All about the Work and Holiday Visa in Malaysia!
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005 (medical expenses, hospitalisation, repatriation…)
Between 18 and 30 years old
A valid passport for the entire duration of your working holiday
Enough to support yourself
This must be your first participation
Should cover medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation
Must be a citizen of a partner country
01. What is the Work and Holiday Visa?
A WHV is a bilateral accord signed between governments to promote youth mobility and cultural exchange. Participating countries allow young adults to spend a set period of time (usually one year) living and working abroad. Most of the accords are signed between countries in Europe, the Americas, Oceania, and East Asia. A WHV encourages cultural exchange alongside the chance to gain valuable work experience, though participants are not obligated to work.
02. Which nationalities are eligible?
Young adults from Australia can apply for the Malaysia Work and Holiday Visa.
03. What is the application fee?
The application fee is RM90.
04. What documents are required for the application?
05. How long is the visa good for?
The WHV allows holders to stay up to one year in Malaysia.
06. Are there any other requirements I should be aware of?
To be eligible for participation, you must hold tertiary qualifications, or have successfully completed at least two years of undergraduate studies at a university.
07. Are there any work or study restrictions?
(Source)
08. Do I need to buy health insurance?
Though private health insurance is not required by Malaysian authorities for the WHV application, it is still strongly recommended. Otherwise, even small incidents can lead to significant out of pocket costs. You should choose an insurance that covers medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
09. Can I bring my spouse and/or children?
No, you cannot bring dependents on your WHV to Malaysia. Your spouse/partner must apply for their own WHV, if they are eligible.
10. What is pvtistes.net and how can it help me?
We are a team of current and former working holiday makers dedicated to providing free information and resources about the working holiday, to Malaysia and other destinations. Read our helpful articles, leave comments if you have questions, and check out our special deals.
We don’t ask for any money, and neither should anyone else in your application process (besides the embassy/consulate and their official partners). Be very careful of online scams where someone might ask you for an exorbitant amount to help you get your visa. Working Holiday Visas are designed to be relatively easy to obtain yourself, so there is absolutely no need to pay any professional service to do it on your behalf.
11. Where can I apply?
You must submit your application and all supporting documents to the Malaysian High Commission in Canberra or Malaysian Consulate General in Perth.
As mentioned earlier, all WHV-holders in Malaysia should consider purchasing insurance that covers medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation to avoid paying out of pocket for medical care.
We’ve been recommending Globe WHV since 2005. They have covered thousands of working holiday makers over the years.
- Chapter 5: Getting WHV health insurance
- What to know about travel insurance for your working holiday abroad
- What to have in your Working Holiday adventure first-aid kit
Malaysia’s currency is the ringgit (RM, MYR). There are two main ways to open a foreign-currency account: via 1) a traditional bank or 2) an online neo-bank. Traditional banks usually require you to already be in the country. You would have to make and attend an appointment where a representative would ask you for some documents.
If you want to have an RM debit card in hand before even arriving in Malaysia, you may want to consider the second option, an online neo-bank like Wise. It is an app that offers multi-currency financial services. Customers receive a physical debit card that can be used to withdraw cash at local ATMs. Your RM account would also have its own routing and account numbers, so you can set up autopay, direct deposits, or transfer money to recipients in Malaysia. These capabilities could be useful in exchanges with your employer or landlord. You can register from your home country or once you arrive in Malaysia. Learn more about Wise.
There are advantages to both options. Wise registration is simple and quick, but traditional banks offer the possibility of issuing and depositing cheques, if that is something you need. So you could make a Wise account first and then a traditional account once you arrive in Malaysia.
Once your application is approved, you’ll need to think about where to live, especially in the first few days and weeks. If you are planning on renting long term housing, we recommend you wait until you arrive in Malaysia before paying a deposit or signing anything. Never send money to anyone without seeing the place in person.
For your first couple of weeks, you could consider Airbnb or hotels. But the most affordable option is going to be youth hostels. You can find some great ones on Hostelworld.
- Chapter 6: Booking housing for your arrival
- 7 Tips for finding housing during your working holiday abroad
- Couchsurfing abroad: a way to meet friendly locals and save money
After you get your visa, you will have plenty of things you need to take care of. Some of them are more urgent than others, so this list breaks down your to-dos, from the most urgent to the least. It may seem like a lot but don’t worry, take it one step at a time!
As you prepare for your working holiday in Malaysia, check out our library of free articles and guides. Everyone on the pvtistes.net team has done (or is currently on) a working holiday, so everything we write is from personal experience.
This is the perfect chance to learn or brush up on a foreign language. Babbel is partnering with pvtistes.net to offer 20% off on language courses (learn more). Also check out our other deals for working holiday makers.
All applicants must be between 18 and 30 years old (inclusive, i.e. until the day before their 31st birthday).
You must have a passport that is valid for the entire duration of your working holiday.
You must provide evidence of sufficient funds to cover your initial living expenses in Malaysia. The exact amount is not specified but must prove you can support yourself and afford to buy a ticket home at the end of your stay.
See our chapter on budgeting for an idea of how much more savings you should have for a working holiday.
This must be your first participation. If you have already been granted a Malaysia Work and Holiday Visa before, then you cannot apply again.
Though health insurance is not required for the Malaysia WHV, it is strongly recommended. You should buy health insurance that covers medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation for the totality of your stay. Without health insurance, out of pocket costs for healthcare in Malaysia could be very high.
You must be a citizen of a partner country to apply. Malaysia currently has a bilateral accord with Australia.