- Effective
- 1 December 2026 — every application submitted on or after
- Right now
- New applications temporarily closed; first renewals continue
- Headline
- Up to 4 years · Tech Talent USD 36,000 / year
The changes at a glance
| Before | From 1 December 2026 | |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum stay | 24 months (pass + 1 renewal) | 4 years (pass + up to 3 renewals) |
| Each renewal | Up to 12 months | Up to 12 months — unchanged |
| Tech Talent income | USD 24,000 / year | USD 36,000 / year |
| Non-Tech Talent income | USD 60,000 / year | USD 60,000 / year — unchanged |
| Second renewal (year 3) | Not available | Renewal Eligibility Report (RER) required |
| Renewal fee | Current fee | No change for now |
| Processing time | 6–8 weeks | 6–8 weeks — unchanged |
New applications are temporarily closed
MDEC has paused new DE Rantau applications for a transition period while it updates its systems and policies for the Enhanced Framework. Renewals aren't affected: first renewals are still accepted and processed for passes expiring on or before 31 January 2027, as long as the submission is complete. Incomplete submissions don't count as valid renewal applications.
If you're planning a first application, this is the time to get ready: confirm you qualify under the new thresholds and put your document set together, so you can file as soon as submissions reopen.
Up to four years in Malaysia
Under the Enhanced Framework you get an initial pass of up to 12 months and can renew up to three times, up to 12 months each — a maximum of four years. Renewals stay at 12 months because the pass sits under the Professional Visit Pass (PLIK) framework, which caps each approval at 12 months and lets MDEC reassess you each year.
It isn't automatic. Every renewal is assessed separately, against the requirements in force when you apply. And it's still a temporary pass — it doesn't lead to Permanent Residency or citizenship.
Tech Talent income rises to USD 36,000
The minimum annual income for Tech Talent goes from USD 24,000 to USD 36,000. Non-Tech Talent stays at USD 60,000. The new figure applies to new and renewal applications submitted from 1 December 2026.
If you're already on the pass, you can stay until it expires on your existing conditions. But a renewal submitted from 1 December 2026 has to meet USD 36,000 (Tech) — even if you were originally approved at USD 24,000. Income that fluctuates month to month is fine, as long as your documents show the annual total.
Year three needs a Renewal Eligibility Report
A second renewal (your third year) requires a Renewal Eligibility Report (RER), in MDEC's prescribed format with supporting evidence. It covers your initial pass and first renewal, including where applicable:
- Employment, freelance, business or professional engagement history
- Income records and sources of earnings
- Tax compliance — proof of filing and payment, and no outstanding tax liabilities
- Anything else MDEC or the relevant authorities ask for
Without a complete RER, the renewal is treated as incomplete. MDEC publishes the template under Mandatory Documents at mdec.my/derantau. It's worth keeping your contracts, invoices and tax records organised from day one.
Where do you stand?
| Your situation | What you can do |
|---|---|
| Planning a first-time application | New applications are temporarily closed. When they reopen, they're assessed under the new rules (USD 36,000 for Tech Talent). Get your documents ready now. |
| Initial pass expires on or before 31 January 2027 | You can apply for your first renewal during the transition, with a complete submission. |
| Initial pass expires after 31 January 2027 | Renew on the normal timeline (within 3 months before expiry), under the prevailing requirements. |
| Currently on your first renewal (year 2) | Apply for a second renewal from 1 December 2026 — with a Renewal Eligibility Report. |
| Already used the old 24-month maximum | Apply from 1 December 2026 for up to two more renewals (up to 24 more months). |
| Pass expired and you've left Malaysia | Submit a new application under the prevailing framework once submissions reopen, declaring every previous pass. If you used the full 24 months, you may instead be eligible for further renewals from 1 December 2026. |
Other things the FAQ clears up
- Changing jobs: you can change employer, or move from remote employee to freelancer, and still renew — submit updated documents.
- Multiple clients: up to three overseas clients or employers at a time.
- Tech and Non-Tech: both can renew, if they still meet the requirements and work remotely for clients or employers outside Malaysia.
- Timing: apply within the three months before your pass expires. Processing is still 6–8 weeks from a complete application. You don't need to leave Malaysia to renew, and you can renew from abroad — but finish endorsement before your current e-Pass expires.
- Passport: a renewal can't run past your passport's expiry, so keep 14+ months of validity.
- Dependants: renew with you, and you can add a spouse or child (including a newborn) at renewal. Children qualify up to 18 unless they have special needs; a child who turns 18 mid-pass stays until it expires but can't be renewed as a dependant.
- Fees: no change to the renewal fee for now. Fees are non-refundable once processing starts, whatever the outcome.
Source
This summary is based on MDEC's Enhanced DE Rantau Nomad Pass Framework FAQ (v1) and its announcement on the framework and the temporary closure of new applications. Where anything here differs from MDEC's latest official requirements, theirs prevail.
