Expatriates now allowed to enter and exit Malaysia upon approval by Immigration Department

Malaysia has relaxed its entry restrictions on expatriates and their dependants, effective yesterday (21 September), as announced by the Immigration Department. 

This will apply to pass holders in the following categories:

• Residence Pass-Talent (RP-T), and their dependant(s)
• Employment Pass (Category EP I, II and III)
• Professional Visit Pass (PVP) 
• Dependant Pass to expatriates for all categories
• Long Term Social Visit Pass (LT-SVP) to expatriates for all categories
• Foreign Maid to expatriates for all categories

These pass holders are now required to apply for the Entry Permission or Approval to Exit and Return to Malaysia, via the Immigration Department's MYEntry system; while any expatriate who wishes to exit Malaysia and not be returning during the RMCO may proceed without applying for approval.

Apart from the above, expatriates entering the country are to comply with the following requirements upon reaching the entry points:

1. They must still be holding a valid pass/approval of pass application.
2. They must present the Entry Approval Letter or Exit and Return to Malaysia Approval Letter that is still valid (within 60 days from the issuance date, including an Entry Approval Letter or Exit and Return Approval Letter that has been issued before 7 September 2020), and the expatriate must return to Malaysia within that duration with a valid pass.
3. Obtain a Visa with Reference (VDR) for countries that require a visa to enter Malaysia.
4. Expatriates should also comply with the quarantine requirement set by the Ministry of Health and the National Disaster Management Agency.
5. Ensure their Entry Approval Letter that has been issued earlier is still valid within 60 days from the issuance date.
6. Any expatriate who fails to comply with any of the above will be denied entry, have their pass cancelled, and be blacklisted in the Immigration system.

The Immigration Department has noted that the above measures are temporary, and will be reviewed on a regular basis. 

Earlier this month, Malaysia had announced entry restrictions on foreign travellers from India, Indonesia and the Philippines effective 7 September, which now no longer apply.

[ALSO READ: Immigration department launches portal for application to enter, exit and return to Malaysia]

List of countries with expatriates who can now enter Malaysia upon approval

According to a release on Berry Appleman and Leiden, expatriates and their dependants from the following 23 countries can now enter Malaysia upon approval:

1. Argentina
2. Bangladesh
3. Brazil
4. Chile
5. Columbia
6. France
7. Germany
8. India
9. Indonesia
10. Iran
11. Iraq
12. Italy
13. Mexico
14. Pakistan
15. Peru
16. The Philippines
17. Russia
18. Saudi Arabia
19. Spain
20. South Africa
21. Turkey
22. The United Kingdom
23. The United States

Photo / 123RF