With the rise of the digital world, the traditional methods of work have changed drastically. Several companies encourage their employees to work remotely. Similarly, freelancing has also become quite popular in the last few years, with people opting for flexibility and freedom to work for short projects with multiple companies. As there is no need to go to a physical office every day, many people choose the life of a digital nomad, where they explore foreign countries and cities while doing their job and earning money. Malaysia is one of the countries that encourages digital nomads to visit and stay in the country for long periods of time. Moreover, the country also offers a visa specifically for digital nomads. Here you will find a comprehensive guide that tell you all that you need to know about Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa.
What is Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa: A Brief Introduction
The Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa is also called the DE Rantau Nomad Pass and is issued by the Malaysian Digital Economy Corporation. This is different from a Malaysia tourist visa or visitor visa. It can be called a Professional Visit Pass. The digital nomad visa allows you to work remotely from anywhere in Malaysia while exploring the country. Although a temporary visa, the digital nomad visa is a long-term visa that gives numerous benefits to this Malaysia visa holder.
Who Can Apply for a Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa?
The Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa is for a freelancer or independent contractor with both foreign and local (Malaysian) clients. The visa is also for remote workers who are employed at a company or organization in a foreign country. The person should be at least 18 years old, although there is no maximum age limit. The professionals should be from the fields like software development, digital content development, digital marketing, UX/UI, digital creative content, blockchain, machine learning, AI, cybersecurity, etc. Non-technical professionals like CEO, CFO, Business Development Manager, HR Manager, etc., are also eligible for this visa.
Requisites for Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa
Apart from the age and profession of the person, several other factors decide whether you are eligible for the Malaysia digital nomad visa.
Income: A person who wants to apply for a Malaysia digital nomad visa should have a minimum income of $24,000 per year. Non-technical professionals should have a minimum income of $60,000 per year.
Contract: If you are a freelancer, you need to have at least 3 months’ freelance contract with a company or multiple companies. These companies can either be in Malaysia or in foreign nations. If you are a remote worker, you need to have a full-time or part-time employment contract of at least 3 months with a company in a foreign location that allows remote working.
Clean Record: The person applying for the digital nomad visa should have no criminal record in his/her home country.
Benefits of Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa
- With a digital nomad visa Malaysia, you can stay in the country for an extended time without the need to apply for a work permit or work visa.
- It is possible to bring dependents (only immediately family members – spouse, children under the age of 18 years, and parents – only of the main applicant).
- As a digital nomad, you get tax benefits in Malaysia. Digital nomads who work for companies outside Malaysia do not have to pay any tax. However, if your client is a Malaysian company, you may be eligible for paying income tax. Moreover, if you stay in the country for more than 182 days in a calendar year, you may have to pay tax, even if you are working for companies outside Malaysia.
- The cost of living in Malaysia is much less when compared to western countries. You also get the opportunity to explore the numerous interesting cities and myriads of attractions of Malaysia during your stay. In short, there are plenty of amazing things to do in Malaysia.
- Malaysia is also close to several interesting countries. Some of the best countries to visit near Malaysia are Thailand, Indonesia, Singapore, Vietnam, etc. It is easier and cheaper to travel to these countries while you are working from Malaysia.
- The country has all the facilities to accommodate the needs of digital nomads. Malaysia offers everything from co-working spaces and cafes to high-speed internet to ensure that your work continues without any interruptions.
Documents Required for Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa
Just like any other international visa, there are a list of documents you need to submit while applying for this visa. Here are the Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa requirements.
Passport: Your passport should have a minimum validity of 14 months. There should be at least 6 blank pages in your passport.
Latest Resume or CV: The latest updated version of your resume or CV listing all your professional skills and experiences should be submitted while applying for the digital nomad visa.
Bank Statements: As proof of your finances, you need to submit your bank statements for the last three months.
Pay Slips: Pay slips for the last three months are also required to prove that you are working and receiving payment for the same.
Contract: A copy of your project or employment contract is an important document you need to submit. If you are a freelancer and work for multiple companies, you can submit contracts to all the companies you work with.
Letter of Good Conduct: All Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa applicants need to submit this letter. The Letter of Good Conduct is usually issued by the authorized body in your home country. This is a letter that confirms that you do not have any criminal records. It usually takes 3-4 months to receive this letter. Hence, you must apply for it in advance.
Personal Bond: This is a form that you need to fill in and submit as a financial guarantee or security bond. By filling in and signing this form, you ensure the Malaysian Government that you will follow the laws, rules, and regulations of the country during your stay.
Proof of Education: Along with all the documents mentioned above, it is important to submit a copy of your highest education certificate.
Tax Registration Slip: Although you may not be required to pay tax in Malaysia as a digital nomad, you still must register with the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia. This is necessary to get the tax identification number in Malaysia. When you register for this, you will get a tax registration slip that you must submit with the other documents.
How to Apply for a Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa
Once you have all the documents, the next step is to start the application process. The application process for a Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa happens online.
Register: The first step is to register yourself at the De Rantau Digital Nomad Pass Website. You will have to enter your email address. Once this is done, you will receive a verification code in your email. You have to key in this code to register.
Choose Profession: As this is a digital nomad visa, the first thing you need to do is pick your occupation or profession. This could be a remote worker or independent contractor/digital freelancer.
Application Form: The next step is to fill in the application form. This will include providing all the important personal details like full name, nationality, country of birth, date of birth, address, etc. You will also have to provide some additional information like passport number, sponsor details, academic qualifications, etc. If you are accompanied by dependents, their names and details should also be mentioned.
Photograph: The application form requires you to attach a photograph. The photograph should be recent, in color, and should be of size 3.5 cm x 5 cm. It should be taken against a white background, and your expression should be neutral.
Upload the Documents: Next, you have to upload all the documents mentioned above. You must first scan the documents and convert them into PDF. All the documents should be in one file, and the entire file should not be more than 20 MB.
Visa Fee: The next step is to pay the visa fee. The digital nomad visa for Malaysia is RM1000 (which comes to around $225). If a dependent is accompanying you, you will need to pay RM500 (around $112) per person.
Conclusion
Getting the Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa is quite smooth and hassle-free if you are eligible and if you have all the necessary documents. Malaysia has become a hotspot for digital nomads across the world and not just for those in the western world. Malaysia is one of the best countries to visit near India, Sri Lanka, and other Asian countries, making it perfect for everyone to enjoy an extended work holiday in the beautiful country of Malaysia, exploring its forests, beaches, colonial towns, mountains, and so much more while earning money.
Malaysia Visa
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