Oil And Gas Sector Work Pass Applications in Sabah Subject to New Preapproval Process
November 21, 2016
Country / Territory
Related offices
Related offices
Effective immediately, companies operating in the oil and gas sector must obtain preapproval from the Sabah Chief Minister’s Department (JKM) before being able to submit new or renewal Work Pass applications to the Sabah Immigration Department. The application for preapproval from JKM is expected to take approximately four weeks to adjudicate from the date of submission.
Work pass applications pending with the Sabah Immigration Department have been placed on hold and will only be adjudicated after the employer provides the JKM approval letter to the Immigration Department.
What This Means for Employers and Foreign Nationals
As a result of this additional requirement, employers in the oil and gas sector should expect overall processing times for Sabah work pass applications to increase by approximately four weeks.
This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].
Country / Territory
Related offices
Related offices
Explore more at Fragomen
Fragomen news
Fragomen earned top national and regional rankings in Chambers USA 2026, including its 13th consecutive year in Band 1 nationwide.
Blog post
Media mentions
Senior Manager Samantha Arnold examines the remaining opportunities under Ireland’s winding-down Immigrant Investor Programme and what they mean for eligible investors and their families.
Blog post
Government Affairs Strategy Director Shuyeb Muquit analyses the UK’s latest net migration decline, exploring what the data reveals about policy impact, economic trade‑offs and the risks of over‑correction in future migration strategy.
Media mentions
Partner Bo Cooper discusses the practical considerations facing employers and foreign nationals amid recent changes to green card processing.
Blog post
Video
In this #FragomenFC episode, Partner Rick Lamanna, Senior Manager Sergio Flores and Senior Associate Jake Paul Minster discuss final travel and immigration considerations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Samantha Arnold discusses Ireland's citizenship framework and the gaps that can remain following reforms to birthright citizenship.
Video
In this video, Partner Diana Quintas discusses how Brazil’s family reunion visa supports long-term international assignments and outlines key eligibility, documentation and compliance considerations for employers and families relocating to Brazil.
Blog post
Attorney María José Clarke explores Chile’s intensified immigration enforcement framework under President José Antonio Kast, examining new employer compliance obligations, work authorization rules for foreign nationals and the legal and financial consequences of unauthorized employment.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Jonathan Hill examines how the UK's new RAG rating system and stricter compliance metrics could shape universities' approaches to international student recruitment and sponsorship compliance.
Blog post
Knowledge Management Director Ana Sofia Walsh and Senior Client Engagement Manager Soraya Driessen examine the European Commission’s EU Inc. proposal and its potential to reshape corporate structures across the EU, highlighting the resulting complexities and unresolved questions for immigration, work authorization and cross-border workforce mobility.
Fragomen news
Fragomen earned top national and regional rankings in Chambers USA 2026, including its 13th consecutive year in Band 1 nationwide.
Blog post
Media mentions
Senior Manager Samantha Arnold examines the remaining opportunities under Ireland’s winding-down Immigrant Investor Programme and what they mean for eligible investors and their families.
Blog post
Government Affairs Strategy Director Shuyeb Muquit analyses the UK’s latest net migration decline, exploring what the data reveals about policy impact, economic trade‑offs and the risks of over‑correction in future migration strategy.
Media mentions
Partner Bo Cooper discusses the practical considerations facing employers and foreign nationals amid recent changes to green card processing.
Blog post
Video
In this #FragomenFC episode, Partner Rick Lamanna, Senior Manager Sergio Flores and Senior Associate Jake Paul Minster discuss final travel and immigration considerations ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Samantha Arnold discusses Ireland's citizenship framework and the gaps that can remain following reforms to birthright citizenship.
Video
In this video, Partner Diana Quintas discusses how Brazil’s family reunion visa supports long-term international assignments and outlines key eligibility, documentation and compliance considerations for employers and families relocating to Brazil.
Blog post
Attorney María José Clarke explores Chile’s intensified immigration enforcement framework under President José Antonio Kast, examining new employer compliance obligations, work authorization rules for foreign nationals and the legal and financial consequences of unauthorized employment.
Media mentions
Senior Manager Jonathan Hill examines how the UK's new RAG rating system and stricter compliance metrics could shape universities' approaches to international student recruitment and sponsorship compliance.
Blog post
Knowledge Management Director Ana Sofia Walsh and Senior Client Engagement Manager Soraya Driessen examine the European Commission’s EU Inc. proposal and its potential to reshape corporate structures across the EU, highlighting the resulting complexities and unresolved questions for immigration, work authorization and cross-border workforce mobility.
