Employment Pass (EP) Renewal in Malaysia

Researched from official sources · May 6, 2026

Malaysia's Employment Pass (EP) renewal is filed by the registered employer through ESD Online — not by the foreign worker directly.

Lodge as early as three months before expiry. The Immigration Department's charter is 5 working days, with 30 days from approval to endorse the new ePASS at MYXpats Centre. The Revised Expatriate Salary Policy reshapes Category III from 1 June 2026.

Estimated time

5 working days for the Immigration Department to process the renewal; up to 30 days from approval to endorse the ePASS at MYXpats Centre

Cost

RM6-50 (employee-paid Single Entry Visa, only when re-entering Malaysia between approval and endorsement)

What You Need

Tap to check off items as you gather them

Additional Items

  • Employer-absorbed: Security Bond (Personal Bond / Bank Guarantee), nationality-tiered, lodged by the employer with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and stamped before pass endorsement. Refundable on cancellation or expiry subject to no breach.
  • Employer-absorbed: per-year Pass-issuance fee. The Immigration Department does not publish a public schedule; the figure is advised online at the ESD payment step at https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/myimms/main?visapas. Ask HR for the in-portal figure if you want it for your own records.
  • Employer-absorbed: Levy on expatriate workers, administered through the employer's tax filings rather than charged at EP issuance.
  • Employer-absorbed: i-Kad — issued together with the new EP at endorsement, not billed as a separate fee at renewal. Pos Malaysia delivers within 1 working day (Klang Valley), 3 working days (outside Klang Valley), or 5 working days (Labuan).
  • Support Letter from a regulated-sector Approving Agency via Xpats Gateway (only if the company sits in a regulated sector under MIDA, BNM, SC, MOH, MOTAC, CIDB, or similar). Single-use per application — a Support Letter from the prior renewal cycle cannot be reused.
Last checked 1 month ago

Step-by-Step

  1. 1

    Mark the renewal-window opening date and confirm prerequisites

    1. Diary the date three months before the existing EP's expiry — this is the earliest a renewal can be lodged
    2. Confirm the worker's passport has more than twelve months' validity at the planned submission date
    3. Confirm there are no outstanding LHDN tax balances; if any exist, settle them through ByrHASiL or in person before submission
    4. Confirm the worker is currently working in Peninsular Malaysia — Sabah and Sarawak operate under different state-immigration arrangements

    💡 Tip: LHDN balances must be settled in full before EP renewal submission. CP38 monthly instalments are explicitly NOT acceptable. Clear any tax balance through ByrHASiL or in-person before the renewal application is lodged.

    ⚠️ Watch out: If the renewal is submitted on or after 1 June 2026, the Revised Expatriate Salary Policy applies regardless of when the existing pass was issued. Verify the relevant Category threshold against the live Salary Policy FAQ before lodging if the submission date sits near that cliff.

    ESD Online portal (esd.imi.gov.my ↗) Revised Expatriate Salary Policy FAQ (esd.imi.gov.my ↗)
  2. 2

    Worker prepares the renewal-only personal-document pack

    1. Pull the latest three months' payslips from the employer's payroll team
    2. Download the latest e-BE (resident) or e-M (non-resident) tax filing acknowledgement from the MyTax portal — full pages, minimum 3 pages
    3. Collect tax payment receipts if any LHDN payments were settled during the assessment period
    4. Obtain the latest EA Form from the employer for the previous year of assessment
    5. Obtain a passport-style photo at the ESD specification: 3.5cm × 5.0cm, light blue background, 99 × 142 pixels, no editing

    💡 Tip: These five items are the renewal-only delta against a first-time EP application — the resume, payslips, tax filing, EA Form, and personal income tax record are tagged Renewal & Change of Employer ONLY in Annex B of the V6 Guidebook.

  3. 3

    Employer prepares the company-side document pack

    1. Have the renewed employment contract stamped by the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia (LHDN) within 3 months of the planned submission date
    2. Prepare the detailed job description on company official letterhead, naming the same position as the employment contract
    3. Apply for a Support Letter via Xpats Gateway if the company sits in a regulated sector (MIDA, BNM, SC, MOH, MOTAC, CIDB, or similar) — Fast Track is 3 working days and Normal Track is 10 working days
    4. Lodge the Personal Bond or Security Bond, duly stamped by LHDN, with six (6) months stamp validity

    ⚠️ Watch out: The Guidebook is explicit: the position in the employment contract, ESD Online, job description, and Support Letter or Approval Letter must be the same. Any wording drift triggers a returned application. The Support Letter is single-use per application — a letter from the prior renewal cycle cannot be reused.

  4. 4

    Submit the renewal via ESD Online

    1. Employer logs in at esd.imi.gov.my and navigates to the expatriate application
    2. Fill in the expatriate and position details exactly as they appear on the employment contract
    3. Upload all renewal documents — passport, photo, payslips, tax filing, EA Form, employment contract, job description, and Support Letter where applicable
    4. Pay the application fee online and submit

    💡 Tip: The system sends a notification email confirming successful submission. Save the email — it carries the application reference number used in any follow-up at MYXpats Helpdesk on +603-7839 7171 or [email protected].

    ⚠️ Watch out: Returned applications must be resubmitted within 90 days from the returned date. Failure to do so triggers automatic cancellation of the application.

    ESD Online portal (esd.imi.gov.my ↗) ESD Online Guidebook V6 2025 (esd.imi.gov.my ↗)
  5. 5

    Wait for the Immigration Department's processing decision

    1. Charter processing time is 5 working days from submission
    2. Status updates are notified via ESD Online and email — approval, request for additional documents, or rejection
    3. Approval issues an approval letter; the worker outside Malaysia at approval also receives a Visa Approval Letter with six months' validity

    💡 Tip: The 5-working-day charter is the target, not a ceiling. The Guidebook explicitly notes the charter may be extended due to incomplete applications or additional inspection requirements. Plan against the 3-month renewal window opening, not against an exact day-5 outcome.

    ⚠️ Watch out: If the application is rejected at the Expatriate Committee meeting, the appeal window is 14 days from the date of rejection.

  6. 6

    Employer pays the Immigration fees in-portal at the e-payment endpoint

    1. Download the approval letter from ESD Online
    2. Pay the per-year EP-issuance fee at the Immigration e-payment website at https://imigresen-online.imi.gov.my/myimms/main?visapas
    3. Initiate ePASS endorsement submission via ESD Online and upload pre-endorsement documents (passport ID page, visa sticker or eVisa, copy of flight ticket, Visa Approval Letter or eVAL if applicable)

    💡 Tip: The per-year Pass-issuance fee is advised online at the payment step in the ESD portal; Imigresen does not publish a public schedule. The fee scales with EP duration (1, 2, or 5 years per Category).

    ⚠️ Watch out: ePASS is not generated until payment is recorded — endorsement initiation without payment will fail. Confirm payment receipt in ESD Online before walking into MYXpats.

  7. 7

    Worker endorses the new ePASS at MYXpats Centre

    1. Endorsement for renewals is processed at MYXpats Centre, Surian Tower, Mutiara Damansara
    2. Inside Malaysia: 30 days from approval to endorse the ePASS
    3. Outside Malaysia at approval: 30 days from arrival in Malaysia to endorse
    4. ePASS is endorsed via ESD Online; a button to generate the ePASS appears on the company's ESD Online account

    💡 Tip: Per the Guidebook, ESC at KLIA Terminal 1 or KLIA Terminal 2 handles new applications only — renewals route through MYXpats Centre. Don't queue at KLIA expecting renewal endorsement.

    ⚠️ Watch out: Missing the 30-day endorsement window forces a re-application cycle. The approval does not auto-extend.

  8. 8

    Receive the ePASS and the i-Kad

    1. ePASS becomes downloadable through ESD Online — one working day after payment is reflected
    2. i-Kad is delivered by Pos Malaysia: 1 working day (Klang Valley), 3 working days (outside Klang Valley), or 5 working days (Labuan)
    3. There is no requirement to affix the ePASS inside the passport, but the worker must keep it readily available with the passport for verification at any time

    💡 Tip: The ePASS must always be presented together with the worker's passport — travelling with one but not the other can trigger a re-verification request.

What Could Go Wrong

Open the renewal window: The worker has an outstanding LHDN balance and assumes a CP38 monthly-instalment plan satisfies the renewal precondition

Recovery: LHDN balances must be settled in full before EP renewal submission. CP38 monthly instalments are explicitly NOT acceptable. Clear any tax balance through ByrHASiL or in-person before the renewal application is lodged.

Prepare company-side documents: Position on the employment contract, ESD Online entry, job description, and Support Letter or Approval Letter do not match exactly

Recovery: Imigresen treats the position-string as a load-bearing match — the Guidebook is explicit that all four surfaces must use the same wording. Re-issue the relevant document on letterhead before submission rather than try to argue the discrepancy at review.

Submit the renewal in ESD Online: Application is returned for incomplete uploads or off-spec photo

Recovery: Returned applications must be resubmitted within ninety (90) days from the returned date. Failure to resubmit within that window triggers automatic cancellation of the application — start the document pack from scratch if the 90-day clock lapses.

Wait for the outcome: The renewal is rejected at the Expatriate Committee meeting

Recovery: Submit a complete appeal application within fourteen (14) days from the rejection date. Late appeals are not accepted; the alternative is a fresh renewal application against the same regime.

Endorse the new pass at MYXpats Centre: The worker enters Malaysia but misses the 30-day endorsement window

Recovery: Missing the 30-day window forces a re-application cycle — the approval does not extend, and the existing pass cannot be unilaterally re-activated. Diary the endorsement date the moment the IPA equivalent is received.

Costs

Item Amount Payment Notes
Single Entry Visa (only when re-entering Malaysia between approval and endorsement) (Optional) RM0 Cash, wire, or per-embassy payment rules — collected by the issuing Malaysian Embassy or High Commission abroad Fee scales by nationality per the Imigresen visa-fees table. Examples from that table: India RM 50.00 ; Bangladesh RM 20.00 ; Indonesia RM 15.00 ; Vietnam RM 13.00 ; United States of America RM 6.00. The schedule states verbatim: "Countries which are not listed are to pay RM 20.00". This fee only applies if the worker happens to be outside Malaysia at the time the renewal is approved and re-enters under a new Visa Approval Letter — most in-country renewals do not trigger it. Waived if: The worker remains in Malaysia between renewal approval and endorsement, or holds a nationality not listed on Imigresen's visa-fees schedule
Single Entry Visa (only when re-entering Malaysia between approval and endorsement) (Optional) RM0
Payment:
Cash, wire, or per-embassy payment rules — collected by the issuing Malaysian Embassy or High Commission abroad
Notes:
Fee scales by nationality per the Imigresen visa-fees table. Examples from that table: India RM 50.00 ; Bangladesh RM 20.00 ; Indonesia RM 15.00 ; Vietnam RM 13.00 ; United States of America RM 6.00. The schedule states verbatim: "Countries which are not listed are to pay RM 20.00". This fee only applies if the worker happens to be outside Malaysia at the time the renewal is approved and re-enters under a new Visa Approval Letter — most in-country renewals do not trigger it.
Waived if:
The worker remains in Malaysia between renewal approval and endorsement, or holds a nationality not listed on Imigresen's visa-fees schedule
Total: RM0

FAQ

General

How early can my employer lodge the renewal?

Renewal applications may be submitted as early as three (3) months before the pass expiry date. Both the employer and the worker should diary that earliest-submission date, because lodging closer to the existing pass's expiry compresses the safety margin against the 5-working-day charter and any extension for incomplete documents or additional inspection.

Does the Revised Expatriate Salary Policy effective 1 June 2026 affect my renewal?

Yes — any renewal submitted on or after 1 June 2026 is assessed under the Revised Expatriate Salary Policy regardless of when the existing pass was issued. The Salary Policy FAQ states verbatim: "Pass holders whose passes are still valid are not required to submit a new application. However, renewal applications may be submitted as early as three (3) months before the pass expiry date, and such applications will be subject to the Revised Expatriate Salary Policy if they fall after 1 June 2026."

If my renewal is rejected, how long do I have to appeal?

Verbatim from the Salary Policy FAQ: "For applications rejected at the expatriate committee meeting before 1 June 2026, a complete appeal application must be submitted within fourteen (14) days from the date of rejection." The 14-day clock runs from the rejection date, not the date the employer reads the rejection notice in ESD Online — calendar the deadline immediately on receipt.

I need to leave Malaysia before my renewal is approved. What happens?

If the renewal is approved while the worker is outside Malaysia, the employer requests a Visa Approval Letter (validity six months) so the worker can collect a Single Entry Visa at the Malaysian Embassy or High Commission abroad. The worker then has 30 days from arrival in Malaysia to endorse the ePASS at MYXpats Centre. Re-entry beyond the six-month Visa Approval Letter validity cancels the letter and a new application is required.

Can my spouse and children stay on their Dependant Pass through my renewal?

Category I and Category II Employment Pass holders may sponsor a Dependant Pass for spouses, children under 18, and legally adopted children under 18, with eligibility gated by monthly salary above RM 5,000. The Dependant Pass timeline is tied to the renewed EP — confirm with the employer whether dependants need fresh applications in step with the EP renewal or simply a re-issuance, since this depends on the dependant pass's own expiry calendar.

After This Process

  • → Diary the new EP expiry date and the next renewal-window opening date (three months before the new expiry)
  • → Dependant Pass holders linked to this EP — confirm whether their passes need to be renewed or re-issued in step
  • → Changing employer instead of renewing? A change-of-employer application is treated as a fresh EP submission, not a renewal
  • → Leaving Malaysia? EP cancellation runs through ESD Online, separately from renewal, and the Security Bond refund process kicks off after cancellation
  • → Need to convert your foreign driving licence in Malaysia? See the JPJ conversion guide

Sources

Was this helpful?

More in Malaysia

7 sources cited last accessed 2026-05-06

T1 official portal · T2 embassy/consulate · T3 news · T4 community — higher tier wins on conflict. methodology →

  1. T1
    Expatriate Services Division (ESD), Immigration Department of Malaysia 2026-05-06

    EP Categories I, II, and III definitions and pre-revision salary thresholds (page 33); the four-stage ESD Online architecture (Company Registration / Activation / Expatriate Application / Endorsement); document checklist for EP application including renewal-only documents — payslips, e-BE / e-M tax filing, EA Form, tax payment receipts, personal income tax record (pages 34–41 + Annex B page 84); 5-working-day charter processing time (page 33; reaffirmed page 73); 30-day endorsement window after approval, both inside and outside Malaysia (page 33); ePASS reflected in ESD Online one working day after payment (page 69); i-Kad delivery by Pos Malaysia within 1 / 3 / 5 working days for Klang Valley / outside Klang Valley / Labuan (page 67); position-match rule across employment contract, ESD Online, job description, and Support / Approval Letter (page 39); CP38 monthly instalment is NOT acceptable for clearing outstanding tax before EP submission (page 41); MYXpats Centre at Surian Tower, Mutiara Damansara, as endorsement location for renewals (page 74); ESC at KLIA Terminal 1 / Terminal 2 for new applications only (page 66); ePASS must always be presented with the passport (page 70); 90-day resubmission window for returned applications referenced via the Salary Policy FAQ #2.

    esd.imi.gov.my
  2. T1
    Ministry of Home Affairs (MOHA), Immigration Department of Malaysia, MIDA, MDEC, IRDA, ECERDC, BNM, SC, MYXpats Centre 2026-05-06

    Renewal applications may be submitted as early as three months before the pass expiry date (FAQ #16); applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026 are assessed under the Revised Expatriate Salary Policy regardless of when the existing pass was issued (FAQ #16); appeal window of 14 days from the rejection date (FAQ #3); Category III revised salary band of RM 7,000 to RM 9,999 effective 1 June 2026, with the MOHA exemption and cooling-off period discontinued; Category I and II revised thresholds were not published in the FAQ as of access date; existing valid passes are not required to submit a new application solely because of the policy revision (FAQ #16); Dependant Pass eligibility framing under the existing policy and the revised policy (FAQ #20); 60-month maximum employment-period framework; returned applications must be resubmitted within 90 days from the returned date or face automatic cancellation (FAQ #2).

    esd.imi.gov.my
  3. T1
    Expatriate Services Division (ESD), Immigration Department of Malaysia 2026-05-06

    EP duration of up to 60 months depending on the employment contract and at the discretion of the Expatriate Committee; pass validity restricted to Peninsular Malaysia; EP holders may only work for the company named on the pass and must resubmit if changing company; Dependant Pass eligibility threshold tied to monthly salary above RM 5,000.

    esd.imi.gov.my
  4. T1
    Expatriate Services Division (ESD), Immigration Department of Malaysia 2026-05-06

    Effective date of the Revised Expatriate Salary Policy is 1 June 2026; the revision touches minimum salary thresholds for EP Categories I, II, and III plus a structured employment duration framework; MYXpats Helpdesk contact is +603-7839 7171 / [email protected].

    esd.imi.gov.my
  5. T1
    Expatriate Services Division (ESD), Immigration Department of Malaysia 2026-05-06

    Canonical channel for EP renewal submissions is ESD Online; esd.imi.gov.my is the application portal referenced throughout the V6 Guidebook.

    esd.imi.gov.my
  6. T1
    Immigration Department of Malaysia 2026-05-06

    Official Security Bond / Bank Guarantee rates by nationality, lodged by the employer with the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) prior to pass endorsement and refundable on cancellation or expiry subject to no breach.

    imi.gov.my
  7. T1
    Immigration Department of Malaysia 2026-05-06

    Single Entry Visa fees by nationality. Examples from the published table: India RM 50.00 ; Bangladesh RM 20.00 ; Indonesia RM 15.00 ; Vietnam RM 13.00 ; United States of America RM 6.00. The schedule states verbatim: "Countries which are not listed are to pay RM 20.00". Single Entry Visa applies to renewal cases only when the worker re-enters Malaysia between approval and endorsement under a new Visa Approval Letter.

    imi.gov.my
WhatsApp Telegram