The three gates
To qualify you need (1) a qualifying remote profession, (2) income above the threshold for your category, and (3) a work history you can document. Miss one and the application stalls.
Gate 1 — Your profession
DE Rantau splits applicants into two groups. Tech Talent covers software and backend engineers, UX/UI, cloud, cybersecurity, blockchain, AI and machine learning, data roles, digital marketing, and digital content creation and development. Non-Tech Talent covers senior and professional roles — founders and CEOs, COOs and CFOs, business development, marketing, sales, finance and accounting, HR, legal counsel, PR and communications, consultants, technical writers, tax specialists, production and supply-chain managers, and equivalents.
Gate 2 — Your income
From 1 December 2026, Tech Talent must earn at least USD 36,000/year (up from USD 24,000). Non-Tech Talent must earn at least USD 60,000/year (unchanged). The new floor applies to new and renewal applications alike. Your documents must show annual income at or above your threshold — if your income fluctuates month to month, that's fine as long as the year adds up.
Gate 3 — Your history
Your contract (employment or client) must have started at least three months before you apply, and you'll show three months of income evidence. For remote workers the employer must be outside Malaysia and not registered there. You can work for up to three overseas clients or employers at a time.
The baseline rules
Main applicant 18+; open to all nationalities except Israel; you can apply from anywhere in the world.
Can you bring family?
Yes — spouse or common-law partner, children under 18 (biological, adopted or step), a child with special needs of any age (expert-verified), and your parents. Dependents can't work, and each carries a fee. You can add dependants at renewal too, including a newborn.
Staying eligible at renewal
Under the Enhanced Framework you can stay up to four years — but only if you keep meeting the requirements. Each renewal is assessed against the rules in force on the day you apply, so someone approved at USD 24,000 will need USD 36,000 (Tech) for any renewal submitted from 1 December 2026. You can change employer or move from employee to freelancer along the way, as long as your new set-up still qualifies.
Can you apply today?
Not for a new pass: MDEC has temporarily closed new applications while it rolls out the Enhanced Framework. You can still check your eligibility and get your documents ready, so you're first in line when submissions reopen.
Quick self-check
- Remote profession on the list?
- Income above your threshold (USD 36k tech / USD 60k non-tech)?
- Contract 3+ months old with 3 months of proof?
- Not an Israeli passport holder?
If that's four yeses, you're likely eligible — the rest is paperwork.
