budget 2027 speech
- Ministry of Finance, Summary of Budget 2027 measures
- 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)
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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