A Malaysia Dependant Pass for the Indian spouse and children under 18 of an Employment Pass holder costs MYR 60 a year plus a visa with reference of up to MYR 50, is filed by the sponsor's employer through the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) and runs for the same period as the sponsor's pass; the sponsor must be in Category I or II, earning MYR 10,000 a month or more, or hold a Residence Pass-Talent or DE Rantau Nomad Pass. Parents, parents-in-law, children aged 18 to 24 in full-time study and common-law partners use the Long-Term Social Visit Pass (LTSVP) at the same MYR 60. Spouses of Malaysian citizens apply directly to the Immigration Department for a five-year LTSVP at MYR 90 a year with a MYR 500 security bond. Decisions take 7 to 15 working days, and spouses may work with a free endorsement.
The compact version with the price card and checklist is on the Malaysia Dependant Pass route page. This article explains which pass fits each relative, what the sponsor must show and where Indian files fall down.
Who qualifies for a Malaysia Dependant Pass or LTSVP?
| Family member | Pass | Sponsor | Work and study |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legal spouse of an EP Category I or II, RP-T or DE Rantau holder | Dependant Pass | The sponsor, via the employer's ESD account | Work with a free endorsement; study without a Student Pass |
| Children under 18 (including legally adopted) | Dependant Pass | Same | School without a Student Pass |
| Children 18 to 24 in full-time study; disabled children of any age | Long-Term Social Visit Pass | Same | Study; no work |
| Parents and parents-in-law | Long-Term Social Visit Pass | Same; sponsor shows capacity to support | No work |
| Common-law partner | Long-Term Social Visit Pass | Same | No work |
| Spouse of a Malaysian citizen | Long-Term Social Visit Pass (5 years) | The Malaysian spouse, directly at the Immigration Department | Work with an endorsement after the first pass |
Category III Employment Pass holders cannot sponsor anyone, and Student Pass holders can sponsor only at postgraduate level. The Dependant Pass follows the sponsor's validity exactly, so a family filed six months into a two-year pass receives 18 months. Divorce or the sponsor's death ends the pass, with a short period to leave or switch status; spouses of Malaysians keep theirs if there are Malaysian children.
What documents must be legalised?
Indian marriage and birth certificates must carry the Ministry of External Affairs apostille obtained through an authorised agency (INR 50 per document plus agency fees) and, where the certificate is in a regional language, a certified English translation. ESD also wants the sponsor's passport and Employment Pass, the last three payslips and the employment confirmation, the dependant's passport (valid at least 12 months beyond the pass requested), photos on a white background and a medical declaration for children. For the spouse of a Malaysian citizen, the marriage must be registered with the Malaysian National Registration Department (JPN) or recorded from the Indian registration, and the Malaysian spouse attends the appointment with their MyKad and a letter of undertaking.
How much does it cost?
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Dependant Pass | MYR 60 per year | Matched to the sponsor's pass validity |
| Long-Term Social Visit Pass (sponsored by an EP holder) | MYR 60 per year | Parents, adult children, partners |
| Visa with reference (Indian passport) | Up to MYR 50 | Single entry, at the High Commission or consulate |
| Spouse work endorsement | Free | Via the employer's ESD account |
| LTSVP for the spouse of a Malaysian | MYR 90 per year + MYR 500 bond | 5 years, renewable |
| MEA apostille | INR 50 per document plus agency fees | Marriage and birth certificates |
| Journey Performed visa (arrived without a visa with reference) | MYR 500 | Avoid by obtaining the visa in India |
Vistolane shows the MYR 60 government fee per dependant as listed and the apostille and agent costs separately on the Malaysia destination page.
How does the application run?
- Apostille the marriage and birth certificates at the MEA and translate any regional-language documents.
- The sponsor's employer files the Dependant Pass or LTSVP on ESD, with or after the Employment Pass, uploading the sponsor's pass and payslips and each dependant's passport, photo and certificates; 7 to 15 working days.
- The approval letter is issued; obtain the single-entry visa with reference at the High Commission in New Delhi or the consulates in Mumbai and Chennai (two to five working days).
- Enter Malaysia, file the Malaysia Digital Arrival Card and hand the passports to the employer for endorsement, usually within a week.
- A spouse who finds a job asks the employer to apply for the free work endorsement through ESD; children enrol in school on the Dependant Pass.
How long does it take from India?
| Stage | Typical time |
|---|---|
| Apostille | 1 to 2 weeks |
| ESD decision | 7 to 15 working days |
| Visa with reference | 2 to 5 working days |
| Endorsement after arrival | About 1 week |
Families filed together with the sponsor's Employment Pass travel at the same time; filed later, allow four to six weeks.
After arrival: work, school and renewals
A spouse on the Dependant Pass may work in any skilled role once the endorsement is stamped, without the employer meeting the Employment Pass salary bands, which makes Malaysia one of the easier Asian hubs for two-career families; the Malaysia Employment Pass guide covers the route for a spouse who wants their own pass. Children attend international schools (MYR 20,000 to 80,000 a year) or Malaysian private schools without a Student Pass. Renewals are filed by the employer with the sponsor's, and a change of sponsor employer means new passes for the whole family.
Spouses of Malaysian citizens renew the five-year LTSVP and may apply for permanent residence after five years of marriage and residence; dependants of expatriates follow the sponsor's path to the Residence Pass-Talent or permanent residence. Families weighing other hubs can compare the Singapore Dependant's Pass guide and the Thailand family visa guide.
Why are Malaysia Dependant Passes refused, and what fixes each reason?
Sponsor in Category III. An Employment Pass under MYR 10,000 a month. Only Category I and II, RP-T and DE Rantau holders may sponsor; raise the salary band before filing.
Certificates not legalised. Marriage or birth certificates without apostille or translation. Apostille through the MEA and translate before the employer files; Vistolane arranges both.
Passport validity short. A dependant's passport expiring before the pass requested. Renew the passport first; passes cannot exceed its validity.
Relationship not recognised. A religious marriage without civil registration, or a partner filed as a spouse. Register the marriage; partners use the LTSVP.
Arrived without a visa with reference. A Journey Performed visa (MYR 500) and delays at the airport. Collect the visa in India before travel.
How Vistolane handles it
Vistolane arranges the MEA apostille, prepares each dependant's file for the employer's ESD submission, obtains the visa with reference and charges the MYR 60 government fee per dependant as listed. Start with the free eligibility check or the Malaysia Dependant Pass route page. Families relocating for a remote job should read the Malaysia DE Rantau Nomad Pass guide.
