Working in Sarawak: How Foreign Workers Find a Sponsoring Employer
The One Thing to Understand First
To work legally in Sarawak, you need a Malaysian employer who is willing to sponsor your work permit or Employment Pass. You cannot apply for a Sarawak work permit on your own — the employer (not the worker) is the one who initiates and pays for the application through a licensed agency such as Citra Excel. Your first step is therefore to find an employer, not to find an agency.
For Foreign Workers Looking for a Sponsoring Employer
Sarawak runs its own immigration system, separate from Peninsular Malaysia. Every foreign worker entering Sarawak needs a state-issued work permit (Labour Licence) — even if you already hold a valid pass for Peninsular Malaysia. The application is filed by the employer through a licensed Sarawak agency, after the employer has obtained the relevant quota or pass approval.
Because the employer drives the application, the practical path to working in Sarawak is to secure a job offer first. Once an employer in Sarawak wants to hire you, they will engage an agency to handle the permit, visa, medical clearance, and travel logistics on their behalf.
Why we cannot place you directly
Citra Excel is engaged by Sarawak employers, not by workers. We do not maintain a worker registry, hold deposits, or offer “guaranteed placement” services. Anyone who asks a foreign worker to pay an agency directly for placement in Sarawak is acting outside the proper process — please be cautious.
Where to look for a sponsoring employer
- ✓ JobSarawak — the Sarawak Government’s official job portal. Sarawak employers are required to advertise positions there before recruiting foreign workers.
- ✓ Recognised recruitment channels in your home country — registered agencies in Indonesia (BP3MI / P3MI), the Philippines (DMW / POLO), and Bangladesh (BMET) coordinate directly with Sarawak employers under government-to-government arrangements.
- ✓ Direct outreach to Sarawak businesses in your trade (manufacturing, construction, plantation, hospitality, domestic work). If a Sarawak employer hires you, they will contact a licensed agency such as Citra Excel to handle the paperwork.
- ✓ If you already have a Sarawak employer interested in hiring you, ask them to contact us directly — we will work with them, not with you, on the application.
For Local Job Seekers in Sarawak
If you are a Malaysian looking for employment in Sarawak, the best starting point is the Sarawak government's official job portal. Employers in Sarawak are required to advertise positions locally before recruiting foreign workers.
Industries We Serve
Manufacturing
Construction
Hospitality
Agriculture
Healthcare
Retail
Logistics
Domestic Work
Useful Resources
Are You an Employer?
If you are looking to hire foreign workers for your Sarawak business, visit our employer page to learn about our recruitment services.
For Employers