Malaysia’s new digital nomad visa aims to make it Southeast Asia’s remote work hub, but competition from Bali is fierce
- Opening to applicants on October 1, the De Rantau Programme is a ‘digital nomad pass’ that is cheap, with only a few qualifying criteria for a 12-month stay
- The visa is intended to make Malaysia the first choice for professionals working remotely in the region, but knocking Bali off its perch may prove difficult
Without much fanfare, Malaysia has rolled out a visa programme that may become the first fully fledged digital nomad and remote worker pass to be offered in Southeast Asia.
According to a Migration Policy Institute report, at least 25 countries around the world now offer visas tailored for remote workers, but Asia has been slow to respond to the trend.
Supported by the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) – a government agency tasked with promoting the country’s digital economy – the De Rantau Programme will open to applicants on October 1.
It has the aim of “establishing Malaysia as the preferred digital nomad hub in ASEAN [Association of Southeast Asian Nations] while boosting digital adoption and promoting digital professional mobility and tourism across the country,” according to the programme’s website.
With a processing fee of 1,000 ringgit (US$220), the programme welcomes digital marketers and developers, content creators, and IT professionals from all over the world, providing a proper “digital nomad pass” valid for up to 12 months with which to breeze through immigration.
Applicants will require a minimum yearly income of US$24,000 and proof of an active three-month work contract with a foreign or Malaysian company. Multiple shorter contracts would count towards the minimum requirement.
