{"id":36,"date":"2026-09-17T08:04:43","date_gmt":"2026-09-17T08:04:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vivosgroup.com\/my\/services\/company-incorporation\/"},"modified":"2026-11-03T09:32:00","modified_gmt":"2026-11-03T09:32:00","slug":"company-incorporation","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/vivosgroup.com\/my\/services\/company-incorporation\/","title":{"rendered":"Sdn Bhd Company Incorporation in Malaysia"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Malaysia services<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sdn Bhd Company Incorporation in Malaysia<\/h1>\n\n\n\n

We incorporate Sendirian Berhad (Sdn. Bhd.) companies for local and foreign owners, including wholly foreign-owned structures and Malaysian subsidiaries of overseas groups, delivered by VIVOS (M) Sdn. Bhd.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Typical timeline<\/td>Usually 1\u20132 weeks once documents are ready; SSM name searches are slower than usual since CRS replaced MyCoID on 14 July 2026<\/td><\/tr>
Foreign ownership<\/td>Up to 100% for most activities, subject to sector restrictions<\/td><\/tr>
Local director required<\/td>Yes \u2014 at least one director ordinarily resident in Malaysia<\/td><\/tr>
Minimum share capital<\/td>No statutory minimum beyond a nominal amount, though paid-up capital affects visa and licence eligibility<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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What’s included<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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  • Name search, reservation and SSM incorporation under the Companies Act 2016<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Constitution drafting where the default provisions are not suitable<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Resident director arrangements where no proposed director resides in Malaysia<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Registered office address and statutory record keeping<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Share structures for joint ventures, founder vesting and incoming investment<\/li>\n\n\n\n
  • Branch and representative office registration for existing foreign companies<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
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    Sdn Bhd registration at a glance (2026)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    A Sdn Bhd needs one director who lives in Malaysia, one shareholder, a registered office in Malaysia and a qualified company secretary within 30 days. Applications go to SSM through its Corporate Registry System (CRS).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Item<\/th>Detail<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Registrar<\/td>Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM), under the Companies Act 2016<\/td><\/tr>
    Filing system<\/td>CRS, accessed through SSM4U; it replaced MyCoID on 14 July 2026<\/td><\/tr>
    Minimum directors<\/td>One natural person aged 18 or over, with a principal place of residence in Malaysia<\/td><\/tr>
    Minimum shareholders<\/td>One; the same person can be sole shareholder and sole director<\/td><\/tr>
    Company secretary<\/td>Appointed within 30 days of incorporation; must hold an SSM practising certificate<\/td><\/tr>
    Registered office<\/td>Required in Malaysia at all times<\/td><\/tr>
    Proof of incorporation<\/td>Notice of registration; a certificate of incorporation only on request, for a prescribed fee<\/td><\/tr>
    Beneficial owners<\/td>Anyone with 20% or more of the shares or voting rights is reported to SSM<\/td><\/tr>
    Capital to sponsor Employment Passes<\/td>RM500,000 paid-up for a 100% foreign-owned company (RM1,000,000 with a WRT licence), per ESD<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    Sdn Bhd, LLP, branch, representative office or Labuan company: which structure fits?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Most foreign investors who want to trade in Malaysia incorporate a Sdn Bhd; an LLP, branch, representative office or Labuan company suits narrower purposes. Only Malaysian citizens and permanent residents can register a sole proprietorship.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    Structure<\/th>Who it suits<\/th>Liability<\/th>Ownership<\/th>Registration<\/th>Tax position<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    Sdn Bhd<\/td>Trading and service businesses, including wholly foreign-owned ones<\/td>Separate legal entity; shareholders risk only their share capital<\/td>Up to 100% foreign for most activities<\/td>SSM; RM1,000; one director resident in Malaysia<\/td>24%, or 15% and 17% bands for qualifying SMEs (14% and 16% proposed from YA 2027)<\/td><\/tr>
    Limited liability partnership (LLP)<\/td>Professionals, joint ventures and small businesses<\/td>Body corporate; LLP debts are met from LLP assets<\/td>At least two partners; compliance officer must be a citizen or PR living in Malaysia<\/td>SSM; RM500<\/td>As a company, with capital contribution in place of paid-up capital<\/td><\/tr>
    Branch of a foreign company<\/td>A foreign company trading without forming a subsidiary<\/td>Not separate from the foreign company<\/td>The foreign company itself<\/td>SSM, section 562; RM5,000 to RM70,000; resident agent<\/td>24%; SME bands need incorporation in Malaysia<\/td><\/tr>
    Representative or regional office<\/td>Research or regional coordination, with no sales<\/td>Not incorporated; may not trade, sign contracts or charge fees<\/td>Funded from outside Malaysia<\/td>MIDA approval; spending of at least RM300,000 a year<\/td>No business income; expatriate staff pay income tax<\/td><\/tr>
    Labuan company<\/td>International trading and holding in the Labuan IBFC<\/td>Separate legal entity; one share minimum<\/td>Shares in any currency, including ringgit since the Labuan Companies (Amendment) Act 2025<\/td>Labuan FSA; resident secretary; substance in Labuan<\/td>3% of audited net profits on trading; 0% on non-trading<\/td><\/tr>
    Sole proprietorship or partnership<\/td>Malaysian small businesses<\/td>Owners are personally liable<\/td>Citizens and PRs aged 18 or over only<\/td>SSM; RM30 or RM60<\/td>Owner’s personal income tax<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

    How to register a Sdn Bhd in Malaysia, step by step<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

    Registration is online in SSM’s CRS, followed by filings with SSM, LHDN and the statutory funds. This order avoids most delays.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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    1. Check whether the business activity needs a sector licence or carries equity conditions; regulators can impose both.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    2. Log in to SSM4U, open CRS and search the name. Reserve it first (RM50 per 30 days, up to 180 days) or use direct incorporation, which combines search and incorporation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    3. File the section 14 application in CRS with the name, business type, addresses, director details and declaration of compliance, and pay RM1,000.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    4. Download SSM’s notice of registration. Request a certificate of incorporation only if a bank or counterparty insists.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    5. Within 30 days of incorporation, the board appoints a qualified company secretary; SSM is notified within 14 days.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    6. Within 60 days of the secretary’s appointment, obtain, record and lodge beneficial ownership information with SSM.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    7. Check the company’s tax number on MyTax (use e-Daftar if none appears) and submit e-CP204 within 3 months of starting operations, unless the company qualifies for the two-year exemption for new SMEs.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
    8. When you hire, register with EPF within 7 days and with PERKESO (SOCSO), and file e-CP22 with LHDN within 30 days of each employee starting.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

      Documents needed to incorporate a Sdn Bhd<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

      SSM needs the company details required by section 14, plus identity details and a signed declaration from each director.<\/p>\n\n\n\n