Malaysia — DE Rantau Nomad Pass
American citizens can apply for Malaysia's DE Rantau Nomad Pass — a professional visit pass for remote workers — online via MDEC, showing an overseas employment contract and qualifying income.
Malaysia's MDEC-run Professional Visit Pass for foreign digital nomads working remotely for non-Malaysian employers or clients.
- Validity
- Up to 12 months, renewable for a further 12 months
- Entries
- Multiple entry while valid
- Max stay per visit
- Up to 12 months (renewable)
When to start
Start 2–3 months before your travel date.
Assemble your passport (all pages, 14+ months validity), CV, signed employment contract with a foreign employer, 3 months of payslips/bank statements, income statement, letter of good conduct, highest education certificate and medical insurance.
Register and apply online via MDEC's DE Rantau platform, uploading your documents. DE Rantau welcomes both tech and non-tech professionals.
Pay the DE Rantau Nomad Pass fee — MYR 1,000 for the main applicant (MYR 500 per dependant).
MDEC processes a complete DE Rantau application within 6 to 8 weeks. If approved, allow up to another week for the e-Pass after the endorsement application; requests for more information can extend processing.
What you'll need
- Passport (all pages) — Your passport, all pages, with at least 6 empty pages and minimum 14 months' validity. ✓ verified
- Curriculum Vitae — Your latest CV (own or LinkedIn format). ✓ verified
- Signed employment contract — A signed employment contract showing remote-work arrangement, salary in USD, and a foreign (non-Malaysian) employer. ✓ verified
- Income statement / tax return — Your latest 3 months' income statement or latest tax return. ✓ verified
- Letter of good conduct — A letter of good conduct issued by the relevant authority in your country of origin or residence. ✓ verified
- Highest education certificate — Your highest education certificate, scanned as PDF. ✓ verified
- Medical insurance certificate — A medical insurance enrolment certificate valid in Malaysia (min 3 months), covering dependants if applicable. ✓ verified
- Personal bond form — A personal bond form in the prescribed format. ✓ verified·
Where you'll apply
Apply online via MDEC's DE Rantau (Malaysia Digital) platform — the Nomad Pass is a Professional Visit Pass issued without a local employer.
Fees
| DE Rantau Nomad Pass fee | MYR 1000 |
Gotchas to watch
- Income thresholds: more than US$24,000/yr for tech professionals, US$60,000/yr for non-tech — earned from a non-Malaysian employer or clients.
- Your employer must be foreign (not registered in Malaysia) and the employment start date at least 3 months before applying.
- The pass runs up to 12 months and is renewable for another 12; you can bring a spouse and children.
