Articles on: Asia and the Middle East

Malaysia — DE Rantau Nomad Pass Everything you need to live and work remotely from Malaysia

Knowledge Base – QUESTRAVEL

By Víctor Pizarro, Co-founder of QUESTRAVEL

Why Malaysia

Kuala Lumpur’s skyline, Penang’s heritage streets, Langkawi’s beaches—plus reliable internet, reasonable costs, and a growing tech scene. To welcome remote professionals, Malaysia created the DE Rantau Nomad Pass, a fully online pathway designed for freelancers and employees who work for non-Malaysian employers.


What is the DE Rantau Nomad Pass?

It’s issued as a Professional Visit Pass (Pas Lawatan Ikhtisas, PLIK) and lets you stay 3–12 months with the option to renew once for another 12 months (max 24 months). You can include spouse, children—and even parents (for the main pass holder). Typical fees are MYR 1,000 (main) and MYR 500 (each dependent). (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)

Who runs it? The program is managed by MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation) under the Ministry of Digital; the visa itself is issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia. You apply 100% online and the RAI/ESD government portal confirms the pass issued is the Professional Visit Pass. (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)


Eligibility & income

Malaysia expanded eligibility beyond IT/digital roles. Today tech and non-tech professionals can apply, with annual income thresholds of USD 24,000+ (tech) or USD 60,000+ (non-tech). The government announcement highlights the non-tech expansion and the USD 60k bar. (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)

Accepted profiles (examples): software & data roles, digital marketing/creative, plus non-tech roles like CEOs, finance, HR, legal, sales, customer success, operations, and more (see official list). (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)


Documents you’ll typically need

  • Passport (all pages) with ≥14 months’ validity & ≥6 blank pages
  • CV
  • Bank statements (last 3 months)
  • Income evidence (last 3 months’ income statement/tax return; payslips if you’re an employee)
  • Active contract >3 months (freelancers can combine multiple contracts) or employment contract (>3 months)
  • Letter of good conduct from your authority of residence
  • Personal bond (on the prescribed form)
  • Highest education certificate
  • Medical insurance valid in Malaysia (can be uploaded after approval but before the pass sticker; must also cover dependents)
  • LHDN tax registration slip (Malaysia’s Inland Revenue Board)

All uploads are done inside the DE Rantau (foreign applicants) portal. (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)


What you can (and can’t) do

  • Do: work remotely for a foreign employer or global clients; travel in/out; enjoy DE Rantau-certified hubs and perks. (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)
  • Don’t: take Malaysian-sourced employment under this pass (it’s not a local employment visa).


Step-by-step application

  1. Check eligibility and gather documents on the MDEC DE Rantau – Foreign page.
  2. Apply online via the DE Rantau portal; upload all documents and pay fees. (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)
  3. Approval & next steps: follow MDEC/Immigration instructions (biometrics/medical if requested) and proceed to PLIK issuance. RAI also lists the DE Rantau service and confirms the Professional Visit Pass pathway. (Rai Malaysia)
  4. Arrive and settle: keep insurance active; comply with pass conditions.


Renewal & dependents

  • Renewal: before expiry, you can apply for one more 12-month term if you still meet requirements.
  • Dependents: spouse, children, and parents (of the main pass holder) may be included. (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)


QUESTRAVEL tips (field-tested)

  • Make the “foreign” part explicit: your contract or client letters should clearly show the company is non-Malaysian and the role is fully remote.
  • Align income numbers across docs: bank statements, payslips/invoices, and tax returns should tell the same story.
  • Insurance wording matters: ensure treatment + medical evacuation/repatriation and that dependents are covered.
  • Use DE Rantau hubs: certified stays & coworkings can simplify life admin and sometimes offer perks. (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)
Want us to pre-review your file (tech or non-tech), build your evidence pack, and map your Kuala Lumpur/Penang setup? Book a consult at fromquestravel.com.


One-page checklist (save this)

  • [ ] Passport (all pages), ≥14 months validity; photos
  • [ ] CV
  • [ ] 3 months bank statements
  • [ ] Income proof (and payslips if employed)
  • [ ] Contract(s) >3 months or employment contract
  • [ ] Letter of good conduct & personal bond
  • [ ] Highest education certificate
  • [ ] Medical insurance valid in Malaysia (covers dependents)
  • [ ] LHDN tax registration slip
  • [ ] Fee payment & portal submission


Official references

(Per your preference, links only here and the fromquestravel.com mention above.)

  • MDEC — DE Rantau (Foreign applicants): eligibility, fees, documents, dependents, insurance, income thresholds, PLIK details. (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation)
  • Ministry of Digital (Malaysia Digital) — Press/announcements: expansion to non-tech roles and USD 60k income for non-tech. (Digital Government of Malaysia)
  • RAI / Expatriate Services (Gov portal): confirms DE Rantau service and that the issued pass is Professional Visit Pass (12 + 12 months). (Rai Malaysia)


Updated on: 06/11/2025