Guide to temporary entry for Canadian business persons into Malaysia under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP)

On this page

• Before you travel to Malaysia
• Business visitors
• Intra-corporate transferees
• Contractual service suppliers
• Independent professionals
• Disclaimer

This guide provides Canadian business persons with general information on the criteria and procedures for entering Malaysia temporarily for business purposes under the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), and Malaysia’s acts or regulations governing entry or stay.

Familiarize yourself with all relevant travel requirements before seeking entry into Malaysia.

To be eligible for temporary entry into Malaysia under any of the categories under the CPTPP, you must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident.

More information:

• Consolidated TPP text – Malaysia's schedule of commitments for temporary entry for business persons
• Consolidated TPP Text – Chapter 12 – Temporary Entry for Business Persons

For any questions related to temporary entry commitments under the CPTPP, please contact: enquiry-demande.TE@international.gc.ca

Business visitors

Do I qualify as a business visitor?

For Malaysia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian business visitor is a Canadian business person who is:

• a service seller or representative of a service supplier seeking temporary entry into Malaysia, for the purpose of negotiating the sale of services for that service supplier;
• a goods seller, who is seeking temporary entry into Malaysia for the sale of goods, or to enter into a distribution or retailing arrangement;
• a person who attends meetings or conferences or engages in consultations with business associates;
• a Canadian national or permanent resident, that attempts to make, is making, or has made an investment in the territory of another Party;
• an installer or servicer of machinery or equipment, where installation or servicing by the supplying company is a condition of purchase.

A Canadian business visitor cannot be engaged in direct sales to the general public or in supplying goods or services directly.

Under the CPTPP, a Canadian business visitor can stay in Malaysia for up to 90 days.

What authorizations are required to enter Malaysia as a business visitor?

Do I need a visa as a business visitor?

Canadian business visitors do not require a visa to enter Malaysia for up to 90 days. Business visitors are granted a Short Term Social Visit Pass for a period of up to 90 days upon arrival in Malaysia, no prior application is needed. Additionally, business visitors are eligible for a multiple entry visa if they have an invitation from an entity in Malaysia.

Do I need a work permit as a business visitor?

No. A Canadian business visitor will not require a work permit, as they cannot be engaged in any income-earning activities while in Malaysia.

Intra-corporate transferees

Do I qualify as an intra-corporate transferee?

For Malaysia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian intra-corporate transferee is a Canadian business persons employed by an enterprise Canada seeking to render services to an affiliated enterprise in Malaysia, as a senior manager, specialist or expert.

A senior manager is a business person who must:

• have proprietary information of the enterprise;
• exercise a wide latitude in decision making related to the establishment, control and operation of the enterprise;
• primarily direct the management of the enterprise; and
• receive only general supervision or direct from the board of directors or partners of the enterprise.

A specialist or expert is a business person who must:

• posses knowledge at an advanced level of continued expertise;
• posses proprietary knowledge of the enterprise; and
• have been employed for not less than two years proceeding the date of application.

For Malaysia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian intra-corporate transferee can stay in Malaysia for an initial stay of two years. This stay may be extended up to 10 years (senior managers) or 5 years (specialists and experts).

What authorizations are required to enter and work in Malaysia as an intra-corporate transferee?

Do I need a visa as an intra-corporate transferee?

Yes. A Canadian intra-corporate transferee should apply for an Employment Pass. Employment Passes have three different categories with various time allocations. To understand the specific eligibility requirements and how to apply, see the Employment Pass page of the Immigration Department of Malaysia’s website.

If you have any questions regarding the Employment Pass, consider contacting the Immigration Department of Malaysia or the High Commission of Malaysia in Ottawa.

How do I apply for an Employment Pass as an intra-corporate transferee?

There are two processes that must be completed to obtain an employment pass. First your employer must apply for an Expatriate Post. Once approved, the applicant can apply through the MYXpats Centre on the Expatriate Service Division (ESD) website.

More information about the MYXpats Centre can be found on the Expatriate Services Division website.

Do I need a work permit as an intra-corporate transferee?

No. The Employment Pass acts as a work permit for Canadian intra-corporate transferees.

Contractual service suppliers

Do I qualify as a contractual service supplier?

For Malaysia’s commitments under the CPTPP, a Canadian contractual service supplier is a Canadian business person that is seeking to enter Malaysia temporarily, who is one of the following:

• a specialist or expert who possesses knowledge at an advanced level of continued expertise and who possesses proprietary knowledge of the organisation’s products and services in the relevant services sector or subsector;
• a professional who possesses the necessary academic credentials, professional qualifications, experience or expertise which have been duly recognised by the professional bodies in Malaysia and registered with those respective professional bodies; or
• an employee of an enterprise of the other Party, who enters Malaysia temporarily in order to perform a service pursuant to a contract.

To qualify for temporary entry into Malaysia under the CPTPP, a Canadian contractual service supplier must be acting in one of the following occupations:

• Professional services
  • Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services (CPC 862)
  • Architectural services (CPC 8671)
  • Engineering services (CPC 8672)
  • Integrated engineering services (CPC 8673)
  • Urban planning services (CPC 86741)
  • Landscaping services (CPC 86742)
  • Specialised medical services (CPC 93122)
  • Veterinary services (CPC 932)
• Computer and related services
  • Computer and related services (CPC 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 84910, 84990)
• Research and developmental services
  • Research and experimental development services on natural sciences and engineering (CPC 85101, 85103, 85109)
• Other business services
  • Management consulting services (CPC 8650)
  • Technical testing and analysis services (CPC 8676)
  • Services related to management consulting (CPC 86601)
  • Related scientific and technical consulting services (CPC 8675)
  • Convention and exhibition management services (CPC 87909)
• Communication services
  • Motion picture and video tape production and distribution services (CPC 9611)
• Environmental services
  • Wastewater management (CPC 9401)
• Financial services
  • Financial analyst
  • Financial managers
  • Economists
  • Mathematicians
  • Statisticians
  • Actuaries
• Education services
  • Other education professionals
  • Managers and professionals marketing education services
  • Lecturers
• Construction services
  • Construction services covering CPC 511 – 518

For Malaysia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian contractual service supplier can stay in Malaysia for one year or the duration of the contract, whichever is shorter.

Do I need a visa as a contractual service supplier?

Yes. A Canadian contractual service supplier should apply for an Employment Pass. Employment Passes have three different categories with various time allocations. To understand the specific eligibility requirements and how to apply, see the Employment Pass page of the Immigration Department of Malaysia’s website.

If you have any questions regarding the Employment Pass, consider contacting the Immigration Department of Malaysia or the High Commission of Malaysia in Ottawa.

How do I apply for an Employment Pass as a contractual service supplier?

There are two processes that must be completed to obtain an Employment pass. First your employer must apply for an Expatriate Post. Once approved, the applicant can apply through the MYXpats Centre on the Expatriate Service Division website.

More information about the MYXpats Centre can be found on the Expatriate Services Division website.

Do I need a work permit as a contractual service supplier?

No. The Employment Pass acts as a work permit for Canadian contractual service suppliers.

Independent professionals

Do I qualify as an independent professional?

For Malaysia’s CPTPP commitments, a Canadian independent professional is a Canadian business person that is seeking to enter Malaysia temporarily, who is one of the following:

• a specialist or expert who possesses knowledge at an advanced level of continued expertise and who possesses proprietary knowledge of the organisation's products and services in the relevant services sector or subsector; or
• a professional who possesses the necessary academic credentials, professional qualification, experience or expertise which have been duly recognised by the professional bodies in Malaysia and registers with those respective professional bodies.

Under Malaysia’s commitments in the CPTPP, a Canadian independent professional must be acting in one of the following occupations:

• Professional services
  • Accounting, auditing and bookkeeping services (CPC 862)
  • Architectural services (CPC 8671)
  • Engineering services (CPC 8672)
  • Integrated engineering services (CPC 8673)
  • Urban planning services (CPC 86741)
  • Landscaping services (CPC 86742)
  • Specialised medical services (CPC 93122)
  • Veterinary services (CPC 932)
• Computer and related services
  • Computer and related services (CPC 841, 842, 843, 844, 845, 84910, 84990)
• Research and developmental services
  • Research and experimental development services on natural sciences and engineering (CPC 85101, 85103, 85109)
• Other business services
  • Management consulting services (CPC 8650)
  • Technical testing and analysis services (CPC 8676)
  • Services related to management consulting (CPC 86601)
  • Related scientific and technical consulting services (CPC 8675)
  • Convention and exhibition management services (CPC 87909)
• Communication services
  • Motion picture and video tape production and distribution services (CPC 9611)
• Environmental services
  • Wastewater management (CPC 9401)
• Financial services
  • Financial analyst
  • Financial managers
  • Economists
  • Mathematicians
  • Statisticians
  • Actuaries
• Education services
  • Other education professionals
  • Managers and professionals marketing education services
  • Lecturers
• Construction services
  • Construction services covering CPC 511 – 518

A Canadian independent professional can stay in Malaysia for an initial stay of one year or the duration of the contract, whichever is shorter.

Do I need a visa as an independent professional?

Yes. A Canadian contractual service supplier should apply for an Employment Pass. Employment Passes have three different categories with various time allocations. To understand the specific eligibility requirements and how to apply, see the Employment Pass page of the Immigration Department of Malaysia’s website.

If you have any questions regarding the Employment Pass, consider contacting the Immigration Department of Malaysia or the High Commission of Malaysia in Ottawa.

How do I apply for an Employment Pass as an independent professional?

There are two processes that must be completed to obtain an Employment Pass. First your employer must apply for an Expatriate Post. Once approved, the applicant can apply through the MYXpats Centre on the Expatriate Service Division website.

More information about the MYXpats Centre can be found on the Expatriate Services Division website.

Do I need a work permit as an independent professional?

No. The Employment Pass acts as a work permit for Canadian contractual service suppliers.

I qualify for temporary entry into Malaysia under the CPTPP; can my spouse or dependants accompany me?

Malaysia extends temporary entry coverage to spouses and dependants for only one category of business persons under the CPTPP. Spouses and dependants of Canadian intra-corporate transferees are eligible for temporary entry and the right to work in Malaysia under its CPTPP commitments, they may apply for a Dependent Pass after the principal applicant has received their Employment Pass. The period of stay offered to spouses and dependants are equivalent to the length of stay of the principal applicant.

Typically, the spouse or dependant of a covered Canadian business person should apply for their Dependant Pass at the same time, in a combined visa application with the main applicant’s Employment Pass application.

For more information about temporary entry and work rights for spouses and dependants, see the Dependant Pass page of the Expatriate Services Division website.

What if I don’t qualify for temporary entry into Malaysia under the CPTPP?

For any other types of Canadian business persons, temporary entry to Malaysia is subject to Malaysia’s Acts and Regulations governing entry and stay.

To explore the other paths for entry into Malaysia for Canadian business persons not belonging to any of the categories covered under the CPTPP, see the Immigration Department of Malaysia’s website.

Disclaimer:

The information contained herein is current as of May 2023 (national immigration legislations may change, sometimes at short notice). It is offered for informational purposes only and does not constitute general legal advice. The information: (i) must be regarded as a practical guide for general information and not a process guide for determining the specific immigration requirements of the countries covered, (ii) should not be a substitute for a more in-depth analysis of applicable facts and circumstances (including, without limitation, criminal or health-related circumstances) conducted by competent professionals, (iii) indicated processing times and fees herein are approximate, are subject to the specific case circumstances, and change. The information herein does not guarantee the outcome or approval of any particular immigration application.