Quick answer
A Dependant Pass lets the family of an Employment Pass holder live in Malaysia for the duration of the EP. Eligible dependants are the legal spouse, biological or legally adopted children under 18, and disabled children of any age. Under the revised NEEP rules effective 1 June 2026, all three Employment Pass categories — I, II and III — may sponsor dependants; this is the first time Category III holders qualify. EP III passes issued before 1 June 2026 remain under the previous restriction until the pass is renewed under the new framework.
Last reviewed： · Reviewed by：ONEKEY BIZ compliance team
01
Overview
Most people move for the job and then discover the family paperwork is a separate problem. The Dependant Pass is the answer: it is issued against the Employment Pass holder's own pass, runs for the same period, and is renewed with it.
The rules changed materially on 1 June 2026. Previously only Category I and Category II Employment Pass holders could bring dependants; Category III holders could not. Under the revised NEEP, all three categories may sponsor a spouse and children. The catch is transitional: if an EP III was issued before 1 June 2026, the old restriction still applies until that pass is renewed under the new framework — so timing the DP application around the EP renewal matters.
Work rights differ by category and are the point most families get wrong. The spouse of a Category I holder can apply for a work endorsement on the existing Dependant Pass. The spouse of a Category II or III holder cannot — they need their own Employment Pass through a Malaysian employer. Parents and parents-in-law are not covered by a Dependant Pass at all; they are handled through a Long Term Social Visit Pass.
Who needs this
- Employment Pass holders bringing a spouse or children
- EP III holders newly eligible under the June 2026 rules
- Families whose EP is being renewed and dependants added
- Spouses who need a work endorsement on an existing DP
02
Who counts as a dependant, and who does not
A Dependant Pass covers the legal spouse, biological or legally adopted children under 18, and disabled children of any age. It does not cover parents, parents-in-law, or children who have turned 18 — those are handled through a Long Term Social Visit Pass, assessed case by case and on a different footing.
The change that matters most took effect on 1 June 2026. Until then only Category I and Category II Employment Pass holders could sponsor dependants; Category III could not. Under the revised NEEP all three categories qualify. The transitional catch is real, though: an EP III issued before 1 June 2026 stays under the old restriction until that pass is renewed under the new framework, so for many families the Dependant Pass application has to be sequenced behind the EP renewal.
The other question families get wrong is work. A Category I holder's spouse can apply for a work endorsement on the existing Dependant Pass and take a job without a separate pass. A Category II or Category III holder's spouse cannot — they need their own Employment Pass through their own Malaysian employer, with their own salary meeting their own category threshold.
| Dependant Pass | Long Term Social Visit Pass | |
|---|---|---|
| Spouse | Yes | — |
| Children under 18 | Yes | — |
| Disabled children, any age | Yes | — |
| Children 18 and over | No | Case by case |
| Parents / parents-in-law | No | Case by case |
| Right to work | Endorsement, EP Category I spouse only | Not by default |
Both are tied to the sponsor's Employment Pass and expire with it.
03
The documents that actually hold applications up
Almost every delayed Dependant Pass comes down to the same two documents: the marriage certificate and the children's birth certificates. Issued outside Malaysia, they generally need legalisation in the country of origin and a certified translation into English or Malay — and a birth certificate that names only one parent will not establish the relationship being claimed.
Start those two items first. Legalisation runs on the issuing country's timetable, not yours, and it is routinely the longest item on the critical path — longer than the Immigration processing itself. Health insurance covering the dependants in Malaysia and proof of a Malaysian residential address are quick by comparison.
Where the Employment Pass is being applied for or renewed at the same time, we file the two together so the validity dates align. A Dependant Pass runs with the sponsor's Employment Pass and expires with it — keeping them on the same cycle means one renewal exercise a year instead of two out-of-step ones.
04
Documents you need to prepare
Sponsor (EP holder)
- Employment Pass approval and passport
- Employment contract and latest payslips
- Employer's supporting letter
Spouse
- Passport (validity as required)
- Marriage certificate — legalised and translated where issued abroad
- Passport photographs
Children
- Passport for each child
- Birth certificate showing both parents — legalised and translated where issued abroad
- Adoption papers where applicable
Other
- Health insurance covering the dependants in Malaysia
- Proof of Malaysian residential address
- Documents issued outside Malaysia generally need legalisation and certified translation.
- A child must be under 18 at the time of application; disabled children qualify at any age.
- Parents and parents-in-law apply for a Long Term Social Visit Pass, not a Dependant Pass.
05
How to get it done with ONEKEY BIZ
- 1Eligibility check Day 1
EP category, issue date and family composition assessed against the current rules.
- 2Document preparation Week 1–3
Marriage and birth certificates legalised and translated; insurance arranged.
- 3Submission Week 3
Application submitted through ESD / Immigration with the employer's support.
- 4Approval Per Immigration
Queries answered until the approval letter is issued.
- 5Endorsement Done
Passes endorsed in the passports; validity aligned to the EP.
You do
- Provide family documents and passports
- Arrange legalisation of foreign certificates
- Take out health insurance for the dependants
We do
- Confirm eligibility under the current NEEP rules
- Prepare the application and employer support
- Submit and follow through to approval
- Align DP validity and renewal with the EP
06
What you receive
Endorsed in each dependant's passport for the EP period.
Immigration's approval for your records.
DP expiry aligned with the EP so both are renewed together.
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Can an EP Category III holder bring family?
Yes, for applications under the revised NEEP rules effective 1 June 2026. An EP III issued before that date remains under the old restriction until it is renewed under the new framework.
Can my spouse work on a Dependant Pass?
The spouse of a Category I holder can apply for a work endorsement on the DP. Spouses of Category II and III holders need their own Employment Pass through a Malaysian employer.
What about children over 18 or my parents?
Neither is covered by a Dependant Pass. They are handled through a Long Term Social Visit Pass, assessed case by case.