After you arrive: banking, tax number and renewal
Opening a bank account on a DE Rantau pass is not uniform across banks: in one 2026 case Hong Leong and Ambank opened accounts while RHB and CIMB declined. A Malaysian tax number (TIN) is required when you choose ePass at activation. Approval is where the admin starts, not where it ends.
Approval is the start, not the finish. These are the things that only come up after you land, and that almost no guide covers.
The experience of one DE Rantau holder living in Malaysia in 2026 · Bank and tax policy change — check the position at the time you apply
Written by Flora Zhang · Last updated 25 September 2026
Banking: not every bank will open an account
First-hand record · 2026
| Bank | Result |
|---|---|
| Hong Leong Bank | Account opened |
| Ambank | Account opened |
| RHB | Declined |
| CIMB | Declined |
This is one person's result in 2026. Bank policy changes and can differ by branch and by relationship manager, but it establishes one thing: opening an account on a DE Rantau pass is not uniform across banks. If time is short, start with the two above rather than working through them at random.
The TIN (Malaysian tax number)
A TIN is required when you choose ePass at activation. In this applicant’s case it took one working day; this is not a guaranteed processing time. The other two activation items are the entry stamp and travel insurance valid for three months or more — see processing time.
Tax: payment location alone does not determine liability
Malaysian income tax cannot be determined from the salary payment location alone. Where employment duties are physically performed matters, alongside tax residence, applicable treaties and exemptions. A DE Rantau pass does not by itself establish a tax exemption. Check your circumstances with HASiL or a qualified tax adviser.
Source: HASiL, Tax Treatment of Foreign Nationals Exercising Employment in Malaysia, Public Ruling No. 2/2026, sections 4.1–4.2 (27 March 2026). See HASiL for official guidance. Tax wording corrected 25 September 2026.
This is the one place on this site where the honest answer is to get professional advice. Cross-border personal tax turns on treaties and residence tests, so another applicant's outcome is not a guide to yours. Nothing here is tax advice.
Renewal: dependants depend on you
Renewing a dependant's pass requires the main applicant's passport pages and ePass. Any change to the main applicant's status feeds directly into the family's renewal, which is worth factoring into a longer-term plan.
Also: the RM1,500 Local Sponsorship Deposit is refundable only when you stop renewing. If you intend to stay, that money stays on deposit — see costs.
Common questions
Which Malaysian banks open accounts for DE Rantau holders?
One DE Rantau holder in 2026 found that Hong Leong Bank and Ambank opened an account, while RHB and CIMB did not. That is one person's result in 2026 and bank policy changes and varies by branch, but it shows that account opening on a DE Rantau pass is not uniform across banks.
Do DE Rantau holders pay Malaysian income tax?
Malaysian income tax cannot be determined from the salary payment location alone. Where employment duties are physically performed matters, alongside tax residence, applicable treaties and exemptions. A DE Rantau pass does not by itself establish a tax exemption. Check your circumstances with HASiL or a qualified tax adviser.
What is the TIN needed for ePass activation?
The TIN is a Malaysian tax number, required when you choose ePass at activation. In this applicant’s case it took one working day to obtain; processing times can vary. The other two activation items are the entry stamp and travel insurance valid for three months or more.