Malaysia Long Term Social Visit Pass

Complete guide to obtaining a long term pass for spouses and family members of Malaysian citizens

A Malaysian Long Term Social Visit Pass is issued to foreign nationals who want to stay in Malaysia for a period longer than six months.

It is issued to the family members of Employment Pass holders or spouses of Malaysian citizens as well as to foreigners who need to undergo medical treatment in Malaysia.

However, the Malaysia Long Term Social Visit Pass is most commonly issued to the spouses/family members of Malaysians or Malaysian foreign residents, which is why it’s known as a Malaysia spouse visa.

This article will detail the requirements and conditions of a Malaysia spouse visa.

Who is Eligible for a Malaysia Long Term Social Visit Pass?

As the name suggests, the Malaysian Long Term Social Visit Pass (spouse visa) is available to:

  • The foreign national spouse of a Malaysian citizen
  • Family members of Malaysia Employment Pass holders:
    • Common-law spouse
    • Children over 21 (they must not be married)
    • Parents or parents-in-law
  • Foreign nationals seeking medical treatment in Malaysia and 1 companion

Requirements for a Malaysia Long Term Social Visit Pass

When applying for a Malaysian Long Term Social Visit Pass, applicants must submit the following documents to the Immigration Department of Malaysia:

  • Two copies of the visa applications forms IMM.12, IMM.55, and IMM.38
  • Complete copies of the applicant’s passport, including personal information pages, previous visas, and the cover.

Documents required for the spouse of a Malaysian citizen:

  • Photocopy of Marriage Certificate
  • Malaysian Sponsor Statement form
  • Security Bond stamped with a RM10.00 revenue stamp
  • 2 passport-size pictures of both spouses
  • Statutory Declaration regarding the status of marriage (proof it is still in effect)
  • Photocopies of the children’s birth certificates (if applicable)
  • Photocopy of birth certificate
  • Photocopy of ID card
  • Wedding pictures
  • Address of residence of Malaysian citizen
  • If Malaysian citizen is employed: Supporting letter from the employer of Malaysian citizen
  • If Malaysian citizen is self-employed (one of the following):
    • Trading License
    • ROC form
    • Form J
  • Income statements of the Malaysian citizen.

Documents required for the family members of Employment Pass holders:

  • A supporting letter from the EP holder’s employer
  • An authorization letter from the EP holder’s employer
  • 2 recent passport-size pictures of the applicant/s
  • Marriage certificate (if applicable)
  • Birth certificates of children, or adoption papers (as applicable)
  • Custody papers, if applicable
  • Complete photocopies of all the applicants’ passports
  • EP holder’s Letter of Approval
  • For elderly parents who have no one to care for them in their home country:
    • Personal Bond stamped with a RM10.00 revenue stamp
    • A Statutory Declaration from the Malaysian citizen or permanent resident
    • The ID of the sponsor
  • Security Bond stamped with a RM10.00 revenue stamp

Documents required for medical treatment:

  • An official letter from the relevant Government or Specialist Hospital

Keep in mind, that this is not a complete list of required documents. Applicants/sponsors must enquire with the Malaysia Immigration Department about a full list of documents.

When submitting documents, all the photocopies have to be accompanied by the original.

Additionally, the birth/marriage certificates have to be  Certified True Copy (CTC) by an Embassy/Consulate of the specific country.

All the documents have to be in English. If they are not, they must be translated by either the relevant Embassy/Consulate or Institut Terjemahan Buku Malaysia.

How to apply the Malaysia spouse visa?

It is the Immigration Department of Malaysia who issues the Long Term Social Visit Pass.

The Malaysian citizen/EP holder has to submit the application along with the required documents (see below) to the Immigration Department or an Immigration Office in Malaysia prior to the arrival of the foreign national.

If the applicant is the spouse of a Malaysian citizen, he/she must be present along with the Malaysian when applying for the Long Term Social Visit Pass at the Immigration Department.

Malaysia Visa With Reference for a Long Term Social Visit Pass

Before the foreign national can travel to Malaysia, he/she must get a Visa With Reference (VDR) from the nearest Malaysian embassy/consulate.

To apply for a Malaysian Visa With Reference, they’ll need a Visa Approval Letter from the Immigration Department (ie. the reference) beforehand.

All foreign nationals who travel to Malaysia for purposes other than tourism must apply for a VDR.

Documents required for a Malaysia Visa With Reference are:

  • Visa applications forms IMM.12, IMM.55, and IMM.38
  • Visa With Reference questionnaire form
  • Two recent photographs of both spouses/applicants
  • Copies of both spouses passports/applicants
  • ID card of the Malaysian sponsor/spouse
  • Copy of marriage certificate
  • Statutory Declaration regarding the status of marriage
  • Security Bond stamped with an RM10.00 revenue stamp
  • Birth certificate of children, if applicable
  • Proof of the sponsor’s financial income

Keep in mind that this is not a complete list of requirements. Please check the website of the relevant Malaysian embassy/consulate or contact them to learn of the complete requirements and their opening hours.

Duration of the Malaysia Spouse Visa

The Long Term Social Visit Pass is issued for a minimum of six months and a maximum of five years. It can be renewed before it expires.

Working with a Malaysia Long Term Social Visit Pass

Family members of Employment Pass holders, cannot work with simply a Long Term Social Visit Pass. If they find an employer, they must apply for their own Employment Pass.

Working permit for Spouse of Malaysian Citizen

Spouses of Malaysian citizens can work in Malaysia without having to change their Long Term Social Visit Pass into an Employment Pass.

Instead, they have to get an endorsement to work in their passport by the Immigration Department of Malaysia, which is free of charge.

To apply for the work endorsement, the spouse has to submit a letter of application along with the letter of appointment or company registration evidence, their marriage certificate and their valid Long Term Social Visit Pass to the Visa, Pass and Permit Division of the  Immigration Headquarters or the nearest state Immigration office.

If the Malaysia Long Term Social Visit Pass holder gets a work endorsement, they are allowed to work in any profession.