Employment Pass Guide for Sarawak

If your company needs to bring in a skilled foreign professional — such as an engineer, manager, or technical expert — you will likely need an Employment Pass (EP). Here is what employers in Sarawak need to know about the EP process.

What Is an Employment Pass?

An Employment Pass allows a foreign national to work in Sarawak in a professional, managerial, or technical capacity. It is designed for skilled positions that require specific qualifications and experience — not for general labour or domestic work, which fall under different pass categories.

Who Qualifies for an EP?

The Employment Pass is typically for:

• Senior managers and directors
• Engineers and technical specialists
• IT professionals and system architects
• Project managers overseeing specific operations
• Other qualified professionals with relevant experience

The applicant must be at least 27 years old and meet one of the following qualification tiers:

• Bachelor's degree + minimum 5 years relevant experience
• Diploma + minimum 7 years relevant experience
• Skills certificate + minimum 10 years relevant experience

The employing company must demonstrate that the role requires foreign expertise. A Hiring Outcome Report is also required — the position must be advertised on JobSarawak for a minimum of 3 working days and in a local newspaper. This requirement is exempt for key posts, shareholders, specialists, and cross-postings.

Ineligible Sectors

Not all businesses can sponsor an Employment Pass. The following sectors are not eligible for EP applications:

• Spa, reflexology, massage, and health establishments
• Hair dressing, barber shops, and beauty salons
• Mini markets and retail stores
• General furniture businesses and textiles
• Small-scale workshops
• Retail outlets for computers, smartphones, and IT accessories
• Bistros, cafes, and coffee shops
• Manpower supply agencies
• Petty traders, hawkers, and store operators
• Scrap and recycling businesses

Company Requirements

The sponsoring company must:

• Be a Sdn Bhd registered and operating in Sarawak
• Be registered with SSM (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia)
• Have a minimum paid-up capital of RM250,000 (100% local ownership), RM350,000 (joint venture with foreign equity), or RM1,000,000 (100% foreign-owned)
• Have a legitimate business need for the foreign professional
• Provide proper documentation including company registration, financial records, and details of the position

Applicant Requirements

The foreign professional must provide:

• Valid passport with sufficient remaining validity
• Relevant academic qualifications and professional certifications
• Proof of work experience in the relevant field
• Passport-size photographs
• Medical clearance

How the EP Differs from Other Passes

The General Process

Labour Licence Requirement

Since November 2025, a Labour Licence is mandatory for all Employment Pass applications under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance (Amendment) Act 2025. The Labour Licence is applied for automatically as part of the EP application process. It is valid for the same duration as the Employment Pass.

Local Understudy Requirement

Employers must appoint a Local Understudy Candidate — a Malaysian employee who will be trained by the EP holder — within 6 months of the Employment Pass being approved. The goal is to facilitate knowledge transfer and eventual replacement. Failure to appoint a local understudy within this timeframe may prevent the employer from renewing the Employment Pass.

NSIC (Non-Sarawakian Identity Card)

After the employer collects the approved Employment Pass at JIMS (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia Sarawak), the EP holder can be issued a Non-Sarawakian Identity Card (NSIC). This serves as the identity document for non-Sarawakians working in the state.

Sarawak-Specific Notes

• Sarawak handles EP applications through its own immigration system — separate from Peninsular Malaysia
• An EP issued for Peninsular Malaysia is not valid for Sarawak, and vice versa
• Companies expanding from Peninsular Malaysia into Sarawak must apply for a new EP through Sarawak's system
• EP1 requires a minimum salary of RM5,000/month — allows dependant passes and domestic helper hiring
• EP2 requires a minimum salary of RM3,000/month — does not allow dependant passes or domestic helper hiring
• EP1 is renewable up to 5 years total; EP2 is renewable once for a maximum of 2 years total