The Sarawak Digital Economy Corporation (SDEC) has recently announced the introduction of DE Rantau Sarawak Pass in collaboration with the Malaysia Digital Economy Development (MDEC), designed to welcome digital nomads and remote workers to live and work in Sarawak (East Malaysia) and Peninsular Malaysia. This initiative is part of Sarawak’s broader digital economy agenda aimed at attracting international talent, enhancing digital mobility and strengthening the state’s innovation ecosystem.
The DE Rantau Sarawak Pass will enable eligible foreign applicants and their accompanying dependents to live and work in Sarawak (East Malaysia) and Peninsular Malaysia for up to 12 months, with the option to extend their stay for an additional 12 months.
The initial DE Rantau Nomad Pass introduced by MDEC in October 2022 was limited to only work and residency in the jurisdiction of Peninsular Malaysia.
The DE Rantau Sarawak Pass is intended to allow qualified foreign digital nomads and remote workers to live and work in Sarawak (East Malaysia) and Peninsular Malaysia for up to 12 months, with the option of pass renewal for an additional 12 months, allowing a total of 24 months of stay. Presently, the DE Rantau Sarawak Pass does not facilitate stays in Sabah (East Malaysia), however, foreign nationals can still travel to Sabah using a visitor pass if required.
To be eligible for the DE Rantau Sarawak Pass, applicants must be at least 18 years of age with a tech related background either as a digital nomad or remote worker. The contract duration for freelancers and remote workers must be at least for 3 months, with a minimal annual income of USD24,000. Remote workers must remain employed by an overseas/non-Malaysian based company and digital freelancers may have both local and foreign clientele.
In addition, applicants are allowed to bring their spouse, children and parents to Malaysia and they will be issued with an immigration pass for their stay in Malaysia. Accompanying dependents are strictly prohibited from undertaking any form of employment while residing in Malaysia under this scheme. School aged children can attend school in Malaysia if required and will have to obtain Student Pass.
Furthermore, members of DE Rantau Sarawak will be eligible to obtain access to benefits provided such as nomad-ready living and working hubs, handpicked local services, discount vouchers and other promotions. These are made available to support a productive and sustainable remote work environment, enable knowledge transfer across the ecosystem and position Sarawak as the destination of choice for digital nomads in the Asean region.
Our team can assist in navigating the application process and understanding the requirements of the DE Rantau Sarawak Pass, including an assessment of suitability based on the differing requirements applicable in Peninsular Malaysia and East Malaysia. In addition, we are well placed to advise on Malaysian tax obligations that may apply to digital nomads and remote workers residing and working in Malaysia.
For a deeper discussion on the above, please reach out to your Vialto Partners point of contact, or alternatively:
Sasha Reddy
Partner
Hana Rabi
Senior Manager
Kimberly Chong
Manager
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