Malaysia is one the best destination for digital nomads, with beautiful natural places, modern cities, affordable cost of living Malaysia attract a huge number of digital nomads each year.
Recently the government of Malaysia launched digital nomad visa to manage and attract more remote workers. digital nomads who can qualify the requirements can apply for this visa.
What’s Malaysia digital nomad visa?
Malaysia digital nomad visa is a residence permit for remote workers to live in Malaysia and work remotely for one year. this one year residence permit under digital nomad visa can be extended for another year.
In total Malaysia digital nomad visa will grant 2 years stay for remote workers. in Malaysia it’s named a professional visit pass, all process can be done online. this make Malaysia digital nomad visa one of the world most easy visa.
Malaysia is already a favourite place of most digital nomads, with this visa digital nomads can enjoy their longer stay in Malaysia, generally till now most digital nomads were visited Malaysia with tourist visa but now the digital nomad visa with longer stay time and multiple entry will make their life much enjoyable during stay in Malaysia.
Digital nomads can bring their families with them as the Malaysia digital nomad visa allow individuals to include their family members to the visa request and bring their all family to Malaysia.
Malaysia digital nomad visa requirements
There Serval requirements that should be meet by a digital nomad visa seeker to Malaysia. these requirements are for all nationalities and they need to submit all the required documents during online visa application.
Here is the list of Malaysia digital nomad visa requirements:
Passport: you need to be a passport holder of any country, your passport should be valid at least 14 months. This is a new about Malaysia digital nomad visa that you need to have valid passport for 14 months. Most other countries need 6 months valid Passport.
Work remotely: you need to present a document which show you work remotely, it’s important that you need to work remotely for at least last 6 months.
You can be an employee of company outside of Malaysia and work for them online, you can be a business owner who run his/her business remotely and you can be also freelancer and work independently.
Read more: Italy digital nomad visa guide
Work in digital zone: you need to work in digital zone, like content creator, digital marketing or other digital works.
Income requirement: to be eligible for Malaysia digital nomad visa you need to want 2000 USD per month, yearly you need to earn at least 24000 USD.
You will need to prove this income, it can be through Bank statement, payslips or Any other legal documents.
Health insurance: you need to buy a health insurance which protects you against all possible risks and be valid for your entire stay in Malaysia.
Police clearance certificate: a clean criminal record is required, when you apply for Malaysia digital nomad visa you need to upload a clean criminal record, if you have criminal history you can’t apply for this visa.
How to apply for Malaysia digital nomad visa?
You can apply online for Malaysia digital nomad visa, all application can be done in 20 minutes.
Step 1: Gather the Documents
Make sure you have collected all the required documents below:
- Scanned copy of passport
- Work contract, partnership agreement or job letter
- Last 3 months Bank statement along with one year income record
- Health insurance
- Police clearance certificate
- If you are married marriage certificate
All documents should be in English .
Step 2: Submit Visa Application
Now you need to register your account on Malaysia digital nomad visa online website, once you registered your account you will receive a verification code in your email.
Now you need to add all the requested information and upload all the required documents in digital format.
Be careful to choose DE Rantau Digital Nomad Visa Option, which is for remote workers.
Step 3: Pay Visa fee
When you completed the application in last you need to pay the visa fee, if you apply only for yourself you have to pay 220 USD fee if you apply with family members you need to pay 110 USD for each member of family.
Step 4: Visa approval
After paying visa fee and submitting your visa application you need to wait for your visa status.
You can always check your visa status online, it can take anywhere 2-4 weeks to made a decision about your digital nomad visa request.
Malaysia digital nomad visa benefits
1. Extended Visa Validity
One of the primary benefits of Malaysia’s digital nomad visa is its extended validity period. Unlike typical tourist visas that require frequent renewals, the digital nomad visa offers a longer duration of stay, often ranging from 12 months to 2 years.
This extended period allows digital nomads to establish a more stable and consistent presence in Malaysia, reducing the hassle of frequent visa runs and providing ample time to fully immerse in local culture and business opportunities.
2. Access to Co-working Spaces
Malaysia boasts a growing number of co-working spaces designed to cater to the needs of digital nomads and remote workers. These spaces provide high-speed internet, comfortable working environments, and opportunities for networking with other like-minded professionals.
Access to these facilities through the digital nomad visa can significantly enhance productivity and foster collaborations, making it easier for digital nomads to maintain and grow their businesses while enjoying the vibrant local scene.
3. Affordable Living Costs
Compared to many Western countries, Malaysia offers a lower cost of living while maintaining a high standard of living. From affordable housing options to inexpensive yet delicious local cuisine, digital nomads can stretch their budgets further without sacrificing quality.
Read more: Chile digital nomad visa guide
This financial advantage allows digital nomads to save more, invest in their ventures, or simply enjoy a higher quality of life with less financial stress.
4. Rich Cultural Experience
Malaysia is known for its rich cultural diversity, with a harmonious blend of Malay, Chinese, Indian, and indigenous influences. Digital nomads can immerse themselves in a variety of cultural experiences, from vibrant festivals and historical landmarks to diverse culinary delights.
This cultural richness not only enriches personal experiences but also provides unique insights and inspiration that can be beneficial for creative and entrepreneurial pursuits.
5. Strategic Location in Southeast Asia
Strategically located in Southeast Asia, Malaysia offers easy access to neighboring countries and major cities in the region. This makes it an ideal base for digital nomads who wish to explore other parts of Asia or conduct regional business operations.
Excellent flight connectivity and modern infrastructure support convenient travel, enabling digital nomads to balance work and exploration seamlessly.
