What is the minimum salary for foreigners, and how long can they work in Malaysia?
Check Malaysia’s 2026 Employment Pass salary bands and duration framework, the sector-specific Category III threshold, minimum wages and MM2H work limits.
The short answer
There is no single salary figure that grants every foreigner permission to work in Malaysia. The general minimum wage and immigration pass requirements are different. For Employment Pass applications from 1 June 2026, ESD publishes Category I at RM20,000+, II at RM10,000–RM19,999 and III at RM5,000–RM9,999 basic salary, with a higher Category III floor for specified manufacturing/MRS companies.
What is the minimum salary for foreigners in Malaysia?
First identify which question is being asked. Employment law sets a wage floor for covered jobs. Immigration rules decide whether a foreign national can perform a particular job under a particular pass. A budget question asks whether the resulting take-home pay can support the household. Those are three separate tests.
The Ministry of Human Resources FAQ (external website) sets the national minimum wage at RM1,700 per month, with full employer implementation from August 2025. It covers non-citizen private-sector employees, with domestic servants excluded. This does not give a foreign national the right to take any covered job.
What changed for Employment Pass applications in 2026?
The ESD announcement (external website) applies revised requirements to new and renewal applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026. Its headline framework is:
| Employment Pass category | Monthly basic salary | Published employment-duration framework |
|---|---|---|
| Category I | RM20,000 and above | Up to 10 years |
| Category II | RM10,000–RM19,999 | Up to 10 years, with succession plan |
| Category III | RM5,000–RM9,999 | Up to 5 years, with succession plan |
Read the updated operational FAQ (external website) with that table. It specifies basic salary, excluding allowances and other payments, and identifies RM7,000–RM9,999 for Category III companies in the specified manufacturing and manufacturing-related-services scope. Confirm the employer’s approving agency and sector rather than assuming that RM5,000 is a universal expatriate threshold.
How many years can a foreigner work in Malaysia?
For this Employment Pass framework, the category ceilings above do not promise the duration of an individual approval. The operational FAQ says companies may apply for employment periods of up to 60 months. This is different from a category’s overall five- or ten-year framework.
The FAQ also addresses how duration is counted in relation to the employing company and changes of company or pass category. Obtain the actual approval and current agency instructions for your case. A headline saying “up to ten years” does not authorise work after a pass expires, remove renewal conditions or create PR.
Other work-permission routes can have different conditions. This article does not apply the Employment Pass table to temporary foreign-worker permissions, professional visits, dependants, Sarawak or Sabah arrangements, or every regulated occupation. Ask the employer to identify the exact route and responsible authority in writing.
What should you check in a job offer?
Request a breakdown of basic salary, allowances, bonuses, deductions and benefits. Check who pays relocation, insurance, schooling and immigration-related costs, what happens if an approval is delayed, and whether the offer depends on a specific pass category. A large total package may still contain a basic salary below the relevant threshold.
Do not start work because a contract has been signed or an application has been lodged. Identify the actual permission, employer and activity covered. Keep the pass expiry date separate from the contract end date and ask what happens if employment changes before either date.
Does MM2H solve the employment question?
MM2H and an Employment Pass are different frameworks. Read our MM2H work guide before treating a longer stay as work permission. A salary offer does not change an MM2H category’s conditions by itself.
For someone deciding between a job-led move and an independently funded second home, write two plans. One should depend on the actual employment permission and take-home pay; the other should account for MM2H funding commitments and accessible living reserves. Compare them without using the same funds twice.
Is the salary enough to live on?
Pass eligibility is not a household comfort standard. Use our monthly budget guide to compare net income with your intended housing, transport, health, education and annual expenses. State whether a quoted RM5,000 is basic salary, gross pay or spendable take-home money before drawing a conclusion.
Related questions readers ask
Does RM1,700 qualify a foreigner for an Employment Pass?
No. The general minimum-wage floor is not the Employment Pass salary threshold, and neither figure alone establishes work permission.
Can a foreigner work in Malaysia for ten years automatically?
No. The published category framework is an upper duration context, not a guarantee of one ten-year pass or permanent employment. Actual approvals and renewals matter.
Can an MM2H holder use a salary offer as proof of work permission?
No. Confirm the MM2H category, actual activity and any separate pass or endorsement required before starting the job.
Put this answer in programme context.
Compare the MM2H options and their commitments before making your next decision.
Compare MM2H programmes Explore the 20 reader questionsSources & further checking
- ESD revised Employment Pass salary policy effective 1 June 2026 (opens in new tab) (external website)
Source consulted: 13 November 2026. Recheck current information before acting.
- ESD revised expatriate salary policy FAQ, updated 12 February 2026 (opens in new tab) (external website)
Source consulted: 13 November 2026. Recheck current information before acting.
- Ministry of Human Resources minimum-wage FAQ (opens in new tab) (external website)
Source consulted: 13 November 2026. Recheck current information before acting.
- MOTAC FAQ on MM2H work and business permissions (opens in new tab) (external website)
Source consulted: 13 November 2026. Recheck current information before acting.
General editorial information, not immigration, legal, tax or financial advice. Suggest a correction.