Malaysia: Pass Endorsement Payment Deadlines and In-Country Stay Requirements Reinforced

The Malaysian government has reiterated that payment for pass endorsement must be completed within one month from either the applicant’s date of entry into Malaysia or the date of approval for a pass renewal or new application (including changes in category, pass, or employer), whichever is applicable. Failure to meet this deadline may lead to the cancellation of the approved application. In such cases, companies will need to submit a new application, which may affect overall processing timelines. 

In addition, applicants who are in Malaysia for the purpose of pass endorsement are required to remain in the country until the process is fully completed (including the issuance of the pass endorsement sticker). Where travel is necessary due to urgent or exceptional circumstances while the application is in progress (and the applicant is expected to re-enter after the current pass has expired), the company must promptly notify the authorities for further assessment. Any consideration will depend on the stage of the application and applicable immigration requirements and does not guarantee that the application will proceed. If an applicant is outside the country at any stage during processing, the application may be cancelled.  

Additionally, once the application has been submitted to the immigration authorities, no amendments are allowed. To amend, the current application must be cancelled and then refiled. Companies are therefore strongly advised to ensure foreign national applicants remain in the country until endorsement is complete to avoid cancellation, processing disruptions and the need to resubmit applications. 

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen.