Malaysia digital nomad visa: Complete guide

Love the idea of travelling the world, working remotely as you go? An increasingly popular spot for digital nomads is Malaysia, known for its low cost of living, high quality of life, and welcoming and diverse culture.

But in order to live and work in Malaysia, you’re going to need the right visa. We’re here to help, with a complete guide to the Malaysia digital nomad visa.

Read on for everything you need to know as a UK national, including eligibility, documents, conditions, fees and how to apply for the visa.

So, let’s get started.

Malaysia digital nomad visa: requirements and eligibility

Malaysia is one of many countries which has a digital nomad visa.

It’s called the DE Rantau Nomad Pass, and it gives foreign citizens the right to live and work in the country for the purposes of carrying out remote work.

A type of Professional Visit Pass (*Pas Lawatan Ikhtisas *or PLIK), this visa lets you stay for between 3 and 12 months, with the option to renew.¹

It was originally designed for qualified professionals carrying out remote work in the fields of tech, digital and IT.

But it has now been expanded to include other kinds of remote workers, such as independent contractors and people working remotely in Malaysia on behalf of a company.¹ Not every profession or role is eligible though - you’ll need to check the full eligibility list here.

You can bring dependents (such as your spouse and children) to Malaysia with this visa.

To meet the Malaysia digital nomad visa requirements, you’ll need to provide documents relating to your work history, qualifications and education level.

Plus, evidence that you can support yourself with a minimum annual income of $24,000 USD for tech professionals,** or $60,000 USD for non-tech talent.**¹

How much does it cost?

The Malaysia digital nomad visa costs 1,000 MYR (approx. £174 GBP) in application fees.¹ This is for the main applicant.

If you’re bringing any dependents with you on the visa, there’s an extra application fee of 500 MYR per person.¹

What documents do you need?

The documents you’ll need to apply for a digital nomad nomad visa for Malaysia include the following:¹

• A valid passport
• Your latest CV
• Bank statements from the last 3 months
• Income statements or tax returns from the last 3 months
• A valid project contract for at least 3 months (or multiple contracts spanning the same period)
• A completed Personal Bond form
• A letter of good conduct from an authority in the UK
• A certificate for your highest educational qualification
• A medical insurance enrolment certificate valid in Malaysia (covering dependents too, if applicable)
• A tax registration slip from the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia.

If you’re moving to Malaysia to work remotely for a company, you’ll need to provide all of the above with one minor difference. Instead of project contracts spanning at least 3 months, you’ll need to provide evidence of an employment contract lasting at least 3 months.¹

Opening a Malaysian bank account isn’t a stated requirement, but it could be useful as you’re planning your move overseas - especially if you plan to buy property in Malaysia.

It may be the case that you’re not able to keep your UK account open, so you’ll need an alternative to manage your money while in Malaysia.

How to apply for the digital nomad visa in Malaysia

The only way to apply for the Malaysia digital nomad visa is online, through the government’s Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) website.²

You’ll need to register for an account, upload your documents, provide all of the required information and pay your application fees.

There’s no need to visit a consulate, embassy or visa application centre in person, and you can apply from outside Malaysia.

It typically takes around 6 to 8 weeks for applications to be processed. If successful, you’ll be issued with an ePass.²

How long can you stay in Malaysia as a digital nomad?

You can stay in Malaysia for up to 1 year with the digital nomad visa, with the option to renew for a further year after this. This means that in total, you can stay in Malaysia for up to 2 years on this visa.²

Taxes for digital nomads in Malaysia

There’s no specific Malaysia digital nomad visa tax under the country’s laws, but you’ll still be liable for income taxes while living and working in Malaysia.

If you stay for at least 182 days, you’ll be considered a tax resident of Malaysia and will need to pay tax on all income earned there. However, holders of the DE Rantau digital nomad visa will benefit from a reduction/tax credit for the first 182 days of their stay.² This only applies to freelancers.

For people working remotely in Malaysia on behalf of a company, there’s a tax-free period of 60 days - after which they’ll need to pay income tax on their earnings.²

Using Wise to pay for your visa and spending abroad

That’s everything you need to know about the digital nomad visa in Malaysia. Before applying make sure you check for any updates to the application process or the requirements.

Since you’ll have quite a few expenses to cover before and after relocating to Malaysia, you should consider the best ways to manage your money.

Though Wise is not a bank, the Wise account can be a great alternative to traditional banks. You can send money with Wise between the UK and Malaysia at the mid-market exchange rate for low fees*.

The linked Wise card can help you out once you arrive in your new home. For a one-time cost of just £7, you can spend in 150+ countries, including Malaysia.

It auto-converts the money in your Wise account to the right currency whenever you spend. You’ll just pay a small conversion fee, or no fee if you already have the currency in your Wise account*.

Why not open an account and use it to pay for your visa costs and spending while in Malaysia?

Open a Wise account 🌍

For more help settling into life in Malaysia, read our handy guides:

• Moving to Malaysia from the UK
• Payment methods in Malaysia
• How to buy a prepaid SIM card for Malaysia
• Cost of living in Malaysia

FAQs about the digital nomad visa in Malaysia

Here are some additional things you may want to know about the digital nomad visa and working in Malaysia:

Can I open a bank account in Malaysia with a digital nomad visa?

It’s unlikely, as many banks in Malaysia won’t accept a digital nomad visa or other Professional Visit Pass as valid documentation.² However, it may depend on the bank - you’ll need to contact a few to find out their requirements.

Can I bring my family on a Malaysian digital nomad visa?

Yes - you can include dependents such as a spouse and children on your application for a Malaysia digital nomad visa. Bear in mind though that there will be extra application fees to pay for dependents.¹

Does a Malaysian digital nomad visa lead to citizenship?

No, there is no route to permanent residency or citizenship in Malaysia with the digital nomad visa.

You’ll need to look into other routes, such as investment, marriage to a Malaysian citizen, long-term residency or professional expertise - and apply for the appropriate visa.

Sources used:

1. MDEC - official foreign Digital Nomad visa information for Malaysia
2. MDEC - PDF info about not being able to open a bank account with this visa

Sources last checked on date: 20-Aug-2025