
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

Video
Afzal Amin highlights a significant update for UAE Golden Visa holders: the Jebel Ali Free Zone authorities have replaced permanent access cards with permanent identity cards.

Blog post

Blog post
Associate Pauline Chomel and Immigration Consultant Pebbless Agyemang discuss Belgium’s new family reunification rules and their impact on applicants.

Media mentions
Senior Associate Oliver L. Ashworth and Director David Iannella discuss recent US immigration and visa changes and what German businesses and travelers should know.

Media mentions
Senior Manager Louise Senior highlights how UK hospitality employers face heightened risk as visa sponsors and why it is important for them to understand their responsibilities to avoid penalties.

Fragomen news
Fragomen announces the expansion of Nomadic to the Nordics, providing end-to-end support for short-term business travel and cross-border compliance.

Blog post
Immigration Supervisor Michael Salas Guzman discusses Costa Rica investment residency options and requirements for foreign investors, retirees and rentiers.

Media mentions
Managing Partner for the Middle East and Africa Murtaza Khan discusses why immigration due diligence is important in GCC mergers.

Fragomen news
Fragomen announces the opening of new offices in Wrocław and Gdańsk, welcoming Partner Karolina Schiffter to its Poland practice.

Blog post
This blog post by Manager Virginie Todesco and Immigration Consultant Chiara Caredda, available in English and Portuguese, outlines the requirements, benefits and application process for obtaining Luxembourg citizenship.

Awards
Fragomen and Regional Partner for the Asia Pacific Mark Buchanan were recognized at the 2025 FEM APAC EMMAs.

Awards
Partner Archana Iyer won the "Innovation Award" at The New York Law Journal's 2025 New York Legal Awards.

Video
Afzal Amin highlights a significant update for UAE Golden Visa holders: the Jebel Ali Free Zone authorities have replaced permanent access cards with permanent identity cards.

Blog post

Blog post
Associate Pauline Chomel and Immigration Consultant Pebbless Agyemang discuss Belgium’s new family reunification rules and their impact on applicants.

Media mentions
Senior Associate Oliver L. Ashworth and Director David Iannella discuss recent US immigration and visa changes and what German businesses and travelers should know.

Media mentions
Senior Manager Louise Senior highlights how UK hospitality employers face heightened risk as visa sponsors and why it is important for them to understand their responsibilities to avoid penalties.

Fragomen news
Fragomen announces the expansion of Nomadic to the Nordics, providing end-to-end support for short-term business travel and cross-border compliance.

Blog post
Immigration Supervisor Michael Salas Guzman discusses Costa Rica investment residency options and requirements for foreign investors, retirees and rentiers.

Media mentions
Managing Partner for the Middle East and Africa Murtaza Khan discusses why immigration due diligence is important in GCC mergers.

Fragomen news
Fragomen announces the opening of new offices in Wrocław and Gdańsk, welcoming Partner Karolina Schiffter to its Poland practice.

Blog post
This blog post by Manager Virginie Todesco and Immigration Consultant Chiara Caredda, available in English and Portuguese, outlines the requirements, benefits and application process for obtaining Luxembourg citizenship.

Awards
Fragomen and Regional Partner for the Asia Pacific Mark Buchanan were recognized at the 2025 FEM APAC EMMAs.

Awards
Partner Archana Iyer won the "Innovation Award" at The New York Law Journal's 2025 New York Legal Awards.