Work permit and human resources
Labuan work permit and director visa
A Labuan work permit is a two-year renewable, multiple-entry visa that allows you — and your spouse, children under 18 and parents — to live in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan.
If you own or work for a Labuan company and want to live in Malaysia, you need a work permit. The application runs through two approving authorities — Labuan FSA and the Immigration Department — and one of the required documents is a recommendation letter from a licensed Labuan trust company.
We are that trust company. We advise on the procedures, prepare the documentation, obtain the support letter from Labuan FSA, arrange your appointment with the Immigration Department in Labuan, and stay with you through every step of the process.
Eligibility and key conditions
| Visa term | 2 years, renewable, multiple entry |
|---|---|
| Where you may reside | Anywhere in Peninsular Malaysia and Labuan. Basing yourself in Kuala Lumpur additionally requires Labuan FSA approval for a KL marketing office |
| Minimum income | RM10,000 per month — may comprise basic salary, cash allowance, benefits-in-kind, value of living accommodation, and other fees and commissions |
| Other criteria | Relevant competency and working experience for the position, and meeting the 'fit and proper person' requirements |
| Expatriate positions permitted | Top management (CEO, CFO, COO); technical experts such as IT and other specialists related to Labuan trading activities; and professionals — accountant, lawyer, consultant, underwriter, economist, advisor, engineer, actuary, trader — the last category applying only to a Labuan International Commodity Trading Company |
| Dependants | Spouse, children under 18, and parents. Parents require a stamped duty-paid personal bond signed by the applicant |
| Personal tax | Employment income from a Labuan company is taxable by the Inland Revenue Board; a personal return is due by 30 April annually |
The application process
Incorporate the Labuan company
The permit attaches to a Labuan company, so the company comes first. If you do not yet have one, we handle both together.
Prepare the Labuan FSA submission
A comprehensive business plan, a duly stamped employment contract, a duly stamped Labuan office tenancy agreement, tax reference numbers for the entity, employer and employee, Form DP11, a copy of your passport with a validity period of not less than 12 months, a high-resolution passport-sized photograph with a white background, your CV and academic certificates — plus a recommendation letter from a Labuan trust company, which we issue. An advance payment covering two years of the company's annual fees is also required, in the region of USD 2,000.
Certification and translation
All supporting documents must be certified by a Notary Public in your home country. Anything not in Malay or English must be translated by a qualified translator.
Labuan FSA approval
Labuan FSA reviews the application and may, at its discretion, require an interview.
Immigration and visa endorsement
Once approved you must travel to Labuan and attend the Immigration Department for stamping. If you are already in Malaysia you must exit and re-enter for the endorsement to be done in Labuan. This is required both for the first-time application and for subsequent renewals. The visa fee is payable in Labuan and varies by nationality — by debit or credit card only.
Dependant passes
No separate Labuan FSA application is needed. Once you hold the approval letter, dependants can be included under your approved visa using Form DP11A, with a covering letter from you or your employing company, marriage and birth certificates, each dependant's passport copy and a high-resolution passport-sized photograph with a white background, a personal bond for parents, and documents certified by the employer and counter-certified by your country's Consular Office in Malaysia.
How we help
- Advice on the procedures and on whether your position and income qualify
- Preparation of all necessary documentation and forms
- Application for the support letter from Labuan FSA
- Issuing the trust company recommendation letter — a mandatory document only a licensed trust company can provide
- Arranging your appointment with the Immigration Department in Labuan
- Dependant pass applications for spouse, children and parents
- Ongoing employment, payroll and renewal support
Frequently asked questions
I am not Malaysian, but I am a director of my own Labuan company. Can I live and work in Malaysia?
Yes. You can apply for a two-year renewable work permit allowing multiple entry into Malaysia with no visa required, so you can enter and reside in Malaysia to hold business meetings and run your operation.
Can I sponsor my family?
Yes. Your spouse, children under 18 and your parents may apply for a dependant pass under your work permit. A stamped duty-paid personal bond signed by you is required to secure your parents' passes. Do note that the visa validity for your spouse and children will be the same as yours, i.e. 2 years, while visas for your parents will be valid for 1 year.
Can I live anywhere in Malaysia with this permit?
Not quite. You are eligible to reside anywhere in Peninsular Malaysia and in Labuan. You can base yourself in Kuala Lumpur, but you must first apply for and obtain Labuan FSA approval for a KL marketing office, in addition to your Labuan operational office — and to get that approval the company must demonstrate it has a fully operational office in Labuan.
Do I need a residential address in Malaysia?
Yes. You, your employer or the company must provide evidence of a residential address in Labuan if you intend to live and work in Labuan.
Is my director's fee taxable?
Director's fees have been treated as not taxable, though the amount must still be declared in your annual personal tax filing. This incentive was stated as extended to YA2025, so please confirm the current position with us before relying on it.
Do I have to travel to Labuan?
Yes, you are required to visit the Immigration Department in Labuan for the endorsement and visa stamping in your passport, both for the first-time application and for subsequent renewals.
Speak to us
We are the licensed trust company, so the advice and the filing come from the same place.
Talk to our KonsultanLast reviewed 4 August 2026
Whilst considerable care has been taken to ensure the information contained within this page is accurate and up to date, no warranty is given as to the accuracy or completeness of any information and no liability is accepted for any errors or omissions in such information. The information given in this page is based on our present understanding of the current laws, guidelines and regulations and may therefore be subject to change without notice.
Ready when you are
Talk to the firm that holds the licence.