New Employment Pass Process Sarawak (2026)

Sarawak has introduced several new online platforms to digitise the employment pass and work permit application process. If you are hiring foreign workers or sponsoring professionals in Sarawak, here is what has changed and what you need to know.

What Changed in 2026

The Sarawak government has progressively moved immigration and labour processes online through its GENESIS (Government Electronic Networked Ecosystem of Sarawak Immigration System) portal. Where applications were previously submitted in person or through paper-based processes, several key functions are now handled through dedicated online modules.

These changes affect both Employment Pass applications (for skilled professionals and expatriates) and general worker applications (for sectors like manufacturing, construction, and plantation). The goal is to improve processing speed, transparency, and compliance tracking.

Overview of the New Platforms

Here is a summary of the key platforms under the GENESIS ecosystem and what each one handles:

All of these platforms are accessed through the central GENESIS portal at genesis.sarawak.gov.my. Employers and authorised agents register once on GENESIS and then access the relevant module for their application type.

ALIANCE: Employment Pass Applications

ALIANCE is the module for Employment Pass (EP) applications. If you are hiring a skilled professional, manager, or expatriate to work in Sarawak, the EP application is now submitted through ALIANCE.

What ALIANCE handles:

• New EP applications — submit the full application package online, including company documents and candidate details
• Document uploads — supporting documents (SSM forms, tenancy agreements, candidate qualifications) are uploaded digitally
• Status tracking — employers and agents can track the progress of each application through the portal
• EP renewals — renewal applications are also processed through ALIANCE
• Cancellations — EP cancellation requests when an employee leaves

For the full list of EP eligibility requirements, company criteria, and document checklists, see our Sarawak Employment Pass guide. The requirements themselves have not changed — what changed is how applications are submitted and tracked.

FWTA: Foreign Worker Time Attendance

FWTA (Foreign Worker Time Attendance) is a compliance and monitoring system. Once a foreign worker has arrived and been placed in Sarawak, their employer is required to register them on the FWTA system.

FWTA is used for:

• Attendance tracking — recording the presence and work status of foreign workers
• Compliance monitoring — the government uses FWTA data to monitor that workers are employed at their approved workplace
• Reporting — employers can generate reports for their own records and for government audits

SANSOLS: General Worker Applications

SANSOLS (Sarawak Non-Sarawakian Online System) is the portal for general foreign worker applications. If you are hiring workers for manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture, or services sectors, the process goes through SANSOLS.

SANSOLS handles:

• AP Quota applications — the Approval in Principle (AP) that authorises your company to hire foreign workers
• Labour Licence applications — individual worker permits under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance
• PLKS processing — the Visitor's Pass (Temporary Employment) work permit
• Quota management — tracking how many workers have been hired against your approved quota

For a detailed walkthrough of the AP Quota and work permit application process, see our work permit requirements and AP Quota guide.

EXPRT and HAVEN

Two additional modules you may encounter:

• EXPRT (Expatriate Management System) — used for managing expatriate records post-approval. If your company has EP holders, their records are maintained in EXPRT
• HAVEN — handles applications for dependant passes (for the family members of EP holders) and social visit passes. If your expatriate employee is bringing their spouse or children, the dependant pass application goes through HAVEN

Most employers will interact with EXPRT and HAVEN through their employment agency rather than directly.

How the Platforms Fit Together

All of these platforms sit under the GENESIS ecosystem. Here is how they connect:

The key point for employers: you register once on GENESIS and then access whichever module is relevant to your application. Your employment agency can manage all of this on your behalf.

What Employers Need to Do Now

If you are hiring foreign workers or sponsoring an Employment Pass in Sarawak, here are the practical steps:

1. Register on the GENESIS portal — if your company has not already registered at genesis.sarawak.gov.my, do so. You will need your SSM registration details
2. Ensure your company documents are up to date — SSM registration, business licence, Forms 9/24/49, and tenancy agreement should all be current. Outdated documents will cause application rejections
3. Understand which platform applies to your needs — ALIANCE for Employment Passes, SANSOLS for general workers. The requirements for each are different
4. Work with a licensed employment agency — the new platforms are designed for use by registered agencies and employers. A licensed agency navigates these systems daily and can manage the entire process on your behalf

Employment Pass Application: Step by Step

The Employment Pass application process through ALIANCE follows this workflow:

For EP eligibility requirements, company criteria, and a full document checklist, see our Sarawak Employment Pass guide.

General Worker Application: Step by Step

For general foreign workers (manufacturing, construction, plantation, agriculture, services), the application process goes through SANSOLS:

For detailed document checklists and sector-specific requirements, see our work permit requirements and AP Quota guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

• GENESIS Portal — Sarawak Immigration
• Sarawak Employment Pass (EP) Guide
• Work Permit Requirements & AP Quota Sarawak
• Why Sarawak Has Its Own Immigration System