
DE Rantau / Digital Nomad Visa
Live, travel, and work remotely in Malaysia for up to 24 months (with MDEC's enhanced pathway up to 4 years) under the official DE Rantau Nomad Pass for digital and non-digital professionals worldwide.
Pass Validity
3–12 months (Renewable up to 2–4 years)
Work Remotely
Serve foreign or Malaysian clients freely
Bring Family
Spouse, children & parents eligible
Income Threshold
USD 24k/yr (Tech) | USD 60k/yr (Non-Tech)
Please select your category before proceeding with your application
The DE Rantau Nomad Pass classifies applicants into two distinct remote working streams. Select below to filter requirements:
Digital Freelancer / Independent Contractor
Project-Based Remote WorkDigital freelancers / independent contractors are individuals who perform work remotely on a freelance and project basis with no attachment to a specific company or location.
Remote Worker
Company EmployeeRemote workers are individuals who are employees of a company who have a flexible working arrangement that allows them to work remotely.
Eligibility Criteria
Review the key eligibility standards for foreign digital nomads applying for the DE Rantau Pass.
| Criteria | Foreign Digital Nomad | |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Digital Freelancer / Independent Contractor | Remote Worker |
| 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 | Digital ProfessionalDigital freelancer, independent contractor, and remote worker whom are IT & digital professionals in various domains i.e. software engineers, backend engineers, UX, UI, cloud, cybersecurity, blockchain, AI (Artificial Intelligence), machine learning, data-related etc., digital marketing, digital content development etc. Non-Digital ProfessionalChief Executive Officer (Founder/Managing Director/President), Chief Operations Officer, Business Development (Growth Manager), Marketing Manager, Chief Financial Officer, Finance Manager/Accountant, Sales Manager, Customer Success Manager, Human Resources Manager, Legal Counsel, Public Relation Manager, Consultant, Customer Service Manager/Customer Service Representative/ Customer Success Specialist, Communication & Public Relations Manager, Administration Manager, Technical Writer, Tax Specialist, Tax Accountant, Production Manager, Supply Chain Manager etc. | |
| Proof of Work |
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|
| Annual Income | Digital ProfessionalUSD 24,000(~3,370,000 BDT / year)Minimum annual income (USD 2,000/month) Non-Digital ProfessionalUSD 60,000(~8,420,000 BDT / year)Minimum annual income (USD 5,000/month) | |
| Official MDEC Fee & Dependents | MDEC Processing Fees (incl. 8% SST): Main Applicant: RM 1,080 (~32,400 BDT) (RM 1,000 + SST) Each Dependent: RM 540 (~16,200 BDT) (RM 500 + SST) Eligible Dependents & Validity: Legal spouse, children under 18, disabled children, and biological parents of main applicant. Initial 3–12 months pass; renewable for another 12 months (up to 4 years total under MDEC's enhanced framework). | |
Basic Checklist
MANDATORY DOCUMENTS FOR SUBMISSION DE RANTAU NOMAD PASS
Digital Freelancer / Independent Contractor
Digital freelancers / Independent contractors are individuals who perform work remotely on a freelance and project basis with no attachment to specific company or location.
- Passport all pages (must have a minimum of 6 empty pages and at least 14 months remaining validity)
- Latest CV
- Latest 3 months bank statement
- Latest 3 months income statement or latest tax returns
- A valid project contract with a contract period of 3 months or more (combination of contracts from multiple companies will also be accepted)
- Personal bond (to fill out the prescribed form)
- Letter of good conduct (issued by authority body in respective country or current residence)
- Highest education certificate
- Medical insurance enrolment certificate which is valid in Malaysia (must also cover dependent, if any)
- Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia tax registration slip
Remote Worker
Remote workers are individuals who are employees of a company who have a flexible working arrangement that allows them to work remotely.
- Passport all pages (must have a minimum of 6 empty pages and at least 14 months remaining validity)
- Latest CV
- Latest 3 months bank statement
- Latest 3 months income statement or latest tax returns
- Latest 3 months payslip
- A valid employment contract with a contract period of 3 months or more
- Letter of good conduct (issued by authority body in respective country or current residence)
- Personal bond (to fill out the prescribed form)
- Highest education certificate
- Medical insurance enrolment certificate which is valid in Malaysia (must also cover dependent, if any)
- Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia tax registration slip
Looking to Launch a Tech Startup or Register a Company?
While DE Rantau is designed for remote freelancers without local business registration, the Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) empowers founders to establish 100% foreign-owned digital companies in Malaysia with 1-Year to 5-Year residence passes.
Ready to Apply for the DE Rantau Digital Nomad Visa?
NextPath Global provides full end-to-end guidance, document preparation, tax registration assistance, and MDEC submission support for your seamless relocation to Malaysia.
