Part-Time Work Rules for International Students in Malaysia

The rules in brief

Malaysia allows international students to do some part-time work, but the rules are strict. These points come from the Immigration Department (Jabatan Imigresen Malaysia) and Education Malaysia (EMGS), checked in October 2026:

• Who can apply: Student Pass holders at public universities and private higher education institutions. Students at language centres and skills or training centres cannot.
• When: only during semester breaks and holidays. EMGS specifies breaks of more than 7 days, and your Student Pass must be valid the whole time.
• How much: no more than 20 hours a week.
• Where: restaurants, petrol stations, mini markets, hotels, and your own university or college campus.
• Not allowed: working as a cashier or at a front desk; working as a singer, masseur, musician or guest relations officer (GRO) in a hotel; recruiting students as an agent; or doing any work considered immoral.

Immigration's English-language page is worded more loosely than this, but its Malay version and the EMGS FAQ both link work to semester breaks. Plan on that basis, and check with your international office if you're unsure.

How to get permission

You can't just accept a job and start. The approval process goes through your university:

1. Get a job offer letter from an employer in one of the approved sectors.
2. Ask your university for a support letter. It must state your semester break dates, and the university will include your academic performance and attendance reports.
3. The employer needs approval from the Labour Department under Section 60K of the Employment Act 1955, which covers hiring foreign employees.
4. Send these documents, with a copy of your passport biodata page and Student Pass, to the Student Pass Unit at Immigration headquarters or a state Immigration office. EMGS says you attend together with a representative from your institution.
5. Immigration decides at its discretion. The University of Nottingham Malaysia notes that the department may interview you and that approval is endorsed in your passport.

Internships and industrial training

Many degrees include a compulsory internship or industrial training placement, and these are normally arranged through your university. The University of Nottingham Malaysia says that if an internship is part of your programme and required for graduation, you may not need a separate work permit. Your faculty's industrial training office will issue the letters. Before you start, check that your Student Pass covers the whole placement period, and ask whether a paid placement needs any extra approval.

Freelancing and online work

None of the official rules we reviewed mention freelancing or remote online work for overseas clients. The pass conditions describe only approved part-time work during breaks. Don't assume online gigs are allowed. Ask your international office in writing before you take on any paid work, including work you do from your laptop.

Postgraduates and scholarship holders

Research students are sometimes appointed as graduate research assistants, paid from a supervisor's research grant (see the scholarships guide). This is arranged through the university, which can tell you how it fits with your pass conditions. Malaysia International Scholarship holders may not take any paid work without written approval from their host university.

What you can realistically earn

• Malaysia's minimum wage has been RM1,700 a month since 1 February 2025, and it has applied to all employers since 1 August 2025. The Minimum Wages Order 2024 sets the hourly rate at RM8.72.
• In Budget 2027, presented on 9 October 2026, the government announced a rise to RM2,000 from June 2027. Small and medium businesses with sales under RM50 million are exempt for now.
• At 20 hours a week and RM8.72 an hour, you'd earn approximately RM174 a week. Six weeks at the 20-hour limit would bring in approximately RM1,050 before any deductions. That is less than one month's living costs in Kuala Lumpur and a small fraction of a year's tuition.

Bottom line: part-time work can help with pocket money and give you experience, but it can't pay for your degree. Make sure your family's funding plan covers tuition and living costs without it.

If you work without permission

Immigration states plainly that a student who breaks the rules will have their Student Pass revoked. Without a valid pass you can't remain in Malaysia legally, so you would lose your place on your course and could be required to leave the country. It can also put a scholarship at risk. Working "cash in hand" isn't worth it.

After graduation: your options

Malaysia has no automatic post-study work visa for every graduate. There are two routes:

Graduate Pass. This is a 12-month long-term social visit pass for people who have completed a bachelor's degree or higher at a Malaysian institution. It lets you stay in the country, travel, look for work and do part-time work in permitted sectors. Key points from Immigration and EMGS:

• It costs RM600 plus a multiple-entry visa fee, takes about 14 working days to process, and cannot be extended.
• You apply through EMGS while your Student Pass is still valid. You'll need a completion letter, a passport valid for at least 18 months, 12 months of insurance and a personal bond with a Malaysian sponsor who earns at least RM1,500 a month.
• Only 32 nationalities are eligible. These include Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, China, India, Indonesia and Japan. Chinese and Indian applicants also need a letter of good conduct. Pakistan and Bangladesh are not on the list as of October 2026.

Employment Pass. For most graduates, including Pakistanis, staying on to work means getting a job offer. The employer then applies for an Employment Pass through Immigration's Expatriate Services Division. Since 1 June 2026, the minimum monthly salaries are RM5,000 for Category III (RM7,000 in manufacturing), RM10,000 for Category II and RM20,000 for Category I. That bar is high for a fresh graduate, so start building internships, skills and contacts early.

FAQ

Can I work during the semester? Under the EMGS rules, no. Part-time work is allowed only during semester breaks or holidays of more than 7 days, and only with Immigration's approval.

Can I work at a café on campus without applying? No. Your campus is an approved location, but you still need Immigration's approval through your university first.

Can my spouse work while I study? No. Immigration says dependants of higher education students may not work or run a business in Malaysia.

As a Pakistani graduate, can I stay on to look for a job? You can't use the Graduate Pass at the moment, because Pakistan isn't on its list of eligible countries. You would need a job offer and an Employment Pass before your Student Pass ends. Check the current list with EMGS, because it can change.

Does an unpaid internship need permission? If it is a compulsory part of your programme, your university normally handles it. For anything else, ask your international office first.