Expat Pass Application Process Reduced To 10 Days Via Xpats Gateway
KUALA LUMPUR, July 7 (Bernama) -- The processing time for Expatriate Employment Pass (EP) approvals, which used to take up to 40 days, has been reduced to just 10 working days following the integration of the Integrated Foreign Worker Management System (ePPAx) and MYFutureJobs into the Xpats Gateway, effective July 1.
Human Resource Minister Steven Sim said that previously, employers had to use multiple platforms to hire expatriates, but now they can apply through a single platform - Xpats Gateway, making the process much faster and more efficient.
He said two key requirements have been consolidated into Xpats Gateway, namely Section 60K of the Employment Act 1955 via ePPAx by the Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia, and the MYFutureJobs acknowledgement letter administered by the Social Security Organisation.
“Employers now only need to use one platform, making the application process much faster and easier, and applicants can track their application status in real-time. All data and documents are sourced directly from official systems, reducing the risk of fraudulent submissions.
“...and in just one week, about 100 companies have already applied through the new system,” he told a media briefing on the integration of MYFutureJobs and ePPAx here today.
Also present were the Immigration Department director-general Datuk Zakaria Shaaban, Malaysia Productivity Corporation deputy director-general Dr Mohamad Norjayadi Tamam and TalentCorp group chief executive officer Thomas Mathew.
Launched in June 2023, Xpats Gateway was developed by TalentCorp as a single-window platform to streamline expatriate application procedures. It connects 26 regulatory and approving agencies across the government.
Sim said this integration is expected to reduce costs for employers by up to 90 per cent and potentially save stakeholders nearly RM500 million.
With approximately 100,000 expatriate applications submitted annually, he said the new system will benefit employers, workers, businesses and investors alike.
“These improvements have also contributed to Malaysia’s IMD World Competitiveness Ranking rising from 34th place last year to 23rd this year,” he added.
-- BERNAMA
