DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass — digital freelancer or remote worker

What is DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass? DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass is a type of Professional Visit Pass newly designed to allow qualified foreign digital nomads to travel and work in Malaysia for up to 12 months, which can be renewed for another 1-year. What is the type of pass offered and its duration? Professional Visit Pass (Pas Lawatan Ikhtisas) valid between 3 to 12 months of stay with the option to renew for additional 12 months, allowing total of 24 months of stay.

What is the requirement to be considered as a digital nomad? Criteria Foreign Digital Nomad Type of Digital Nomad Digital freelancer, independent contractor Remote worker i.e. employee of a company but not required to physically be in the office Domain of Profession IT (all types - software dev, UX, UI, cloud, cybersecurity, blockchain, Al, machine learning, data-related etc.), digital marketing, digital creative content, digital content development (All digital domain related work) Proof of work Active project contract. Active employment contract. Contract duration > 3 months, can be multiple contracts. Contract duration > 3 months. Clientele is foreign/ Malaysian based companies. Employer is foreign/ non-Malaysian based companies. Annual Income > USD24,000 per year. What is the difference between DE Rantau Digital Nomad (Foreign) and DE Rantau Sarawak (Foreign)? The De Rantau Digital nomad only allowed to work in Peninsular Malaysia while The DE Rantau Digital Nomad Sarawak (Foreign) allows you to travel and work in both Sarawak and in any states of Peninsula Malaysia. Due to Sarawak’s autonomy on immigration which regulates and controls the entry and exit of non-citizens and non-Sarawakians, only nomads with a valid DE Rantau Digital Nomad Sarawak (Foreign) pass are allowed to work in Sarawak.SARAWAK DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION BERHAD (1265203-A)

Is this open to all nationalities? The pass is open for application for citizens of all nationalities. However, approval from Ministry of Home Affairs, Malaysia is required for Israel Citizen to enter Malaysia.SARAWAK DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION BERHAD (1265203-A) (A wholly owned subsidiary of the Government of Sarawak) Level 6, Wisma Satok, Jalan Satok, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak Tel : +6082 – 549 005 Fax : +6082 – 523 005 Email : hello@sdec.com.my Is there any minimum age requirement for the DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass? The main pass holder must be over 18 years old. Can I work and travel in Sarawak with De Rantau Nomad Pass? No. You will need to apply for DE Rantau (Sarawak) Nomad Pass for you to be eligible to work and stay in Sarawak.

What is the requirement to be considered as a digital nomad? Criteria Foreign Digital Nomad Type of Digital Nomad Digital freelancer, independent contractor Remote worker i.e. employee of a company but not required to physically be in the office Domain of Profession IT (all types - software dev, UX, UI, cloud, cybersecurity, blockchain, Al, machine learning, data-related etc.), digital marketing, digital creative content, digital content development (All digital domain related work) Proof of work Active project contract. Active employment contract. Contract duration > 3 months, can be multiple contracts. Contract duration > 3 months. Clientele is foreign/ Malaysian based companies. Employer is foreign/ non-Malaysian based companies. Annual Income > USD24,000 per year.

What are the fees involved for the application of DE Rantau Sarawak? Processing fee per applicant RM2,160 (incl. 8% SST; Sales & Service tax) Processing fees per dependent RM1,080 (Incl. 8% SST) Immigration Pass Fee per applicant RM90 (every 3 month); RM360 (1 year) Multiple Entry Visa Charge (If applicable) **Charges vary across countries Fees of RM2,160.00 per applicant and RM1,080.00 for each dependent are to be paid upon submission of application for all categories and are nonrefundable. All fees are subject to 8% SST. All payment is to be made upon application and is payable to Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Berhad via online payment.

SECTION C: PAYMENTS What is the fee structure and when do I make the payment? Processing fee per applicant RM2,160.00 (incl. 8% SST (SALES & SERVICE TAX)) Processing fee per dependent RM1,080.00 (incl. 8% SST) Immigration Pass Fee per applicant RM90 (every 3 months) RM360 (1 year) Multiple Entry Visa Charges (if applicable) Charges vary across countries Fees of RM2,160.00 per applicant and RM1,080.00 for each dependent are to be paid upon submission of application for all categories and are nonrefundable. All fees are subject to 8% SST. All payment is to be made upon application and is payable to Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation Sdn Bhd via online payment.SARAWAK DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION BERHAD (1265203-A) (A wholly owned subsidiary of the Government of Sarawak) Level 6, Wisma Satok, Jalan Satok, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak Tel : +6082 – 549 005 Fax : +6082 – 523 005 Email : hello@sdec.com.my What is the rate for personal bond if SDEC becomes the sponsoring organization? Is a Bank Guarantee required for nationals of China and Bangladesh to apply for the DE Rantau Nomad Pass? The bank guarantee requirement for these nationalities has been waived.SARAWAK DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION BERHAD (1265203-A)

Can I apply with bank/investment statements instead of income proof? My projects are not profitable, but I have enough savings, and I also have a tech work portfolio. No, you cannot. According to the requirements, you must provide proof of earning at least USD 24,000 per year. This must be shown through active contracts, invoices, or employment letters that clearly state the income amount and duration. Bank statements are only supporting documents, not the main proof, and investment statements or savings are not accepted as a substitute. While your tech portfolio shows your skills, it does not count as financial proof. Therefore, if you cannot meet the minimum income requirement, you may not be eligible.

What is the requirement to be considered as a digital nomad? Criteria Foreign Digital Nomad Type of Digital Nomad Digital freelancer, independent contractor Remote worker i.e. employee of a company but not required to physically be in the office Domain of Profession IT (all types - software dev, UX, UI, cloud, cybersecurity, blockchain, Al, machine learning, data-related etc.), digital marketing, digital creative content, digital content development (All digital domain related work) Proof of work Active project contract. Active employment contract. Contract duration > 3 months, can be multiple contracts. Contract duration > 3 months. Clientele is foreign/ Malaysian based companies. Employer is foreign/ non-Malaysian based companies. Annual Income > USD24,000 per year.

What happens if my passport (or my dependant’s passport) has less than 6 months validity before expiring at the point of application and during the validity period of DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass? The validity of the passport must be more than 14 months upon submission of application. Thus, if the validity is less than 14 months, you need to apply for a new passport.

SECTION B: PASS APPLICATION Where do I apply for the DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass? All applications must be made online at: https://mdec.my/derantau/foreign/ How do I apply online? 1. Create an account 2. Fill in an online application form 3. Upload supporting documents 4. Pay application fee 5. Wait for the application outcome 6. Application outcome will be notified by email 7. Pay for personal bond & visa (if applicable) 8. Submit documents 9. Collect visa sticker at Immigration Sarawak Office How long does the application process take? The application will be processed within 6 to 8 weeks upon receipt of the completed submission. However, the application processing time may prolong/will be extended if we require further information/documents during the due diligence exercise. The issuance of pass sticker will be issued to the DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass holder within 1 week at Sarawak Immigration Office, Simpang Tiga, Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. What are the documents that I need to submit as proof that I am a digital freelancer or a remote worker earning >USD24,000 (Tech Talent) per annum? If you are a digital freelancer, the documents required are your contracts or purchase orders or invoices with your clients, clearly stating the contract duration and value. SARAWAK DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION BERHAD (1265203-A)

If you are a remote worker, the document required is your active employment contract with a non-Malaysian company, with monthly or annual salary clearly stated, with indication that you are not required to work from the office and are allowed to work remotely. I am a freelance digital content creator. I do not have specific contracts with any clients, but I receive income from a digital content platform. Can I submit this as proof of my income & my profession as a freelance digital content creator? You need to provide proof that you are a digital freelancer. You may submit documents to prove that your income is generated from the digital content platform. Your annual income should be >USD24,000 per year. Can I submit my application in my own language? Applications and supporting documents MUST be in English. What is the validity of the approval? The approval is valid for 3 months and non-extendable. How do I check the status of my application? Application status is available at: https://malaysiadigital.mdec.my What is a sponsor and who can be a sponsor? A sponsor is an organization which will be able to vouch for your presence in Malaysia and also be responsible for your stay, maintenance, and repatriation while you reside in Malaysia. Sponsoring organization: A sponsoring organization must be a company registered in Malaysia that gets services and awards project(s) to the Digital Nomad. The sponsoring organization shall sign a personal bond document. If you are unable to find a sponsor, SDEC shall be the sponsoring organization. The following terms and conditions apply: 1) Deposit to be paid to SDEC. The amount is similar to the security bond amount. The payment can be made via online payment.SARAWAK DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION BERHAD (1265203-A) (A wholly owned subsidiary of the Government of Sarawak) Level 6, Wisma Satok, Jalan Satok, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak Tel : +6082 – 549 005 Fax : +6082 – 523 005 Email : hello@sdec.com.my 2) An agreement shall be signed with SDEC as a sponsor. Are there any charges if SDEC becomes the sponsoring organization? A security bond will have to be paid as per the rates. You will be refunded the full amount when your pass expires. What are the documents required for the sponsor? Personal bond/Security Bond document or Declaration form. This document must be affixed with RM10.00 revenue stamp and endorsed by Inland Revenue Board (IRB).

What is the difference between DE Rantau Digital Nomad (Foreign) and DE Rantau Sarawak (Foreign)? The De Rantau Digital nomad only allowed to work in Peninsular Malaysia while The DE Rantau Digital Nomad Sarawak (Foreign) allows you to travel and work in both Sarawak and in any states of Peninsula Malaysia. Due to Sarawak’s autonomy on immigration which regulates and controls the entry and exit of non-citizens and non-Sarawakians, only nomads with a valid DE Rantau Digital Nomad Sarawak (Foreign) pass are allowed to work in Sarawak.SARAWAK DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION BERHAD (1265203-A)

Can De Rantau Sarawak bring family? Only immediate family members (dependent) of the main pass holder are eligible to apply. a. Husband / Wife/ Common-Law partner. b. Child, adopted child or stepchild under the age of 18 years. c. Disabled child (no age limit) verified by experts. d. Parent/parents to main pass holder only Can my spouse work in Malaysia under this pass? No. Can a dependent enter Malaysia later, and not together with the main applicant? A dependent has an option either to enter Malaysia together with main pass holder or to enter individually after main pass holder is in Malaysia.SARAWAK DIGITAL ECONOMY CORPORATION BERHAD (1265203-A) (A wholly owned subsidiary of the Government of Sarawak) Level 6, Wisma Satok, Jalan Satok, 93400 Kuching, Sarawak Tel : +6082 – 549 005 Fax : +6082 – 523 005 Email : hello@sdec.com.my Will this pass be multi-entry? Yes, this pass allows multiple entries. What happens if my passport (or my dependant’s passport) has less than 6 months validity before expiring at the point of application and during the validity period of DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass? The validity of the passport must be more than 14 months upon submission of application. Thus, if the validity is less than 14 months, you need to apply for a new passport. Does DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass allow me to open a local bank account? Most banks in Malaysia do not accept Professional Visit Pass for the applicant to open a bank account. You may seek further clarifications with the respective bank of interest. Can my child attend school in Malaysia while holding the DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad dependent pass? For child of DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad holders who wish to study in Malaysia, please apply for a Student Pass via the school. Please check directly with the relevant schools for further clarifications before applying. However, the Student Pass is not required for the dependent who is home schooling. Can I stay in any states in Peninsular Malaysia using DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass? Yes. Can I stay in Sabah using DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad Pass? At the moment, DE Rantau Sarawak Nomad pass facilitates your stay only in Sarawak and any states in Peninsular Malaysia. You can still travel to Sabah, but your entry into Sabah will be using the tourist pass.

Can dependent use the pass to study at public or international/private school in Sarawak or Peninsular Malaysia? No, the dependent needs to apply for a student pass in order to enrol school in Malaysia. If the school is in Sarawak, can apply the Student Pass in Sarawak, but if the school is in West Malaysia, they need to apply it in West Malaysia.

Provisions under section 7 of the Income Tax Act 1967 (ITA). According to this provision, individuals who are in Malaysia for more than 182 days are considered to be resident in Malaysia and are liable to tax.

Subsection 13(2) of the ITA provides that employment income is deemed to be derived from Malaysia when the employment is carried out in Malaysia. Therefore, income attributable to the carrying out of employment in Malaysia will be taxable in Malaysia.

If an individual is liable to tax in Malaysia based on subsection 13(2) of the ITA, then the individual is required to submit an Income Tax Return Form as provided under subsection 77(1) of the ITA.

None. Tax treatment is the same as the normal tax treatment prescribed under the ITA for individuals according to their resident status/residency status.