Family & Spouse Visas in Malaysia
Sponsoring a partner, children, or parents
Family routes in Malaysia divide sharply between the family of a foreign worker and the family of a Malaysian citizen. A pass holder in an eligible Employment Pass category may bring a spouse and children on Dependant Passes, which follow the principal's pass and carry no independent right to work. The foreign spouse of a Malaysian citizen instead applies for a Long Term Social Visit Pass, which is renewable and can be endorsed to permit employment, but which remains a visit pass rather than residency.
| Dependants of workers | Dependant Pass, tied to the principal's Employment Pass source |
| Spouse of a Malaysian | Long Term Social Visit Pass, renewable source |
| Work rights for dependants | None by default; a separate endorsement or pass is required |
| Parents and parents-in-law | Long Term Social Visit Pass in some cases, without work rights |
| Children | Dependant Pass generally for children under 18, with older children moving to a social visit pass |
Dependants of a foreign worker
A Dependant Pass covers a spouse and, generally, children under eighteen. It is issued for the same period as the principal's Employment Pass and expires with it, so if the worker's pass is cancelled the family's status ends at the same time.
Eligibility depends on the principal's Employment Pass category. Holders of the lowest salary category commonly cannot bring dependants at all, which is one of the most consequential and least publicised effects of the category system.
A Dependant Pass does not authorise employment. A spouse who wants to work normally needs a separate endorsement or an Employment Pass of their own, sponsored by their own employer.
The spouse of a Malaysian citizen
- The route is the Long Term Social Visit Pass, applied for in Malaysia with the Malaysian spouse present as sponsor.
- It is typically issued for a short period first and extended for longer periods once the marriage is established, commonly reaching several years per renewal over time.
- It can be endorsed to permit employment with a specific employer, which removes the need for a separate work pass, but the endorsement is granted case by case.
- It is not permanent residence and does not become permanent residence automatically. A separate discretionary application is required, and many spouses of Malaysians remain on renewed social visit passes for a very long time.
Practical points
Documents are examined closely and translations must generally be certified. Marriages celebrated abroad are normally registered in Malaysia before or alongside the application.
Sabah and Sarawak apply their own procedures for family passes, and a pass endorsed for the peninsula does not necessarily entitle the holder to reside in East Malaysia.
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Official sources
Checked against these pages in September 2026. Fees and processing times change without notice — confirm before you act.