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Malaysia has announced a hike in its visa filing fees from 1 September 2024. The change will mainly affect expatriates and their families. The change, announced by the Migrant Services Division Centre of the Malaysian Immigration Department, will see fees increase for certain visa categories, including the employment pass, business visit pass, and long-term social visit pass.
The fee for the employment pass, which allows foreigners to work for Malaysian organisations for up to 60 months, will be increased the most. The new fee will be 2,000 Malaysian ringgit, about Rs 38,727, while 800 Malaysian ringgit will be about Rs 15,490. Employment pass holders can also apply for dependent passes for their family members, such as spouses and children under the age of 18. The fee for the dependent pass has also been changed, which will now be 500 Malaysian ringgit, about Rs 9,681, from 450 Malaysian ringgit, about Rs 8,713.
Increase in business travel fees
The fee for the professional visit pass issued to foreign professionals to provide services or receive training in Malaysia will also be increased. The new fee will be 1,200 Malaysian ringgit (approximately Rs 23,235) from the previous 800 Malaysian ringgit (approximately Rs 15,490). This pass allows the holder to stay in Malaysia for up to one year and provide services or receive practical training.
Increase in long term social visitation fees
The fee for the long-term social visit pass, which allows foreigners to stay in Malaysia for at least six months, will also be increased. The new fee will be 500 Malaysian ringgit (about Rs 9,681), up from 450 Malaysian ringgit (about Rs 8,713) previously. This pass is usually issued to foreign spouses of Malaysian citizens, allowing them to stay in the country for up to five years. What is special is that these pass holders can engage in employment or business work without paying to convert their pass into an employment pass or visitor pass (temporary employment).
Along with the fee changes, the Malaysian Immigration Department has also announced a reduction in application processing time for certain companies. The processing time for Tier 1, Tier 2 and critical sector companies will be reduced from five working days to just three working days. The move aims to simplify the application process for foreigners and provide quick decisions, benefiting both companies that rely on foreign talent and others.
Know who will be affected
The increase in visa fees will impact foreigners and their employers, especially in sectors that rely on foreign expertise. But a reduction in processing time could help mitigate these effects to some extent, as it will lead to faster approvals and businesses will take less time to obtain the necessary permits for their foreign workers. The Centre has assured that all applications submitted before September 1, 2024, will be processed at the current fee rate, providing some relief to those who want to avoid higher costs.