FAQs

As the name suggests, the Malaysian Long Term Social Visit Pass (spouse visa) is available to:

• The foreign national spouse of a Malaysian citizen
• Family members of Malaysia Employment Pass holders:
  • Common-law spouse
  • Children over 21 (they must not be married)
  • Parents or parents-in-law
• Foreign nationals seeking medical treatment in Malaysia and 1 companion

When applying for a Malaysian Long Term Social Visit Pass, applicants must submit the following documents to the Immigration Department of Malaysia:

• Two copies of the visa applications forms IMM.12, IMM.55, and IMM.38
• Complete copies of the applicant’s passport, including personal information pages, previous visas, and the cover.

Applicants/sponsors must enquire with the Malaysia Immigration Department about a full list of documents. When submitting documents, all the photocopies have to be accompanied by the original.

Additionally, the birth/marriage certificates have to be  Certified True Copy (CTC) by an Embassy/Consulate of the specific country. All the documents have to be in English. If they are not, they must be translated by either the relevant Embassy/Consulate or Institut Terjemahan Buku Malaysia.

• Photocopy of Marriage Certificate
• Malaysian Sponsor Statement form
• Security Bond stamped with a RM10.00 revenue stamp
• 2 passport-size pictures of both spouses
• Statutory Declaration regarding the status of marriage (proof it is still in effect)
• Photocopies of the children’s birth certificates (if applicable)
• Photocopy of birth certificate
• Photocopy of ID card
• Wedding pictures
• Address of residence of Malaysian citizen
• If Malaysian citizen is employed: Supporting letter from the employer of Malaysian citizen
• If Malaysian citizen is self-employed (one of the following):
  • Trading License
  • ROC form
  • Form J
• Income statements of the Malaysian citizen.

• A supporting letter from the EP holder’s employer
• An authorization letter from the EP holder’s employer
• 2 recent passport-size pictures of the applicant/s
• Marriage certificate (if applicable)
• Birth certificates of children, or adoption papers (as applicable)
• Custody papers, if applicable
• Complete photocopies of all the applicants’ passports
• EP holder’s Letter of Approval
• For elderly parents who have no one to care for them in their home country:
  • Personal Bond stamped with a RM10.00 revenue stamp
  • A Statutory Declaration from the Malaysian citizen or permanent resident
  • The ID of the sponsor
• Security Bond stamped with a RM10.00 revenue stamp

• An official letter from the relevant Government or Specialist Hospital

The Malaysian citizen/EP holder has to submit the application along with the required documents to the Immigration Department or an Immigration Office in Malaysia prior to the arrival of the foreign national.

If the applicant is the spouse of a Malaysian citizen, he/she must be present along with the Malaysian when applying for the Long Term Social Visit Pass at the Immigration Department. To apply for a Malaysian Visa With Reference, they’ll need a Visa Approval Letter from the Immigration Department (ie. the reference) beforehand.

All foreign nationals who travel to Malaysia for purposes other than tourism must apply for a VDR.

Please check the website of the relevant Malaysian embassy/consulate or contact them to learn of the complete requirements and their opening hours.

• Visa applications forms IMM.12, IMM.55, and IMM.38
• Visa With Reference questionnaire form
• Two recent photographs of both spouses/applicants
• Copies of both spouses passports/applicants
• ID card of the Malaysian sponsor/spouse
• Copy of marriage certificate
• Statutory Declaration regarding the status of marriage
• Security Bond stamped with an RM10.00 revenue stamp
• Birth certificate of children, if applicable
• Proof of the sponsor’s financial income

The Long Term Social Visit Pass is issued for a minimum of six months and a maximum of five years. It can be renewed before it expires.

No. Family members of Employment Pass holders, cannot work with simply a Long Term Social Visit Pass. If they find an employer, they must apply for their own Employment Pass.

Yes. Spouses of Malaysian citizens can work in Malaysia without having to change their Long Term Social Visit Pass into an Employment Pass.

Instead, they have to get an endorsement to work in their passport by the Immigration Department of Malaysia, which is free of charge.

To apply for the work endorsement, the spouse has to submit a letter of application along with the letter of appointment or company registration evidence, their marriage certificate and their valid Long Term Social Visit Pass to the Visa, Pass and Permit Division of the  Immigration Headquarters or the nearest state Immigration office.

If the Malaysia Long Term Social Visit Pass holder gets a work endorsement, they are allowed to work in any profession.

There are 3 types of Malaysia Work Permit which are the:

• Employment Pass
• Temporary Employment Pass
• Professional Visit Pass

It is your employer who has to apply for a Malaysia work permit on your behalf. 

Your employer has to apply for an Expatriate Post from the Expatriate Committee (EC) or another relevant authority agency before they apply for your Employment Pass.  The Immigration Department of Malaysia has to approve your work permit application before you can arrive in Malaysia. If your application is approved, you will receive a visa approval letter, which allows you to travel to Malaysia. After you arrive in Malaysia, you must submit your passport and pay for the Pass at the Malaysian Immigration Department. They will process your application and issue you with a sticker on your passport and a work permit card. You can start working.

Only holders of Employment Passes are allowed to bring their family to Malaysia with them. If you’re an EP holder, you can bring the following family members through the Malaysia Dependent’s Pass:

• Your spouse
• Your dependent children under 21 years old

Additionally, through the Long Term Social Visit Pass, EP holders can bring the following family members to Malaysia:

• Dependent children over 21 years of age (adopted or biological)
• Spouse

The following family members can visit an EP holder through a Social Visit Pass:

• Parents
• Common Law Wife
• Children over the age of 21
• Stepchildren

If your spouse wants to work, their Dependent’s Pass won’t automatically allow them to do so. They must apply for their own work permit.