Quick answer
An Employment Pass Category III can be renewed through the employer's ESD account from 90 days before it expires. Renewals filed on or after 1 June 2026 must meet the revised Category III threshold of RM5,000 – RM9,999 basic salary — not the threshold the pass was first approved under — and carry a validity of up to 5 years with a succession plan. Only basic salary counts; allowances and bonuses do not.
Last reviewed： · Reviewed by：ONEKEY BIZ compliance team
01
Overview
The Employment Pass is Malaysia's work pass for foreign professionals, managers and skilled employees. Since 1 June 2026 the three categories are defined by basic salary: Category I at RM20,000 and above, Category II at RM10,000–19,999 and Category III at RM5,000–9,999. Category III covers RM5,000 – RM9,999 and is granted for up to 5 years with a succession plan.
Renewal is where many employers are caught out by the policy change. A renewal is assessed under the policy in force when it is filed, so an employee originally approved under the old thresholds may no longer qualify for the same category — for example, the old Category III floor was RM3,000, the new one is RM5,000. The renewal button appears in the ESD account once 90 days of validity remain, which is the earliest you can file.
Category III passes may need to be supported by a succession plan — how the employer intends to develop or hire local talent to take over the role within the pass period. A thin succession plan is a common reason for queries, so we prepare it with you rather than as a formality.
Who needs this
- Employers whose expatriate's pass expires within 90 days
- Employers with passes first approved under the pre-June-2026 thresholds
- Employers whose employee's salary or role has changed
02
Documents you need to prepare
Employer
- Active ESD account and company profile
- SSM documents and latest financial statements
- Section 60K approval from JTKSM
- Succession plan for the role
Employee
- Passport with sufficient validity
- Academic and professional certificates
- CV showing relevant experience
- Recent passport-sized photo
Employment
- Employment contract stating basic salary, position and duration
- Current Employment Pass and latest payslips / EA form
- Only basic salary counts towards the threshold — allowances, bonuses and benefits in kind are excluded.
- File as early as the 90-day window allows; a late renewal risks a gap in the employee's legal status.
03
How to get it done with ONEKEY BIZ
- 1Threshold re-check Day −120
We compare the employee's current basic salary with the post-June-2026 threshold.
- 2Documents & plan Day −100
Updated contract, payslips and succession plan prepared.
- 3Submit in ESD Day −90
Renewal filed as soon as the 90-day window opens.
- 4Queries Weeks 1–4
ESD queries answered until approval.
- 5Endorsement Before expiry
Renewed pass endorsed; next expiry logged.
You do
- Confirm the basic salary and role
- Provide employer and employee documents
- Keep payroll records current
We do
- Check the category under the current policy
- File inside the 90-day window
- Prepare and submit the ESD application
- Follow up to endorsement and log expiry
04
What you receive
The pass endorsed in the employee's passport.
Approval record from the Expatriate Services Division.
Confirmation the renewal meets the post-June-2026 threshold.
Next renewal window logged 120 days ahead.
Real clients we've done this for
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Do allowances count towards the salary threshold?
No. Only basic salary counts.
Our employee was approved under the old thresholds — are they grandfathered?
No. Renewals filed from 1 June 2026 are assessed under the new thresholds.
Is a succession plan always needed?
Category III applications may be asked for one, so we prepare it upfront.