How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Foreign Worker in Sarawak? (2026)

One of the most common questions employers ask is: how much does it actually cost to bring in a foreign worker? This guide breaks down the government and regulatory fees involved in hiring a foreign worker in Sarawak, so you can budget accurately before starting the recruitment process.

The figures below cover government fees only — these are the statutory charges payable to government departments and regulatory bodies. They do not include agency professional fees, which vary depending on the scope of service, source country, and number of workers. For a complete quotation, contact us directly.

Overview

The cost to hire a foreign worker in Sarawak can be broken down into four categories: a one-time startup cost per batch application, government processing fees per worker, immigration department fees per worker (which vary by sector), and mandatory costs upon the worker's arrival. If you are new to the foreign worker hiring process in Sarawak, we recommend reading that guide first for context on the overall process.

1. Startup Costs (One-Time, Per Batch Application)

Before any per-worker fees apply, there is a one-time cost associated with the quota application process. This covers the mandatory local hiring advertisement requirements.

Employers are required by law to advertise positions on JobSarawak and on RTM (Radio Television Malaysia) before applying for foreign worker quota. This demonstrates that the employer has made genuine efforts to recruit locally. The quota processing fee covers these advertising costs and the administrative processing of the Hiring Outcome Report (HOR). This fee applies once per batch application, regardless of how many workers you are applying for.

2. Government Processing Fees (Per Worker)

These fees are payable to the state government processing system for each worker. All amounts include 8% SST.

These fees are the same across all industry sectors. The Approved Quota Fee is payable upon approval of your AP application. The Labour Licence authorises your company to employ foreign labour. The Calling Visa allows the worker to enter Sarawak, while the SAFHIS booking reserves their medical screening appointment. The NSIC is the foreign worker's identification document within Sarawak. For a full list of documents required for each stage, see our reference guide.

3. Immigration Department Fees (Per Worker)

These fees are payable to the Immigration Department of Malaysia (Sarawak). The main variable cost is the levy, which differs by industry sector.

The levy is the largest variable cost and is set by the federal government based on your industry classification. Plantation and agriculture sectors benefit from the lowest levy rates, reflecting government policy to support these industries. The VP(TE) visa, processing fee, and visa fee are standard charges that apply equally to all sectors. To understand more about the overall recruitment process and timeline, see our step-by-step guide.

4. Mandatory Costs Upon Arrival (Per Worker)

Once the worker arrives in Sarawak, the following costs must be paid before they can begin work.

The medical checkup must be completed at a SAFHIS (Sarawak Foreigners Health Information System) panel facility — Sarawak operates its own health screening system, separate from the FOMEMA system used in Peninsular Malaysia. The foreign worker insurance provides basic hospitalisation and surgical coverage. The security bond guarantee is a surety for the RM2,000 bond required by Immigration; employers pay the guarantee premium rather than the full bond amount.

Total Cost Summary by Sector

The table below shows the total government and regulatory cost per worker by industry sector. This excludes the one-time RM3,000 batch processing fee and agency professional fees.

As the summary shows, the largest variable is the immigration levy — plantation and agriculture employers pay the least per worker, while service-sector employers pay the most. The one-time RM3,000 quota processing fee becomes less significant per worker as you hire more workers in each batch.

Frequently Asked Questions