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ESD Account Registration (Expatriate Services Division)

Open your company's ESD account with the Immigration Department — the account every Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass and Dependant Pass application goes through.

Immigration Department of Malaysia Issuing authorityImmigration Department of Malaysia
Our feeRM 18,000per application
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Quick answer

An ESD account is the employer's registration with the Expatriate Services Division of the Immigration Department of Malaysia. A company cannot submit any Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass or Dependant Pass application until its ESD account is approved and activated. Approval looks at the company's registration, business activity, paid-up capital requirement for its ownership structure and sector, and supporting documents.

Authority
Immigration Dept · ESD
Needed for
EP, PVP, Dependant Pass
Key test
Capital & business substance
Account holder
The employing company
Our fee
RM 18,000 · per application

Last reviewed： · Reviewed by：ONEKEY BIZ compliance team

At a glance
AuthorityImmigration Dept · ESD
Needed forEP, PVP, Dependant Pass
Key testCapital & business substance
Account holderThe employing company
  1. 1Readiness checkWeek 1
  2. 2Fix gapsWeek 1–3
  3. 3Submit registrationWeek 2–4
  4. 4QueriesWeek 4–8
  5. 5Account activatedDone
7documents to prepare
5steps, handled by us
3items delivered to you

01

Overview

Before a Malaysian company can hire a single foreign professional, it must register as an employer with the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) of the Immigration Department. The ESD account is where every expatriate pass application — Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass, Dependant Pass — is submitted and tracked.

ESD assesses whether the company is a genuine, operating business able to employ expatriates. It looks at the company's SSM registration and business activity, its office premises, and whether its paid-up capital meets the prevailing requirement for its ownership structure and sector. Foreign-majority companies in wholesale and retail trade face an additional layer: they also need a WRT licence from KPDN.

Most rejections come from mismatches: a business activity on SSM that does not match the role being hired, capital below the requirement, or a virtual office where ESD expects an operating premise. We check those before registration so the first Employment Pass is not delayed by the account.

Who needs this

  • Newly incorporated companies planning to hire expatriates
  • Foreign-owned companies setting up in Malaysia
  • Companies whose ESD registration was rejected or lapsed

02

Documents you need to prepare

Company

  • SSM company profile and constitution
  • Latest financial statements or bank statements showing paid-up capital
  • Business premise tenancy agreement and photos
  • Business licence and other sector licences (e.g. WRT) where applicable

Directors & shareholders

  • IC or passport of directors and shareholders
  • Company organisation chart

Business plan

  • Company profile describing activities, clients and hiring plan
  • Paid-up capital thresholds vary by ownership structure and sector and are confirmed against ESD's prevailing requirements at registration.
  • The SSM business activity should match the roles you intend to hire for.

03

How to get it done with ONEKEY BIZ

  1. 1
    Readiness check Week 1

    Capital, premises, licences and business activity reviewed.

  2. 2
    Fix gaps Week 1–3

    Capital increase, MSIC update or licences arranged if needed.

  3. 3
    Submit registration Week 2–4

    ESD registration submitted with supporting documents.

  4. 4
    Queries Week 4–8

    ESD queries answered until approval.

  5. 5
    Account activated Done

    Account credentials handed over; first pass application ready.

You do

  • Provide company and premise documents
  • Describe your hiring plan

We do

  • Check capital, activity and premises against ESD requirements
  • Prepare and submit the registration
  • Answer ESD queries
  • Set up the first expatriate application

04

What you receive

Approved ESD account

Your company registered as an employer with ESD.

Account access handover

Login credentials and user roles for your company.

Hiring readiness note

What each planned Employment Pass will need next.

Rules and requirements in detail

PLKS Malaysia 2026: Foreign Worker Levy, Cost and QuotaRead the guide →Malaysia Employment Pass & Professional Visit Pass 2026Read the guide →When an Expatriate Leaves Malaysia 2026Read the guide →

Official sources

  1. Expatriate Services Division (ESD) portal
  2. ESD — revised Employment Pass salary policy effective 1 June 2026

Frequently asked questions

Can we apply for an Employment Pass without ESD?

No. Every expatriate pass application is submitted through the ESD account.

What paid-up capital do we need?

It depends on ownership structure and sector; we confirm the prevailing requirement for your company before applying.

Can a virtual office be used?

ESD looks for a genuine operating business, so an operating premise is strongly preferred.