{"id":45,"date":"2026-09-18T03:20:00","date_gmt":"2026-09-18T03:20:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vivosgroup.com\/my\/insights\/malaysia-employment-pass-salary-thresholds-2026\/"},"modified":"2026-09-18T03:20:00","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T03:20:00","slug":"malaysia-employment-pass-salary-thresholds-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vivosgroup.com\/my\/insights\/malaysia-employment-pass-salary-thresholds-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Malaysia Employment Pass Salary Thresholds Are Rising From 1 June 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n

Insights · Malaysia Immigration<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Malaysia Employment Pass Salary Thresholds Are Rising From 1 June 2026<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

Malaysia’s Expatriate Services Division has roughly doubled the minimum salary required for every Employment Pass category, effective 1 June 2026, and it applies to renewals as well as new applications. Here’s exactly what’s changing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
Category<\/th>Current minimum<\/th>New minimum (from 1 June 2026)<\/th>Maximum validity<\/th><\/tr>
Category I<\/td>RM10,000<\/td>RM20,000 and above<\/td>Up to 10 years<\/td><\/tr>
Category II<\/td>RM5,000 – RM9,999<\/td>RM10,000 – RM19,999<\/td>Up to 10 years, with a succession plan<\/td><\/tr>
Category III<\/td>RM3,000 – RM4,999<\/td>RM5,000 – RM9,999 (RM7,000 – RM9,999 for manufacturing-related services)<\/td>Up to 5 years, with a succession plan<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

The increase is real, it’s roughly double, and it applies to renewals too<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Malaysia’s Expatriate Services Division (ESD) has announced new minimum salary thresholds for all three Employment Pass categories, effective 1 June 2026. Every category roughly doubles: Category I moves from RM10,000 to RM20,000 and above, Category II from RM5,000–RM9,999 to RM10,000–RM19,999, and Category III from RM3,000–RM4,999 to RM5,000–RM9,999 (RM7,000–RM9,999 for manufacturing-related services).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These thresholds are calculated on basic salary only — allowances, bonuses, commissions and benefits-in-kind aren’t counted toward the minimum, even where they push the total package comfortably above it. A role advertised at RM9,000 basic plus a RM3,000 allowance still needs its basic salary raised to clear a RM10,000 threshold; the allowance doesn’t help.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Categories II and III now also carry a succession plan requirement to reach their maximum validity — broadly, the employer needs to show a plan for developing a Malaysian employee into the role over time, rather than treating the position as permanently held by a foreign hire. Category I, reserved for the most senior roles, carries no such requirement.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The change applies to all new and renewal Employment Pass applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026 — including renewals of passes that were originally granted under the old, lower thresholds. That’s the detail worth planning around: a company renewing an existing Category II employee’s pass in July 2026 needs that role to meet the new RM10,000+ threshold, not the RM5,000 threshold the pass was first issued under.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For roles currently paid below the new minimum, the practical decision is timing: filing a new application or a renewal before 1 June 2026 locks in the current thresholds for that filing, while anything filed on or after that date needs the new minimum regardless of when the person’s employment or previous pass began. VIVOS (M) Sdn. Bhd. handles Employment Pass filings end to end and can flag which of your current or planned EP holders will need a salary review before the deadline.<\/p>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Frequently asked questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Does the new threshold affect Employment Pass renewals, or only new applications?<\/summary>\n

Both. It applies to all new and renewal Employment Pass applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026, so an existing pass holder renewing after that date must meet the new minimum even if their original pass was granted under the old, lower thresholds.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Do allowances and bonuses count toward the minimum salary?<\/summary>\n

No. The threshold is calculated on basic salary only, so allowances, bonuses, commissions and benefits-in-kind are not counted toward the minimum even if they bring the total package above it.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

What is the succession plan requirement for Category II and III?<\/summary>\n

Categories II and III now need a succession plan in place to reach their maximum validity period, generally demonstrating the employer’s plan to develop a Malaysian employee into the role over time. Category I has no such requirement.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n\n

Should we file before 1 June 2026 to avoid the new thresholds?<\/summary>\n

If a role’s current salary meets the existing threshold but not the new one, filing or renewing before 1 June 2026 avoids an immediate pay review for that application. Anything filed on or after that date must meet the new minimum regardless of when the underlying role or previous pass began.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n

Get ahead of the 1 June 2026 salary threshold change<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
\n
Talk to our team<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n