Malaysian Employment Pass categories are determined by the employee's gross monthly salary at the time of application:

• Category I — RM10,000 and above per month; EP validity up to 5 years
• Category II — RM5,000 to RM9,999 per month; EP validity up to 2 years
• Category III — RM3,000 to RM4,999 per month; EP validity up to 1 year; restricted to approved sectors only

These thresholds are set by the Immigration Department and are subject to change. Salaries must be paid in Malaysian Ringgit (MYR) and reflected accurately in the employment contract submitted with the application.

Note that meeting the salary threshold is a necessary but not sufficient condition — qualifications and role justification are assessed independently.