Malaysia is expected to attract up to 80,000 travelers by 2025 through the special visa for digital nomads, which has gained ground since its launch on October 1 2022.
According to Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) Head of Digital Tourism, Arifah Sharifuddin, as of June 30, the visa, officially called the DE Rantau Nomad Pass, has received 3,315 applications, VisaGuide.World reports.
Malaysian Digital Nomad Visa Particularly Famous Amongst Russians, Pakistanis, Brits, the Japanese & Australians
She further revealed that of this total number, 1,563 applications have been approved. The applicants who received approval came from 78 countries, with the first five main countries being Russia, Pakistan, Great Britain, Japan, and Australia.
Initially, the digital visa was targeted at tech and digital professionals but in June, eligibility was expanded to include professionals and talents from other fields.
As Arifah explains, most digital nomads are founders, CEOs, chief operating officers, tax accountants, legal advisors, technical writers, business development managers and public relations professionals.
In addition, non-IT and non-digital talent must meet a minimum annual income requirement of US$60,000 (RM280,000). Arifah also pointed out that apart from increasing spending in the local economy and expanding the tax base, the rise of digital nomadism drives innovation and new business opportunities for Malaysian citizens.
Commenting on the benefits of the digital nomad visa, Prof. Putra Business School Associate Professor Ida Md Yasin also said that digital nomadism brings positive economic and cultural benefits to the country.
Digital Visa Holders in Malaysia Allowed to Stay There for Up to 1 Year
Based on global data, digital nomads stay in one country for an average of seven months. In Malaysia, about 90 percent of approved digital visa holders stay for up to one year.
Data provided by Digital Economy Corporation’s (MDEC) latest survey last year, digital nomads spend roughly $2,000 per month. The same source also indicated that as of May 31, 2024, 3,096 applications were received for the DE Rantau Nomad Pass program.
Of these, 1443 applications were approved, including 189 visa extensions. The average annual income of approved digital nomads is $69,000 (RM324K).
During the same period, the network included providers from various fields:
- Coworking spaces
- Insurance platforms
- Medical services
- Rental services
- Travel and leisure services
- Cashless payments
- Transportation services
MDEC’s figures disclose that most have experience and professional skills in software development, digital marketing, artificial intelligence, and machine learning.
A survey conducted in late 2023 revealed that 40 percent of approved candidates came to Malaysia with their families.