Quick answer
Anyone who is not a Sarawakian needs the Sarawak state's approval to work in Sarawak — including Malaysians from West Malaysia and Sabah. Sarawak runs its own immigration system, separate from the federal one in Putrajaya.
Since 1 November 2025, Employment Pass applications and renewals for Sarawak are filed online through GENESIS (genesis.sarawak.gov.my), the state's official portal — no more preparing paper files for the counters in Kuching the old way.
| Who you are | Which Sarawak module handles you |
|---|---|
| Foreign professional, manager or expatriate | EXPRT (Employment Pass, Professional Visit Pass) |
| Foreign general or skilled worker | SANSOLS (General Worker / Skilled Worker) |
| Foreign domestic helper | HAVEN |
| Foreigner who needs entry clearance tied to the job | eVDR (Visa with Reference) |
Why Sarawak is different from the rest of Malaysia
Malaysia effectively runs two immigration systems. Peninsular Malaysia is handled federally — the Immigration Department and its Expatriate Services Division (ESD). Sarawak administers its own immigration under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), on its own platforms, with its own approvals.
That has one consequence almost nobody outside Borneo knows:
A Malaysian citizen from Kuala Lumpur or Johor Bahru cannot just move to Kuching or Miri for a job and start work. The employer still needs state approval to employ a non-Sarawakian, even a Malaysian one.
| Peninsular Malaysia | Sarawak | |
|---|---|---|
| Immigration authority | Federal (Immigration Dept / ESD) | Sarawak state immigration (MA63) |
| Expatriate pass filed via | ESD online system | GENESIS → EXPRT |
| Non-executive foreign worker | PLKS (federal) | GENESIS → SANSOLS |
| Domestic helper | Federal route | GENESIS → HAVEN |
| West Malaysians working there | No extra approval | Employer needs state approval |
Who does what: the employer's side and the applicant's side
Sarawak work permits are employer-driven. The company holds the account on GENESIS and files the application; the applicant supplies documents and information. If an "agent" offers to get you a pass without an employer or a real job, that is not how the system works — walk away.
The employer must handle
- Register the company on GENESIS (one ALIANCE account covers the modules)
- Confirm the position and workforce quota for hiring a non-Sarawakian
- File the application in the correct module: EXPRT (professionals), SANSOLS (general/skilled workers), HAVEN (domestic helpers)
- Provide company documents and the employment contract
- Track the file and handle renewals through the same platform
The applicant must provide
- Passport (with validity well beyond the intended employment period)
- Educational certificates and, where relevant, professional registrations
- Medical examination where required
- Passport photos and personal particulars matching the passport exactly
- For entry from abroad: the visa/reference stage (eVDR) tied to the approved application
The process, step by step
- Employer registers on GENESIS. The company account is created at
genesis.sarawak.gov.my. Support runs through the official channels:admin.genesis@sarawak.gov.myand the technical support line published on the portal. - The file is prepared in the right module. EXPRT for expatriate personnel and Professional Visit Pass; SANSOLS for general and skilled workers; HAVEN for a foreign domestic helper. Filing in the wrong module is one of the most common reasons files bounce.
- State review. Sarawak immigration reviews the employer, the position and the applicant together. The Immigration and Labour Integrated Centre (ILC) in Kuching brings immigration and labour functions under one roof, so an employer's file moves between them without separate counter visits.
- Approval and entry. If the applicant is outside Malaysia and their nationality requires it, entry is arranged through eVDR (Visa with Reference) linked to the approved application.
- Pass issued, then compliance. The pass is tied to the named employer and role. Renewals are filed on the same platform — since the November 2025 change, renewal files live on ALIANCE too.
Document checklist
Company (employer):
- Company registration documents (SSM)
- GENESIS company account
- Employment contract / offer letter stating role, salary and location in Sarawak
- Supporting documents for the position (business activity, workforce composition where applicable)
Applicant:
- Passport copy (check the expiry date first — renewing a passport mid-application restarts paperwork)
- Certificates: academic, professional, or trade certifications relevant to the role
- Passport-size photos per the portal's specification
- Medical examination report where required
- For eVDR entry: anything the approval letter lists
What it costs and how long it takes
The Sarawak authorities do not publish a simple public fee table for every category — charges depend on the pass type, the applicant's nationality and the sector. Treat any number quoted on a blog or by a middleman as a placeholder and confirm through the official GENESIS portal or Sarawak immigration before paying anything.
Processing time likewise varies with the module and the completeness of the file. Nobody outside the department can promise you a date — and if someone sells you a "guaranteed approval time", that is a red flag, not a service.
Before 2025 vs after 2025
| Before 1 Nov 2025 | After 1 Nov 2025 | |
|---|---|---|
| EP new applications | Prepared manually, submitted at Sarawak immigration counters | Filed online on ALIANCE / GENESIS |
| Renewals | Counter-based | Online on the same platform |
| File tracking | Phone calls and counter visits | Dashboard on GENESIS |
| Employer account | Not applicable | One ALIANCE SSO account across modules |
The old way depended on how well a paper file was assembled. The new way is stricter about what goes into the system — which makes the document checklist above more important, not less.
Frequently asked questions
Do West Malaysians need a work permit in Sarawak? Yes. Malaysians from Peninsular Malaysia and Sabah are non-Sarawakians for immigration purposes. The employer needs state approval to employ them.
Can I apply for a Sarawak work permit myself, without my employer? No. Applications are employer-driven on GENESIS. Your part is documents and information; the filing is the company's.
What is the official website?
genesis.sarawak.gov.my — "Gateway & Employment for Non-Sarawakians via Sarawak's Integrated System", an ALIANCE module. Watch for lookalike sites; the official contact on the portal is admin.genesis@sarawak.gov.my.
How do I check if an employment agency in Sarawak is licensed? JTKSWK (Jabatan Tenaga Kerja Sarawak) licenses private employment agencies. A licence is held by a company, never by an individual, and every licensed agency has a licence number that can be checked.
I'm hiring a domestic helper from abroad — same portal? Yes. Domestic helper applications run through the HAVEN module of GENESIS, including the state approval and the calling visa.
Is this the same as an Employment Pass in Kuala Lumpur? No. A federal EP issued for Peninsular Malaysia is not a Sarawak work approval. Working in Sarawak on a peninsula-only arrangement is a compliance risk for both the employee and the employer.
How we fit in
AUSVJ is based in Miri, Sarawak. We help employers and applicants get the file right before it goes into GENESIS — matching the module to the role, checking that the 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 sure your file is complete and coherent on the first submission, which is where most delays actually come from.
Sources:
- GENESIS Sarawak official portal:
genesis.sarawak.gov.my(Gateway & Employment for Non-Sarawakians via Sarawak's Integrated System; e-Services: SANSOLS, HAVEN, eVDR, EXPRT; official contact admin.genesis@sarawak.gov.my; portal statistics dated 20 October 2026) - Mondaq, "Updated Submittal Process for Malaysia EP Applications", 17 December 2025 — Employment Pass applications in Sarawak must be submitted via the new online platform effective 1 November 2025; previously prepared and submitted manually at Sarawak immigration offices
- JTKSWK official portal:
jtkswk.gov.my(licensing of private employment agencies in Sarawak) - Sarawak immigration administered under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63)
