Malaysia Eases Visa Overstay Process With New 90-Day Fine Policy

• Malaysia has introduced the Overstay Management Program to assist foreign professionals and their families with visa overstays.
• The program allows holders of Employment Passes and Dependent Passes to pay fixed fines for overstays of up to 90 days.
• This initiative aims to streamline the process, replacing previous lengthy enforcement procedures.

Malaysia has launched a new initiative designed to simplify the process for foreign professionals and their families who occasionally overstay their visas.

Called the Overstay Management Program, the system enables holders of Employment Passes and Dependent Passes to pay fixed fines for overstays of up to 90 days, replacing the previously lengthy and often cumbersome enforcement procedures.

This change represents a major shift in how Malaysia manages minor immigration violations among expatriates, a group critical to the country’s technology, manufacturing, and services sectors.

Previous System

Before this update, anyone staying beyond 30 days past their visa expiration was automatically subjected to the Overstay Investigation Paper (OIP) process. This required formal interviews, involvement from the employer, and could result in long delays.

How the New Policy Works

Under the revamped system, fines are now clear and predictable:

• Overstays of 1–30 days: 30 Malaysian ringgit ($7.26) per day
• Overstays of 31–60 days: flat fine of 1,000 ringgit ($241.96)
• Overstays of 61–90 days: flat fine of 2,000 ringgit ($483.91)

Authorities say the fixed penalties will speed up case resolution and reduce administrative burdens for both expatriates and government offices.

In addition, the cost of a Special Pass which allows foreign nationals to remain legally in Malaysia while awaiting the approval of a new or extended pass has doubled from 100 to 200 ringgit ($24.20–$48.39) per application. Officials note the increase reflects higher administrative costs and aims to make the process more efficient.

Limitations and Exclusions

The simplified system does not apply to every situation. Foreign nationals who have overstayed for more than 90 days, have multiple violations, or currently hold a Special Pass remain subject to the formal investigation process. Similarly, individuals with prior immigration offenses continue to be referred to the Enforcement Division, which requires in-person appearances.

Key Takeaways

The Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) has confirmed that the Overstay Management Program is already active. While the Expatriate Services Division (ESD) has not yet issued an official statement, it is reportedly following the new procedures in practice.

Immigration advisors and employers stress the importance of early planning. They recommend beginning the renewal or extension process at least three months before a visa expires to avoid fines or more complex enforcement measures.

Overall, Malaysia’s new policy reflects a pragmatic approach to immigration compliance, streamlining the handling of short-term overstays while maintaining strict measures for serious violations. For multinational companies and their expatriate employees, the update provides a clearer, more manageable path for addressing minor overstays, although officials continue to stress that proactive compliance remains the best strategy.