DE Rantau Nomad Pass 2026: income threshold, fees, documents and what it does not allow

The short answer. The DE Rantau Nomad Pass is a Professional Visit Pass run by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) for people who work remotely for employers or clients outside Malaysia. The official minimum income is USD 36,000 a year for tech roles and USD 60,000 a year for non-tech roles. The first pass lasts 3 to 12 months, and with up to three 12-month renewals the total stay is capped at 48 months (MDEC, DE Rantau Pass FAQ version 11.0, 1 Nov 2026, read 11 Nov 2026). It is a temporary pass and gives no route to permanent residence (MDEC, Enhanced Framework FAQ, question 5).

Timing matters this month. MDEC says new applications are temporarily unavailable during the transition to its Enhanced Framework, which takes effect on 1 December 2026. First renewals are still accepted for holders whose initial pass expires on or before 31 January 2027, and second and third renewals open on 1 December 2026. Check mdec.my/derantau for the date new applications reopen before you plan a move. MDEC advises against non-refundable flights, rental deposits or school fees before approval and endorsement (FAQ Section B, questions 17 and 18).

The rules at a glance

Item	Rule (MDEC FAQ version 11.0)
Who	Adult remote workers, freelancers and independent contractors of any nationality except Israel
Income	At least USD 36,000 a year (tech and digital roles) or at least USD 60,000 a year (non-tech roles such as finance, sales, legal, HR, consulting)
Work arrangement	A foreign employer not registered in Malaysia, or up to 3 contracts with foreign clients
Length	3 to 12 months, then up to three 12-month renewals: 48 months in total
Where you may live	Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan. Sabah and Sarawak: entry only on a tourist pass
Entries	Multiple entry
Processing	6 to 8 weeks from a complete application, longer if MDEC asks for more documents
Where to apply	Online at mdec.my/derantau; you do not need to be in Malaysia. If you are approved while in Malaysia on a tourist pass, you must leave and re-enter for endorsement

Tech roles in the FAQ include software, cloud, cybersecurity, AI and data work, digital marketing and digital content. Non-tech roles include executives, finance, sales, human resources, legal counsel, consultants and technical writers. The FAQ lists the exact job titles.

Three cases, with the numbers

The thresholds are read from MDEC’s FAQ; the sums below are ours, so check them against the current fee table before you budget.

1. A developer paid USD 3,000 a month. A backend developer employed by a UK company earns USD 3,000 × 12 = USD 36,000. MDEC’s FAQ sets the tech minimum at USD 36,000 a year, but its documents section asks for proof of earnings above USD 36,000. A salary exactly on the line therefore leaves no margin, and any shortfall in payslips or bank deposits puts the file below it. The contract must also have started at least three months before the application. Cost for one person: RM1,080 processing plus RM360 for a one-year pass, RM1,440, plus the refundable bond.

2. A couple with a child. A marketing manager employed by a German company earns USD 5,500 a month, or USD 66,000 a year. Marketing management is a non-tech role, so the USD 60,000 test applies and the income clears it. The spouse and their eight-year-old child are two dependants: RM1,080 + 2 × RM540 = RM2,160 in processing fees. The spouse may not work. The child needs a Student Pass applied for through the school, unless home-schooled. A bond is due for the pass holders (RM1,500 is the listed level for Europe); ask MDEC whether it is charged per person.

3. A freelancer with four clients. A designer invoices four foreign clients USD 1,200 each a month, USD 57,600 a year. An application takes at most three contracts, and a holder may work for no more than three overseas clients at a time, so the designer must drop to three. If those three bring in USD 3,600 a month (USD 43,200 a year), the designer clears the USD 36,000 tech minimum only if MDEC classes the role as digital; otherwise the USD 60,000 test applies and the file falls short. The FAQ lists UX, UI and digital content creation as tech, but classification is MDEC’s decision. Contracts started less than three months ago do not count.

Costs and timing at a glance

Step	Cost	Time
Build the three-month track record (contract, payslips or invoices, bank statements)	None	At least 3 months before you apply
MDEC processing, per person	RM1,080 (main), RM540 (dependant), non-refundable	6 to 8 weeks from a complete file
If approved while you are in Malaysia	Cost of leaving and re-entering; a Visa with Reference (VDR) if your nationality needs one	You must exit first
Endorsement: bond agreement (RM10 stamp), LHDN tax e-registration and the other documents in FAQ Section C	Bond RM200 to RM2,000, refundable	Within 1 month of entering Malaysia
Immigration pass fee	RM360 for a one-year pass (RM90 per three months)	Paid at endorsement
Total, one person, one year	RM1,440 plus the bond and the other Section C endorsement requirements	About 3 months of history plus 6 to 8 weeks of processing
Total, couple and child	RM2,160 in processing, plus pass fees and bonds	Same

Sources: MDEC FAQ version 11.0, Sections B, C and D, read 11 Nov 2026. The approval letter is valid for six months and cannot be extended.

Step by step

1. Check the income line. Annual income must be at least USD 36,000 (tech) or USD 60,000 (non-tech) in your contract and your bank deposits, not only on paper.
2. Check the contract date. It must have started at least three months before you apply, with an employer not registered in Malaysia.
3. Gather the documents listed below, in English, as clear PDFs with the same name and figures everywhere.
4. Check your passport. It needs more than 14 months of validity when you apply.
5. Apply online at mdec.my/derantau. You need not be in Malaysia, but you cannot convert a tourist pass.
6. Wait 6 to 8 weeks. If MDEC asks for more, the time grows; answer fast.
7. If approved, plan entry. If you are inside Malaysia, you must leave first and, if your nationality requires it, obtain a VDR before returning. On that first entry, use a staffed Immigration counter, not the autogate, to get the entry stamp needed for endorsement.
8. Complete endorsement within one month of arriving: signed bond agreement, tax e-registration, passport copy, pass fee and the other documents in FAQ Section C.
9. Stay in Malaysia until the e-Pass is issued, or the application may be cancelled.
10. Diarise the renewal: MDEC encourages filing at least three months before expiry.

Fees

The costs table above gives the totals. Two points from MDEC’s FAQ: the processing fee is non-refundable whatever the outcome, and the bond is refundable. MDEC acts as sponsor and holds the bond agreement, which must carry a RM10 revenue stamp and be endorsed by LHDN. The Enhanced Framework FAQ says renewal fees are unchanged for now but MDEC may revise them.

Documents

Everything is submitted in English (or with a certified English translation), as clear PDF files, with names and income figures consistent across documents.

If you are employed by a foreign company

1. A signed employment contract showing remote work, job title, duration (preferably at least six months from application), salary in USD or equivalent and the employer’s foreign business details. The contract must have started at least three months before you apply, and the employer must not be registered in Malaysia.
2. Your last three payslips.
3. Your last three bank statements, with deposits matching the payslips.
4. Optionally, an employer letter confirming remote status and income.

If you are a freelancer or contractor

1. Up to three signed contracts with foreign clients, each stating scope, duration and payment terms, and each started at least three months before application.
2. Invoices for the last three months.
3. Proof of payment (PayPal, Stripe, Wise or bank transfer).
4. Your last three bank statements showing consistent income above the threshold.
5. Optionally, a portfolio, website or client testimonials.

Your passport must be valid for more than 14 months when you apply. At endorsement, the FAQ asks for further documents, including an income tax e-registration slip from LHDN; Section C of the FAQ gives the full list. Incomplete or inconsistent files may be rejected, and there is no appeal; you may apply again later.

What the pass does not allow

• Working for a Malaysian employer or company. The FAQ defines the pass for people paid by foreign employers or foreign clients, and the employer must not be registered in Malaysia. Its freelancer rules refer to foreign clients, although its tax table also covers freelance income from Malaysian sources. If part of your income would come from Malaysian customers, ask MDEC before applying. For a Malaysian job, see our Employment Pass guide.
• Spouse employment. The spouse may not work in Malaysia under the dependant pass.
• Converting a tourist pass. A tourist pass cannot be converted into a DE Rantau pass.
• Settling in Sabah or Sarawak. The pass covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan only.
• Permanent residence. The pass does not lead to permanent residence or citizenship.
• Counting on a local bank account. The FAQ says most Malaysian banks do not accept a Professional Visit Pass for a bank account; ask your bank first.

Family

Eligible dependants are a spouse or common-law partner, children under 18 (biological, adopted or stepchildren), a child with special needs at any age, and the main holder’s parents. A child who turns 18 during the pass can stay until it expires but cannot be renewed as a dependant unless they have special needs. Children who attend school need a Student Pass applied for through the school, except children who are home-schooled. Eligible dependants can also be added at renewal (Enhanced Framework FAQ).

Tax: what the official text says

The FAQ carries a tax section, which cites the Income Tax Act 1967 and LHDN Public Ruling No. 8/2011. In summary, for a foreign remote worker paid from outside Malaysia, MDEC’s table indicates no Malaysian tax for a stay of 60 days or fewer, and possible tax from 61 days. For a foreign freelancer paid from Malaysian sources, the text describes withholding tax at 10% (or a treaty rate) for the first 182 days, with the income taxable under residence rules after that. Renewal applicants must settle outstanding tax and show proof of payment. This is a summary of an official table, not tax advice: your own situation and your country’s tax treaty with Malaysia decide the result. LHDN’s Hasil Careline is listed in the FAQ for questions.

What changes from 1 December 2026

According to MDEC’s Enhanced Framework FAQ (read 11 Nov 2026):

• Up to four years. An initial pass of up to 12 months plus up to three renewals of up to 12 months each. Holders who have used the earlier 24-month limit may apply for two further renewals from 1 December 2026.
• Renewal is not automatic. Each renewal is assessed separately.
• Income threshold. The tech threshold rises from USD 24,000 to USD 36,000; the non-tech threshold stays at USD 60,000. The revised threshold applies to new and renewal applications submitted from 1 December 2026.
• Renewal Eligibility Report. A second renewal requires a report on your activities, employment status and professional engagements over the initial pass and first renewal. It must include income records and tax compliance, with proof of tax filing and payment where applicable.
• Up to three overseas clients or employers at a time, and you may change employer if you still qualify.
• Apply early. MDEC’s texts word this differently: the Enhanced Framework FAQ says a renewal may be filed within the three months before expiry, while both FAQs also encourage filing at least three months ahead. Processing takes 6 to 8 weeks, and a renewed pass cannot run past your passport’s expiry.

Common mistakes

• Falling just short for tech. USD 2,950 a month is USD 35,400 a year, below the USD 36,000 minimum.
• Applying before the contract is three months old. The start date is checked.
• A Malaysian-registered employer. The employer must not be registered in Malaysia.
• Four contracts in one file. Three is the maximum per application.
• Payslips that do not match bank deposits, or names and figures that differ between documents.
• Documents not in English and no certified translation.
• Assuming the pass covers Sabah or Sarawak. It covers Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan; elsewhere you enter on a tourist pass.
• Assuming the spouse can work. They cannot.
• Leaving the renewal late, or renewing with a passport close to expiry: the renewed pass cannot outlast the passport.
• Skipping tax registration. The LHDN e-registration slip is needed at endorsement.

FAQ

Does Malaysia offer a nomad visa? Yes. The DE Rantau Nomad Pass, run by MDEC, is a Professional Visit Pass for remote workers and freelancers paid from outside Malaysia. It requires a minimum income of USD 36,000 a year for tech roles or USD 60,000 for non-tech roles. Source: MDEC FAQ version 11.0, read 11 Nov 2026.

How long can I stay on a DE Rantau Nomad Pass? The first pass lasts 3 to 12 months. With up to three 12-month renewals, each separately approved, the total is a maximum of 48 months. Source: MDEC FAQ version 11.0 and Enhanced Framework FAQ.

How much does the DE Rantau Nomad Pass cost? MDEC charges RM1,080 per applicant and RM540 per dependant, including 8% SST, non-refundable. Add the Immigration pass fee of RM360 a year, any multiple-entry visa charge, and a refundable bond of RM200 to RM2,000 depending on nationality. Source: MDEC FAQ version 11.0, Section D.

Can I work for Malaysian clients on this pass? The FAQ’s application rules refer to foreign employers and foreign clients, and say the employer must not be registered in Malaysia; its tax table also covers freelance income from Malaysian sources. It does not provide for work for a Malaysian employer. Ask MDEC before relying on any Malaysian income. Source: MDEC FAQ version 11.0, Section B.

Can my spouse work on a DE Rantau dependant pass? No. A spouse or partner may join the main holder, but may not work in Malaysia under the pass. Source: MDEC FAQ version 11.0.

Do I pay tax in Malaysia as a digital nomad? MDEC’s tax table indicates that a foreign remote worker paid from abroad is not taxed in Malaysia for a stay of up to 60 days, and may be taxed from 61 days. Other rules apply to freelancers paid from Malaysian sources. Check with LHDN or a licensed adviser. Source: MDEC FAQ version 11.0, Section E.

Can I get permanent residence through DE Rantau? No. MDEC states the pass is temporary and does not provide a pathway to permanent residence or citizenship. Source: Enhanced Framework FAQ, question 5.

What we do not cover

• The application portal’s screens, eligibility interviews or due-diligence checks that MDEC may add.
• The Employment Pass, MM2H, the Investor Pass and other passes, which are compared in our long-stay visa guide.
• Tax filing, treaty positions and double-tax relief, which depend on your country.
• Visa with Reference (VDR) rules, which depend on your nationality.

This guide describes official rules as published on the dates shown. It is not legal, tax or immigration advice. Before you apply, check the current text at mdec.my/derantau, with the Immigration Department of Malaysia, or with a licensed professional.