
Malaysia
The Immigration Department of Malaysia and Talent Corporation Malaysia Berhad (TalentCorp) officially opened the new Malaysia Expatriate Talent Service Centre (MYXpats Centre) in Surian Tower, Petaling Jaya on July 1, 2015. MYXpats Centre issues faster Employment Pass (EP) applications and other EP-related passes that were previously processed only by the Immigration Department of Malaysia’s headquarters in Putrajaya. With the new center comes a new online Visa with Reference (VDR) letter that allows foreign workers to apply for an entry visa with a copy of their VDR letter instead of awaiting the original.
MYXpats Centre expects to process Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass, Dependant Pass and Long-Term Social Visit Pass applications in five business days upon complete filing. Employers can also direct their work authorization-related questions to the Centre instead of inquiring at the headquarters of the Immigration Department of Malaysia.
Employers must still undergo the same registration and compliance check process under the Expatriates Service Division (ESD), which was launched last year by the Immigration Department of Malaysia, before utilizing the MYXpats Centre. Once they are registered under ESD, employers can use the MYXpats Centre to apply for EPs and other work authorizations without a separate registration process.
New Visa with Reference (VDR) Process
Under the new procedures of the MYXpats Centre, foreign workers can obtain an online Visa with Reference (VDR) letter through the ESD's online system. After the applicant receives the VDR by email, they can apply for a Single Entry Visa (SEV) at a Malaysian consular post abroad using a copy of the VDR letter. Once the foreign worker enters Malaysia with an SEV, he or she can proceed with the next stage of the EP process.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
MYXpats Centre brings together multiple resources in one location to improve efficiency and delivery of services to employers and foreign workers.
EP applicants should benefit from faster entry with the online VDR letter, after which they can proceed with the next stage of the EP application in Malaysia.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
© 2015 Fragomen
Explore more at Fragomen
Blog post
Immigration Director Deirdre Murray explores the impact of upcoming employment permit changes on employers and workforce planning in Ireland.
Video
Director David Iannella discusses how Global Entry can help frequent business travelers navigate US entry more predictably and access TSA PreCheck.
Video
Manager Russell Hodges and Associate Gurpreet Phalora explain key UK immigration considerations for London Fashion Week 2026.
Advisory services
Senior Counsel Jo Antoons and Immigration Supervisor Elisabeth Kamm explore the EU Blue Card recast and its impact for employers, highlighting how hiring, retention and mobility decisions are affected.
Media mentions
Partner James Pack on US H‑1B updates and what employers should know for the upcoming lottery.
Immigration analysis
Manager Konstantin Schmid provides a practical overview of Swiss citizenship routes, eligibility rules and common reasons applications are delayed or refused.
Media mentions
Manager Pierangelo D’Errico discusses how recent changes to Italy’s citizenship rules are affecting applicants with Italian ancestry.
Podcast
Director Laxmi Limbani discusses how women are shaping the global space sector, the barriers they face and what is needed to support a more inclusive space workforce.
Media mentions
Senior Manager William Diaz outlines how immigration changes in the US and UK may affect workforce planning and mobility for the games industry in 2026.
Media mentions
Partner Julia Onslow-Cole highlights how global mobility is becoming a strategic, board-level consideration requiring careful planning, compliance and workforce management.
Video
Director Fatima Aydin outlines Ireland’s roadmap for increasing minimum annual remuneration salary thresholds and the implications for employer workforce planning and compliance.
Video
In this episode of the Fragomen FC, Partner Rick Lamanna, Senior Manager Jake Paul Minster, Manager Gustavo Kanashiro and Manager Sergio Flores discuss how immigration systems across the Americas shape football mobility, compliance and cross-border movement throughout South America.
Blog post
Immigration Director Deirdre Murray explores the impact of upcoming employment permit changes on employers and workforce planning in Ireland.
Video
Director David Iannella discusses how Global Entry can help frequent business travelers navigate US entry more predictably and access TSA PreCheck.
Video
Manager Russell Hodges and Associate Gurpreet Phalora explain key UK immigration considerations for London Fashion Week 2026.
Advisory services
Senior Counsel Jo Antoons and Immigration Supervisor Elisabeth Kamm explore the EU Blue Card recast and its impact for employers, highlighting how hiring, retention and mobility decisions are affected.
Media mentions
Partner James Pack on US H‑1B updates and what employers should know for the upcoming lottery.
Immigration analysis
Manager Konstantin Schmid provides a practical overview of Swiss citizenship routes, eligibility rules and common reasons applications are delayed or refused.
Media mentions
Manager Pierangelo D’Errico discusses how recent changes to Italy’s citizenship rules are affecting applicants with Italian ancestry.
Podcast
Director Laxmi Limbani discusses how women are shaping the global space sector, the barriers they face and what is needed to support a more inclusive space workforce.
Media mentions
Senior Manager William Diaz outlines how immigration changes in the US and UK may affect workforce planning and mobility for the games industry in 2026.
Media mentions
Partner Julia Onslow-Cole highlights how global mobility is becoming a strategic, board-level consideration requiring careful planning, compliance and workforce management.
Video
Director Fatima Aydin outlines Ireland’s roadmap for increasing minimum annual remuneration salary thresholds and the implications for employer workforce planning and compliance.
Video
In this episode of the Fragomen FC, Partner Rick Lamanna, Senior Manager Jake Paul Minster, Manager Gustavo Kanashiro and Manager Sergio Flores discuss how immigration systems across the Americas shape football mobility, compliance and cross-border movement throughout South America.
