By Traveli 360 
Malaysia introduced its digital nomad visa in October 2022, and since then, it’s been an attractive destination for remote workers. As the country has a modern lifestyle with great affordability, the Malaysia digital nomad visa application system is also very practical and simple.
Everything can be done from the comfort of home online. Southeast Asia is becoming more popular among digital nomads, and with this rise, regional countries offer digital nomad visas to remote workers with different conditions. As Malaysia offers a digital nomad visa for those individuals who earn at least $24,000. It’s one of the most affordable and low-income requirements in the Southeast Asian countries.
In this article we will go into the depth of Malaysia’s digital nomad visa application, introduce the visa details, and explain different eligibility requirements for different categories of remote workers. You will find updated information about the required documents and visa application process. You will learn everything about Malaysia’s digital nomad visa in this article.
Malaysia digital nomad visa: Quick facts and key details
The Malaysia digital nomad visa, or DE Rantau Nomad Pass, was launched in October 2022. It’s available for all nationalities; there are no restrictions on any nationality. If any individual meets the requirements, he can apply online; there is no need to visit the Malaysian embassy or attend any interview.
The Malaysia digital nomad visa will be issued in pdf format, and the holder can travel with it to Malaysia. The Malaysia digital nomad visa is valid for one year; fortunately, it’s possible to extend it for another year.
A total of two years of residency will be granted to digital nomads. Digital nomads can include their family members in the Malaysia digital nomad visa application; spouses and children under 18 can be included in the visa application.
Read this also: Brazil digital nomad visa guide 2025
The Malaysia digital nomad visa does not lead to permanent residency or citizenship; it’s not possible to apply for Malaysia permanent residency or citizenship if you are living with a digital nomad visa.
The Malaysia digital nomad visa fee is not refundable. When you submit the visa application, you will need to pay the visa fee also.
There is no income tax on digital nomads in Malaysia if your income source is out of Malaysia. Digital nomads who work for non-Malaysian companies or non-Malaysian clients don’t have to pay income tax.
Malaysia digital nomad visa eligibility criteria
There are several important eligibility requirements for digital nomads who want to apply for the Malaysia digital nomad visa. According to these eligibility criteria, all digital nomads should meet the following requirements:
Earn a minimum of $24,000 annually; this should be continued for at least the last three months. Prove through financial documents.
Clean criminal record; the applicant shouldn’t have any criminal history; a police certificate is required for it.
Proof of remote work: digital nomads need to present proof of their remote work, like a partnership agreement, work contract, etc.
Applicants need to work in the IT industry, which includes digital marketing, content creation, and digital developers also. If you are working remotely for other jobs like accountant manager, CEO, etc., the income requirement is much higher than $24,000.
Detailed Malaysia Digital Nomad Visa Requirements
Malaysia wants to attract global talent those who can add to their economy, freelancers, remote workers, and entrepreneurs all can find a category in Malaysia’s digital nomad visa for them.
This makes Malaysia’s digital nomad visa accessible for everyone who is in this field and dreams of living and working from Malaysia.
Income requirement: How much you should earn to be eligible for the Malaysia digital nomad visa? $24,000 per year or $2,000 per month. Seems possible for most remote workers.
According to neighbouring countries, it’s a pretty low income requirement for Malaysia’s digital nomad visa; Thailand, Indonesia, and other Southeast Asian countries have much higher income requirements.
Required Document: For financial requirements, you need to submit your bank statement, payslips, or any similar documents for the last 3 months.
Proof of remote work: So you need to present any documents that prove your nature of work is remote. Of course, this should be official proof, and this will give them an idea about your work and income.
Required document: For proof of remote work, you can submit a job agreement, partnership agreement, work contract, and other similar documents.
Valid Passport: Your passport should be valid at least for 14 months.
Recent photo: one recent passport-sized photo with a white background is required.
Police Clearance Certificate: You should not have a criminal record; you need to provide a clean criminal record certificate from the police.
Health Insurance: Health insurance for your entire stay in Malaysia is also among the requirements.
Personal bond form: This form can be downloaded online and filled out. After signing, you should upload it for submission of the visa application.
Apply for the Malaysia digital nomad visa
When you want to apply for a Malaysia digital nomad visa, the best part is this: you can apply online. Dealing with the embassy is really hard work; the interview and long time waiting for the embassy is a stressful process.
Fortunately, you can apply for a Malaysia digital nomad visa online. Now the first step is to gather your documents. Now you need to digitise these documents.
Once you complete your preparation, now you should visit the Malaysia digital nomad visa official website; here you can create an account. After you create the account, now simply add your data, fill the application, and provide all required information and upload all necessary documents to the system.
Lastly, pay this visa fee, which is 1000 RM, as today is worth 225 USD. After you make the payment, the visa application is finalising. Now it’s time to wait for the result of your visa. It may take anywhere between 2 weeks and 4 weeks. If your visa was approved, it will be sent to your email.
Income Tax Rules for Digital Nomads in Malaysia
Income tax is an important issue for digital nomads; they love countries without income tax on digital nomads.
Different countries have different income tax regulations, so when it comes to Malaysia, it has a territorial tax system. In this system a person is only subject to income tax when he earns his income from the Malaysian territory.
In this case, digital nomads in Malaysia don’t need to pay any income tax as their income source is outside of Malaysia. But if you are working remotely for a Malaysian company or your clients are Malaysian residents, in this case you will be taxed as a normal Malaysian resident.
Digital nomads are lifetime free from income tax for outside Malaysian income; in some countries, digital nomads don’t need to pay income tax for 6 months, but after 6 months they are subject to paying income tax.