Quick answer
SANSOLS (Sarawak Advanced Non-Sarawakian Online Labour System) is the Sarawak state platform for hiring non-executive foreign workers — general workers and skilled workers — into Sarawak. It runs inside GENESIS (genesis.sarawak.gov.my), the state's one-stop portal for all non-Sarawakian entry and employment, alongside EXPRT (expatriates), HAVEN (domestic helpers) and eVDR (visa with reference).
The application is employer-driven: the company holds the GENESIS account, secures the labour quota and files on SANSOLS. Workers apply through their employer — not on their own.
| Hiring... | File through |
|---|---|
| Foreign general worker (non-executive roles) | SANSOLS → General Worker |
| Foreign skilled worker | SANSOLS → Skilled Worker |
| Foreign professional / manager (expatriate) | EXPRT, not SANSOLS |
| Foreign domestic helper | HAVEN, not SANSOLS |
What SANSOLS actually is
Malaysia runs two immigration systems, and Sarawak's is its own. For non-executive foreign workers, the peninsula uses the federal PLKS (Temporary Employment Visit Pass) process. Sarawak keeps this authority at state level under the Malaysia Agreement 1963, and SANSOLS is where the state's side of it now lives — quota, employer registration and worker files in one digital system instead of paper files at counters.
Two official categories exist on the portal:
- General Worker — non-executive roles that do not require formal professional qualifications
- Skilled Worker — roles where the worker's skill or certification matters to the approval
The split matters because the documents, the justification and sometimes the quotas differ between the two. Filing a skilled role under the general worker flow (or the reverse) is one of the ways applications get delayed.
Who does what
The employer's side
- Register the company on GENESIS — one ALIANCE SSO account covers all modules
- Secure the labour quota on SANSOLS for the positions and sector before recruiting
- File the worker application under the correct category (General vs Skilled)
- Provide company documents, business justification and the employment contract
- Arrange entry (eVDR where the worker's nationality requires it) and track compliance after arrival
Sectors with large foreign workforces in Sarawak — plantation and agriculture among them — operate under the state's Foreign Worker Transformation Approach, with SANSOLS as the system of record. Employer associations in these sectors have publicly discussed the transition, so expect operational rules to keep evolving; check the portal before each intake.
The worker's side
As the applicant you do not file anything yourself. What you control:
- A passport valid well beyond the intended employment period
- Certificates or trade certifications (essential for the Skilled Worker category)
- Medical examination where required
- Accurate personal details — the name and numbers on your documents must match your passport exactly
- For entry from abroad: cooperating with the eVDR stage linked to your employer's approved application
If anyone offers you "a Sarawak work pass" without an employer, a real job and a state approval — that is not the system. Walk away.
The process, step by step
- Employer registration. The company creates its account on
genesis.sarawak.gov.my. Official support:admin.genesis@sarawak.gov.myand the support line published on the portal. - Quota on SANSOLS. The employer applies for the labour quota — the number of non-Sarawakian workers the business may hire — for the relevant sector and positions.
- Worker application. With quota in place, the employer files each worker under General Worker or Skilled Worker, attaching the documents below.
- State review. Sarawak's immigration and labour functions review the employer, the quota and the worker together. The Immigration and Labour Integrated Centre (ILC) in Kuching houses both under one roof.
- Entry and pass. Workers outside Malaysia enter through eVDR (Visa with Reference) where required. After arrival, the worker's file stays tied to the named employer and role.
- Renewals. Extensions and renewals are managed on the same platform — keep the company account and worker records current, because a lapsed file is the most common renewal delay.
Document checklist
Employer:
- Company registration (SSM) documents
- GENESIS / SANSOLS company account in good standing
- Approved labour quota for the positions
- Employment contract stating role, salary and work location in Sarawak
- Sector-specific business documents where the state asks for them
Worker:
- Passport copy — check the expiry date first
- Qualification or trade certificates (Skilled Worker category in particular)
- Medical examination report where required
- Passport-standard photographs
- Personal particulars exactly matching the passport
Fees and timing — what is honest to say
The Sarawak authorities do not publish a single public fee table covering all SANSOLS categories. Charges depend on the category, the worker's nationality and the sector, and they change. Any figure quoted by a blog or a middleman is a placeholder — confirm through the official GENESIS portal before anyone pays anything.
Processing time depends on the category and how complete the file is. No one outside the department can promise a date. A "guaranteed approval" offer is a warning, not a service.
SANSOLS vs PLKS vs EXPRT
| SANSOLS (Sarawak) | PLKS (federal) | EXPRT (Sarawak) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| For | Foreign general/skilled workers in Sarawak | Non-executive foreign workers in peninsula | Foreign professionals in Sarawak |
| Authority | Sarawak state (MA63) | Federal Immigration | Sarawak state (MA63) |
| Filed via | GENESIS → SANSOLS | Federal system | GENESIS → EXPRT |
| Quota | State labour quota on SANSOLS | Federal sector quotas | Position-based |
A federal pass for peninsula employment does not authorize work in Sarawak. The reverse is also true.
Frequently asked questions
Can a worker apply on SANSOLS directly? No. SANSOLS is employer-driven. The company files; the worker supplies documents and information.
What is the difference between General Worker and Skilled Worker on SANSOLS? They are the two official categories on the portal. General Worker covers non-executive roles without a formal qualification requirement; Skilled Worker covers roles where skill or certification is central to the approval. The documents and justification differ — filing under the wrong category causes delays.
Is SANSOLS the same as PLKS? No. PLKS is the federal pass for peninsula employment. SANSOLS is Sarawak's own system under MA63. Working in Sarawak on a peninsula-only arrangement is a compliance risk for both employer and worker.
Where is the official portal?
genesis.sarawak.gov.my — SANSOLS is one of its e-Services modules. Beware lookalike sites; the official contact is admin.genesis@sarawak.gov.my.
How do I check whether an agency handling my file is legitimate? JTKSWK (Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak) licenses private employment agencies in Sarawak. A licence is held by a company, never by an individual, and every licensed agency has a checkable licence number.
We are a plantation/agriculture employer — anything different? Sectors with large foreign workforces operate under the state's Foreign Worker Transformation Approach with SANSOLS as the system of record, and implementation rules have been evolving. Confirm the current sector requirements on the portal before each intake.
How we fit in
AUSVJ is based in Miri, Sarawak. We help employers and workers get the file right before it enters GENESIS/SANSOLS: matching the category to the role, checking that documents are consistent, and translating between what the system asks for and what you have. We are not the immigration department, we do not issue passes, and we cannot guarantee approval or a timeline. What we can do is make the first submission complete and coherent — which is where most delays actually come from.
Sources:
- GENESIS Sarawak official portal:
genesis.sarawak.gov.my(e-Services listing SANSOLS — Sarawak Advanced Non-Sarawakian Online Labour System — with General Worker / Skilled Worker; official contact admin.genesis@sarawak.gov.my; portal statistics dated 20 October 2026) - Migratesafe reference: Sarawak administers its own immigration under the Malaysia Agreement 1963; labour quota on SANSOLS, expatriates on EXPRT, domestic helpers on HAVEN; public documentation on SANSOLS scope is limited
- MPOA (Malaysian Palm Oil Association) Sarawak Branch public statement on the Foreign Worker Transformation Approach and SANSOLS implementation
- JTKSWK official portal:
jtkswk.gov.my(licensing of private employment agencies)
