Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa: How to Apply in 3 Steps 

Remote workers can apply for the new Malaysia digital nomad visa and call the Southeast Asian country home. 

The Malaysian government introduced legislation for a new digital nomad visa allowing remote workers to live in the country for three to 12 months with the ability to renew for a second year. 

Known as the Professional Visit Pass, the visa is released by DE Rantau Nomad Pass. The application process is done all online, making it one of the easiest digital nomad visas to apply for.

This is excellent news for remote employees and independent contractors that work in the digital field. Malaysia hopes to attract these kinds of digital nomads to boost the local economy and further digitalize the country. 

Applicants may bring spouses and immediate dependents with them on their visa.

Through the DE Rantau program, Malaysia digital nomad visa holders will have access to unique and helpful resources. They can take advantage of digital nomad accommodations, discounts, networking events, and more while living in Malaysia.

A destination that is growing in popularity as a digital nomad destination due to its tropical climate and low cost of living, Malaysia joins other digital nomad hubs in the area, such as Thailand and Indonesia. 

What is a Digital Nomad Visa?

A digital nomad visa allows remote workers to live in a foreign country. This visa grants a temporary residence permit, typically lasting from six months to two years, with the ability to renew. 

To be eligible for a digital nomad visa, you must earn an income remotely either as an employee, business owner, or freelancer. Holders of the digital nomad visa may not participate in local economic business opportunities. All income must be earned from an entity outside of the country they reside in. 

A digital nomad visa is perfect for those remote workers who simply want a change of scenery or have constantly been traveling and would like to settle down somewhere for a bit. 

Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa Requirements

As with every digital nomad visa, there are certain requirements you must meet in order to be eligible to apply for it. Below are the requirements for the Malaysia digital nomad visa.  

• Valid Passport – Your passport must be valid for at least 14 months at the time of applying
• Work Remotely – You must work remotely as an employee, business owner, or freelancer for companies or clients located outside of Malaysia for at least three months
• Work in the Digital Domain – You must work in the digital space of IT, digital content creation, digital marketing, and other digital domain work
• Earn $24,000/year – You must meet the minimum income requirement
• Clean Criminal Record – Your criminal record must be clean
• Health or Travel Insurance – You must have insurance coverage for the duration of your time in Malaysia

There are also currently no nationality restrictions for the visa. Therefore, citizens of every country may submit an application.

If you meet the requirements, you may be eligible to apply for the Malaysia digital nomad visa!

Steps to Apply

The entire application process is done online in just 15 minutes.

Step 1: Gather Documents

Before you begin your application, it’s a good idea to gather the necessary documents. You’ll need the following to apply:

• Copy of Passport (all pages with at least six empty ones)
• Digital Passport Photo
• Proof of Remote Work (current, past, or future contracts)
• Proof of Income (Bank statements from last three months and yearly income statement)
• Current Resume
• Certified Criminal Background Check
• Health or Travel Insurance Policy
• Proof of Relationship with Dependents (if applicable)

All of these documents must be digitized and submitted in English.

Step 2: Submit Application

As mentioned, the entire application is done online. You will register your account here and begin the process after receiving a verification code to your email.

Make sure to choose the option for “DE Rantau Digital Nomad Visa” option.

The application consists of numerous questions and places where you can upload your and your dependents’ documents.

You must also pay a visa fee of MYR 1,000 (about $220 USD) for individual applicants and MYR 500 (about $110 USD) per dependent. 

Step 3: Wait for Approval

It will take up to four weeks to receive an answer about your Malaysia digital nomad visa application. The program will notify you via email.

Malaysia for Digital Nomads

With a low cost of living, tropical climate, and some of the most gorgeous beaches in the world, it’s no surprise that digital nomads flock to Malaysia. Just imagine opening your laptop at a cafe in Penang or Kuala Lumpur and watching the hustle and bustle of mopeds and pedestrians on the street. 

Digital nomads have the option to live in a major city, such as Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru, or in smaller towns, such as Penang or Kuching. There are many coworking spaces and cafes with free wifi where digital nomads can set up their workspaces for the day. 

There is a large remote worker and expat community in Malaysia, offering a sense of comfort to new digital nomads who move to the area. You can connect with and meet people from all over the world and learn how to navigate a new lifestyle in Malaysia together. 

When you aren’t taking Zoom calls or completing tasks, you can find gorgeous hiking trails in the rain forests, sandy beaches to relax on, and plenty of cities to explore. Malaysia is most definitely a digital nomad-friendly destination that shouldn’t go unnoticed. 

Digital Nomad Visa Application Assistance Worldwide

Choosing the right digital nomad visa and figuring out how to apply for it can be quite a hassle. Between all of the requirements and paperwork, many digital nomads feel discouraged and end up never finishing the process. 

With Nomads Embassy, that all changes!

We connect you with our hand-selected immigration lawyers to help you apply for digital nomad visas worldwide. Our platform (coming soon!) expedites your application process and organizes your documents so you receive your digital nomad visa even faster. 

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