Immigration

SCIENTISTSSabah Immigration Procedures

Before you arrive in Sabah you will need to have your approval letter for your Professional Visa Pass from Immigration. The submission of documents and application must be carried out by your local collaborator. Please contact your local collaborator early on in this process to make a plan for your submission. Here is a checklist from the immigration department with all the required documents for applying for the Professional Visa Pass (PVP). Filling in the immigration forms involves the following steps:

Steps to Obtain a Professional Visa Pass (PVP)/Pass Lawatan Ikhtisas (PLIK):

  1. Prepare Your Documents:
    Gather all the necessary documents (forms available below), including the SaBc access license. You can request a soft copy of the access license from SaBc after receiving approval for immigration purposes.
    You need to submit the following documents to Immigration;:– Your passport plus 2 photocopies (2 of the page with your photo and 2 of the page with your entry visa stamp)
    – 2 colour passport photographs
    – Copy of SaBC Access license issued (plus copy of your Export license if applicable)
    – Copy of approval from DVMC, MBMC or Forestry
    – Support letter from your local collaborator addressed to immigration. This will serve as a cover letter to your application.
    – Two photocopies of your local collaborator’s ID card
    – Stamp duty paid on Personal Bond Form
    – Form numbers 12 and 38, and 4 copies of Form 63 (plus form 47 if required).
  2. Submit Forms and additional documentation listed above to Local Collaborator:
    Complete all forms and submit them to your designated local collaborator.
  3. Submission by Local Collaborator:
    The local collaborator will handle the submission process. If they are unavailable, they can appoint someone from the same organisation to submit the forms. Allow at least 14 working days or more for processing.
  4. Approval Notification:
    Once approved, Immigration will notify the local collaborator to collect the approval letter.
  5. Receive Approval Letter:
    The local collaborator will send the approval letter to the scientist/applicant. This document is required to enter Malaysia.
  6. Arrival in Sabah and Immigration Stamp:
    Upon arrival in Sabah, the scientist/applicant must visit the Immigration Department to receive the PPV/PLIK stamp in their passport.
  7. Commence Fieldwork:
    After obtaining the PPV/PLIK, the scientist is permitted to proceed to the field and begin their work.

Note: Ensure you allow adequate time for processing and follow each step closely to avoid delays

Detailed steps, documents and websites for application, arrival and completion below:

Step 1

Prior to arrival fill in form numbers 12, 38 and 63 (and 47 for some nationalities),  All of these forms and your other documentation needs to be downloaded and filled-in before sending to your local collaborator. Please note, you may need help from your Local Collaborator with Form 63 (it is in Malay) and Form 12. Forms 12, 63 & 47 require your local collaborators signature. Note that on Form 12, you only need to complete the first paragraph and last sentence of the form.
Form 12
Form 38
Form 63
Form 47

Step 2

Pay stamp duty online. Download the personal bond form below. Once it has been filled in and signed, you need to send the Personal Bond Form to your local collaborator with a receipt of the duty stamp, RM10.00, that can be paid here. You do not need to go to the  Income Tax Department in person.
Personal Bond Form

Step 3

After arriving in Sabah go to pick up your visa at the immigration office. Collect a number from window number 1 or 2, wait to be called and then pay the fee to the cashier. Note that your first entry visa will cost more. You then need to hand in your passport and your receipt to the next window you’re called to, and a visa sticker will be put into your passport. Double check the visa has the correct information before leaving.

Step 4

Obtain Access License from SaBC. Once your Access License has been approved, SaBC will send you a soft copy with a stamp that needs to be included with your PPV application. Upon arrival, bring the Statutory Declaration Form (available below) to sign in the presence of a Session Court Judge, Magistrate, or Commissioner for Oaths in Sabah/Malaysia. You can do this in a court building (makamah in Malay – taxi drivers should know), or at the office of a Commissioner for Oaths. There is one at Jaksa Pendamai, Kampung Air, 88000 in Kota Kinabalu. Once the declaration is signed, take it to SaBC to collect the Access Licence in person. Note that you will need a second original statutory declaration signed if you intend to collect an export license. SaBC is located on the 19th floor, Block A of the Sabah State Administrative Centre (Tingkat 19, Blok A, Pusat Pentadbiran Negeri Sabah, Jalan Teluk Likas, Beg Berkunci 2070, 88400 Kota Kinabalu, Sabah) opposite the Yayasan Sabah building).
Statutory Declaration Form

You should also collect approval letters and licenses from the DVMC, MBMC or Forestry.