Bring your spouse, children, and parents to Malaysia under the Dependent Pass and Long-Term Social Visit Pass framework. From 1 June 2026, EP I, II, and III holders can all sponsor dependents. We coordinate every application — submitted through your sponsor company’s MES or ESD account.
What Is a Dependent Pass?
The Dependent Pass (DP) is a residence visa issued by the Immigration Department of Malaysia that allows the immediate family of a foreign work pass holder — the “principal” — to live in Malaysia for the duration of the principal’s pass. The DP is tied to the principal’s Employment Pass: when the EP expires or is cancelled, the DP follows.
For family members who do not qualify for a DP — typically parents, adult children, and unmarried partners — Malaysia issues a parallel pass called the Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP). Both passes are sponsored by the principal EP holder and submitted through the same employer-side accounts (MES via InvestMalaysia for MIDA-purview companies; ESD Online for everyone else).
The key 2026 development: under the revised New Expatriate Employment Policy (NEEP) effective 1 June 2026, dependents are now permitted for Employment Pass Categories I, II, AND III — for applications submitted on or after this date. Previously, EP III holders could not bring dependents at all. EP III passes issued before 1 June 2026 remain under the old restriction.
Dependent Pass vs Long-Term Social Visit Pass
The two passes serve different family members. Choosing the right one upfront avoids rejection and re-filing:
| Family member | Pass type | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Legal spouse | Dependent Pass | Marriage must be legally registered |
| Biological / legally adopted children under 18 | Dependent Pass | Birth certificate required |
| Disabled children (any age) | Dependent Pass | No age limit |
| Children aged 18–25 still in education or financially dependent | LTSVP | Aged out of DP |
| Parents of the principal | LTSVP | Embassy letter confirming dependency required |
| Parents-in-law | LTSVP | Subject to additional justification |
| Stepchildren | DP or LTSVP | Case-by-case — depends on guardianship status |
| Common-law / unmarried partners | LTSVP | Not eligible for DP |
We confirm the right pass for each family member during the consultation and prepare the documents accordingly — there is no automatic granting on relationship alone.
Who Can Sponsor a Dependent Pass
To sponsor a Dependent Pass, the principal must hold one of these passes:
- Employment Pass Category I, II, or III (applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026 under the revised NEEP)
- Resident Pass-Talent (RP-T)
- MM2H pass — Silver, Gold, or Platinum tier
- Postgraduate student pass (Master’s or PhD)
- Selected undergraduate student passes for nationals from approved countries
Important transitional note: EP III holders whose passes were issued before 1 June 2026 remain under the previous rules — meaning dependents may not be eligible until the EP III pass is renewed under the new framework. We map this in your consultation.
A Dependent Pass cannot be sponsored by a Professional Visit Pass (PVP) holder — PVPs are short-term and do not qualify for family sponsorship.
Statutory Requirements
Eligibility for the principal
- Hold a valid sponsoring pass from the list above
- Active sponsoring company on InvestMalaysia (MES) or ESD Online portal
- Demonstrate financial capacity to support dependents (typically demonstrated through the EP salary itself)
- Hold valid health insurance covering the dependents in Malaysia
Eligibility for the dependent
- Spouse: legal marriage registered and recognised under Malaysian law (or in the country of marriage)
- Children: under 18 at time of application, biological or legally adopted
- Disabled children: medical certification of disability — no age limit
- Valid passport with at least 18 months remaining
- Clean immigration record — no overstays, deportations, or visa breaches in Malaysia or elsewhere
- For parents (LTSVP): embassy or consulate letter confirming dependency status
Documents Required
From every dependent
- Certified passport copy (full document, all pages)
- Recent passport-format photograph (MES/ESD specification)
- Certified True Copy (CTC) of relationship document — marriage certificate (spouse), birth certificate (child)
- Translation into English by the relevant Embassy / Consulate / High Commission or the Malaysian Institute of Translation & Books (ITBM) for any document not originally in English
- Statutory Declaration Form for relevant categories (parents, adult children) affirmed before a Commissioner for Oaths
From the principal
- Copy of valid Employment Pass / RP-T / MM2H pass
- Copy of passport
- Recent payslip and employment confirmation letter
- Health insurance policy covering all dependents in Malaysia
- Sponsor company letter confirming the dependent application
For LTSVP (parents)
- Embassy letter confirming the parent is single, unemployed, and under the principal’s custodian (mandatory)
- For renewals: updated embassy letter confirming continued dependency
- Bank statements or financial proof of the principal’s ability to support
For children born in Malaysia
- If passport obtained more than 6 months after birth: Special Pass from the Enforcement Unit of Immigration Putrajaya is required before DP endorsement
- Birth certificate registered with the Malaysian National Registration Department (JPN)
All foreign documents must be translated and endorsed as Certified True Copy by the applicant’s embassy or by the Malaysian embassy in the home country. We coordinate translation and certification with our network of approved translators.
Our Process
We typically file Dependent Pass and LTSVP applications in parallel with the principal’s EP application — minimising the family’s transition time.
- Phase 1 — Free Consultation & Family Mapping (Day 0). We map every family member to the correct pass type — DP for spouse and minor children; LTSVP for parents, adult children, and unmarried partners. Written checklist within 24 hours.
- Phase 2 — Document Collection & Translation (Weeks 1–3). Marriage certificates, birth certificates, embassy letters, passport copies, and statutory declarations collected and prepared. Where a document is not in English, we coordinate certified translation through your embassy or ITBM, and Certified True Copy endorsement.
- Phase 3 — Application Submission (Week 3 or later). Filed via your sponsor’s InvestMalaysia (MES) or ESD Online account, in parallel with — or after — the principal EP. Children born in Malaysia with delayed passports trigger the additional Special Pass step.
- Phase 4 — Processing & Approval (5–14 working days). Standard ESD processing time. We respond to any government queries on your behalf.
- Phase 5 — Visa with Reference (VDR) & Endorsement (Weeks 4–6). For dependents from countries requiring a visa, we coordinate the Visa with Reference issued by the relevant Malaysian Embassy / High Commission. On entry to Malaysia, the dependent’s pass is endorsed at MyXpats Centre or the issuing immigration office.
- Phase 6 — School Enrolment & Family Onboarding. Once the DP is endorsed, we connect you with vetted international schools, banking partners for dependent accounts, and home-search services. This is included in our family relocation engagements.
You receive a project tracker showing every family member’s milestone separately.
Can a Dependent Work or Study?
This is the most common question — and the rules are precise.
Working on a Dependent Pass
A Dependent Pass does not automatically grant work rights. There are three pathways for a DP-holding spouse who wants to work in Malaysia:
- Apply for their own Employment Pass. The spouse finds a Malaysian employer and applies for an EP in their own name — fully separate from the principal’s EP. The DP is then surrendered, and the spouse becomes an EP holder.
- Work endorsement on the Dependent Pass. Under current Immigration Department practice, spouses of EP Category I holders may apply for permission to work — endorsed onto the existing DP — without converting to a full EP. This requires a job offer from a Malaysian employer, employment contract stamped with a RM10 revenue stamp, and submission to the Visa, Pass and Permit Division. This pathway is not available for spouses of EP II or EP III holders by default — they must follow path 1.
- Start a business. Foreigners can start a Malaysian business as a 100% foreign-owned company (typically a Sdn Bhd). The new company then sponsors the spouse’s own EP. We handle both steps in tandem if this is the route — see Sdn Bhd Registration.
LTSVP holders married to Malaysian citizens have broader work rights — the LTSVP under the spouse-of-citizen facility permits employment, business, or professional engagement without converting to EP, subject to endorsement.
Schooling for children
Dependent Pass-holding children may attend international schools, private schools, and (with additional approvals) certain Malaysian public schools. Schools generally require a copy of the endorsed DP and the principal’s EP for enrolment. We connect families with vetted international schools across Kuala Lumpur, Selangor, Penang, and Johor.
Renewals & Changes
- Validity — DPs and LTSVPs follow the principal’s EP. When the EP is renewed, the dependent passes must also be renewed at the same time.
- Renewal documents — for adult children and parents on LTSVP, fresh embassy letters confirming dependency status are required at every renewal.
- Children ageing out — when a child on a DP turns 18, the pass must be transitioned to an LTSVP if they remain financially dependent (e.g., university student in Malaysia).
- Status change — divorce, death of the principal, or the principal’s loss of EP all require immediate reporting to Immigration. The dependent’s pass becomes invalid; alternative arrangements may be available depending on circumstances.
- Passport renewal — if a dependent’s passport expires before the principal’s EP, the DP / LTSVP must be re-endorsed against the new passport.
Why Horizon Hub
- Family-first focus. We do not treat dependents as an afterthought to the principal’s EP. Every family member gets their own checklist, project line, and dedicated documentation queue.
- Translation and CTC network. Certified translations, CTC endorsements, and embassy letters frequently delay applications when handled inexperienced. We coordinate with your embassy and approved translators in advance.
- NEEP-current. EP III dependent eligibility from 1 June 2026 is correctly applied — we confirm whether your existing pass falls under the old or new rules and plan accordingly.
- Multi-country families. Where the principal and dependents come from different jurisdictions (or the marriage was registered in a third country), we navigate the additional notarisation and apostille requirements.
- Family relocation under one roof. EP, Dependent Pass, school placement, banking, and accommodation — handled by one project manager.
- Multilingual. English, Russian, Chinese, Arabic, and other major business languages supported.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can EP III holders bring dependents in 2026?
Yes — for applications submitted on or after 1 June 2026. Under the revised NEEP, all three EP categories (I, II, and III) now qualify for dependent sponsorship. EP III passes issued before 1 June 2026 remain under the previous restriction; the dependent eligibility activates at the next renewal under the new framework.
Who can come on a Dependent Pass?
Legal spouse, biological or legally adopted children under 18, and disabled children of any age. Parents, adult children, parents-in-law, and unmarried partners come on the Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) instead.
Can my spouse work on a Dependent Pass?
A Dependent Pass does not automatically grant work rights. Spouses of EP I holders can apply for a work endorsement on the existing DP without converting to a full EP. Spouses of EP II or EP III holders must apply for their own Employment Pass through a separate Malaysian employer, or start their own business and sponsor an EP through it.
How long does a Dependent Pass take?
Standard ESD processing is 5–14 working days for a complete application. Including document collection and certified translations, expect 3–6 weeks end-to-end from engagement to endorsed pass.
Do dependent documents need to be translated?
Yes. Any document not originally in English must be translated by the applicant’s embassy / consulate / high commission or the Malaysian Institute of Translation & Books (ITBM). The translation must then be endorsed as a Certified True Copy by the embassy.
Can I file the Dependent Pass at the same time as the EP?
Yes — and this is what we recommend. Filing the DP in parallel with the principal EP minimises the family’s wait. The DP cannot be approved before the EP, but it can be in queue and ready for processing the moment the EP is endorsed.
What happens to the dependents if I lose my Employment Pass?
The Dependent Pass is tied to the principal’s EP. If the EP is cancelled, expires without renewal, or is revoked, all dependent passes become invalid. Dependents typically have a short grace period to leave Malaysia or transition to alternative arrangements (e.g., own EP, LTSVP through other sponsorship).
Can my parents come live with me in Malaysia?
Yes — parents come on a Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP), not a Dependent Pass. They must be confirmed as dependent on you (single, unemployed, under your custodianship) by your home embassy in Malaysia. The embassy letter is mandatory and must be renewed at each LTSVP renewal.
My child was born in Malaysia — what do I do?
Register the birth with the Malaysian National Registration Department (JPN) and obtain a birth certificate. If the child’s foreign passport is obtained more than 6 months after birth, an additional Special Pass from the Enforcement Unit of Immigration Putrajaya is required before the Dependent Pass can be endorsed. We handle this for foreign families giving birth in Malaysia.
Can dependents apply for permanent residence?
Long-term DP and LTSVP holders may apply for permanent residence (Entry Permit) after meeting Malaysia’s residency requirements — typically 5+ continuous years. Spouses of Malaysian citizens have a faster track. See our consultation for individual eligibility assessment.
Bring Your Family to Malaysia — Done Right
Free 30-minute consultation. Family checklist within 24 hours covering pass type per family member, document requirements, translation needs, and realistic timeline. No obligation.
- ↑ Back to Visas & Immigration Services (parent)
- → Malaysia Employment Pass (EP) (the principal pass that enables dependent applications)
- → Professional Visit Pass (PVP) (alternative for short-term family-supported assignments)
- → MM2H Application (long-term family residence not tied to employment)
- → SDN.Bhd Registration (sponsor your own business and bring family)