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27 April 2026

Malaysia tightens payment timelines and in-country presence of applicants for pass endorsements

On 8 April 2026, Malaysia's Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) issued a reminder on endorsement payment timelines and the requirement for applicants to remain in Malaysia during the endorsement stage. MDEC is one of several adjudicating authorities that process Malaysian immigration applications at the initial stage, before applications are routed to the Malaysian Immigration Department for final approval. While these requirements are not new and also apply to passes processed by other adjudicating authorities, such as the Expatriate Services Division, MDEC's announcement signals stricter enforcement and closer scrutiny specifically for applications under its purview. Employment Passes, Dependent Passes and other passes in Malaysia require a final endorsement following approval before they are issued to applicants. As part of the endorsement process, government fees for pass issuance must be made and applicants must remain in Malaysia for the entire duration of the final endorsement stage, up until the pass sticker is issued.

A Tax Alert prepared by EY's People Advisory Services, and attached below, provides additional details.

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Attachment

Full text of Tax Alert

Document ID: 2026-0938

 
 

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