Malaysia’s MDEC has introduced a revised process for Foreign Knowledge Worker (FKW) headcount quota requests for MDEC-registered companies, effective June 3, 2026. The change replaces instant quota approvals with a formal review process requiring supporting documents and additional processing time.
Under the new process, companies seeking new or additional FKW headcount must submit an FKW Projection Request through the eXpats system. All required supporting documents must be included at the time of submission.
Requests are expected to take approximately 14 working days to process. An Employment Pass (EP) application can only be submitted after the quota request has been approved.
This means companies need to add the quota review period into their hiring and immigration timelines. Leaving quota requests until the last minute may delay overall onboarding, since the review period can affect when an EP application may be filed.
Supporting documents may include:
- Tenancy or premises agreement with at least six months’ validity, stamped by LHDN
- Company search document issued within the last six months
- Latest contract or project documentation
- Certified financial statements or management accounts
- Completed FKW Request Template
- Latest EPF statement and payment receipt
- For new FKW applications, a SOCSO approval letter confirming job advertising on the MYFutureJobs portal, unless an exemption applies
Companies should review upcoming FKW headcount needs early and make sure all supporting documents are ready before submission. The key practical change is that quota approval is no longer immediate, so MDEC-registered companies should plan well in advance before starting Employment Pass applications.
Source article: newlandchase.com
