Sarawak Work Permit & AP Quota Application: Step-by-Step Guide

Hiring foreign workers in Sarawak requires a series of government approvals before a work permit can be issued. This guide walks you through each step — from the initial Hiring Outcome Report to the final PLKS issuance — with the actual document checklists and sector-specific requirements you need to prepare.

What Is the PLKS Work Permit?

The Pas Lawatan Kerja Sementara (PLKS), or Visitor's Pass (Temporary Employment), is the work permit issued to foreign nationals employed in Sarawak. It is valid for 1 year and renewable, subject to compliance with all legal requirements. The overall permit validity for general and skilled workers spans 6 to 10 years.

The PLKS is collected from the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Sarawak (JIMS) after all prior approvals are in place. It is a separate permit from work passes issued in Peninsular Malaysia — a work permit from West Malaysia is not valid in Sarawak.

Eligible Sectors

Foreign workers in Sarawak are permitted in the following approved sectors:

• Manufacturing
• Plantation
• Construction
• Logging
• Mining / Quarrying
• Services — including restaurants, laundry, warehouses, recycling/waste management, and other service sectors approved from time to time

The source countries available to you depend on your sector and whether you are hiring general or skilled workers. For the full breakdown, see our guide on eligible source countries for foreign workers in Sarawak.

Step 1: Hiring Outcome Report

Before applying for an AP quota, employers must demonstrate that they have made genuine efforts to hire locally. This involves:

• Advertising the position on JobSarawak for a minimum of 14 days
• Advertising on RTM (Radio Television Malaysia)
• Arranging an open interview session with PERKESO (SOCSO) to confirm that no suitable local candidates were found

Once these steps are completed, a Hiring Outcome Report (HOR) is issued, which you will need for the AP application.

Exemptions: Key posts, shareholders, specialists, and cross-postings are exempt from the Hiring Outcome Report requirement.

Step 2: AP Quota Application

The Approval in Principle (AP) is submitted to the Sarawak Labour Department (JTKSWK). As of 15 January 2025, all AP applications must be submitted online. The AP authorises your company to hire a specified number of foreign workers for approved positions and source countries.

Documents required for AP application:

• Cover letter
• JTKSWK 27A Form
• Business licence
• Business registration certificate (SSM)
• Confirmation of interview results by PERKESO (SOCSO)
• Borang 49 and Borang 24 (for Sdn. Bhd. / Ltd. companies)
• Hiring Outcome Report

Certain sectors require additional documents — see sector-specific documents below.

Step 3: Labour Licence

Once the AP is approved, the next step is to apply for a Labour Licence with JTKSWK. This is a separate requirement under the Sarawak Labour Ordinance.

Documents required for Labour Licence:

• Cover letter
• JTKSWK 27A-1 Form
• JTKSWK 27B (General Worker) / JTKSWK 27C (Skilled Worker) / JTKSWK 27D (Non-Manual)
• Employee passport copy (information page and travelling visa)
• Copy of academic qualification certificate (as per the advertisement)
• Copy of testimonial (as per the advertisement)

Step 4: Work Permit (PLKS) Application

With the AP and Labour Licence approved, the work permit application is submitted to the Immigration Department of Malaysia, Sarawak (JIMS). This involves applying for a Visa with Reference (VDR) to authorise the worker's entry into Sarawak.

Prerequisites for PLKS issuance:

• Approved and valid AP
• Approved Labour Licence
• Fit status medical screening report from source country
• Fit status medical screening report from SAFHIS (after arrival)

Sector-Specific Documents

In addition to the standard AP documents, each sector requires specific supporting documents:

Step 5: Worker Arrival & Post-Arrival

Once the worker arrives in Sarawak, several post-arrival requirements must be completed:

• SAFHIS medical screening — must be completed within 30 days of arrival at a SAFHIS panel facility
• PLKS collection — the work permit is collected from JIMS after all requirements are met
• NSIC registration — the worker must visit the Immigration & Labour Integrated Centre (ILC) for fingerprint and photo registration to obtain their Non-Sarawakian Identity Card, issued on the same day
• PERKESO (SOCSO) registration — mandatory social security registration (see our PERKESO guide)
• KWSP (EPF) — provident fund registration
• Health insurance — as required by law

For a full list of documents required at each stage, see our document checklist for foreign worker recruitment. For a breakdown of all government fees involved, see how much it costs to hire a foreign worker in Sarawak.

Frequently Asked Questions

References

• GENESIS — SANSOLS Visitor's Pass (PLKS) — Eligible sectors, required documents, and validity
• GENESIS — General Worker Classification — Eligible industries and source countries
• GENESIS — Skilled Worker Classification — Eligible industries and source countries
• GENESIS — SANSOLS FAQ — AP application and Labour Licence requirements
• JTKSWK — Garis Panduan Permohonan AP dan Lesen — AP and licence application guidelines
• Labour Ordinance (Sarawak Cap. 76) — Section 119 (Employment Licence)
• JobSarawak — Official Sarawak job portal for Hiring Outcome Report