Incorporation
Corporate Secretarial
Tax Services
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Payroll Management
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Are you experiencing
Foreign Ownership Rules
Confused about foreign ownership rules and paid-up capital requirements?
Type of Director Required
Unsure whether you need a local director or local shareholder?
Structure Setup
Worried about setting up the wrong structure and facing tax problems later?
Key Requirements & Considerations
Ownership Rules
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Foreign ownership 100% foreign ownership is permitted.
No local partner or nominee shareholder is required for a Sdn. Bhd. -
Resident director At least one director must ordinarily reside in Malaysia. This may be a local hire, nominee director, or existing employee based in Malaysia.
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Paid-up capital Minimum paid-up capital starts from RM1. Practical requirements vary by sector, visa eligibility, and banking — we advise on the appropriate amount for your structure.
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Sector licences Certain regulated industries — including wholesale & retail trade, manufacturing, education, and F&B — require additional operating licences beyond company registration.
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Equity structure All shareholding arrangements must be declared to SSM. Any subsequent changes to the equity structure require formal SSM approval before taking effect.
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Share classes Multiple share classes with differentiated voting rights and economic entitlements may be structured to suit your governance and investment requirements.
Document Required
Individuals — directors & individual shareholders
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Passport Copy of valid passport (biographical data pages).
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Proof of Address Dated within the last 3 months. Acceptable documents include utility bills, bank statements, or government-issued correspondence.
Corporate shareholders
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Certificate of incorporation Issued by the relevant authority in the country of origin.
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Constitutional documents Memorandum & articles of association, or equivalent constitutional documents.
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Company extract Current company profile or extract issued by the relevant registry.
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Board resolution Authorising the investment in Malaysia and designating authorised signatories for the incorporation.
All foreign documents must be certified or notarised. Apostille certification or Malaysian consular legalisation may be required depending on the country of origin.
Key Considerations
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Business structure & visa eligibility The company structure — including paid-up capital, share allocation, and directorship arrangement — directly affects eligibility for the Employment Pass (EP) and EntrePass. An incorrect setup may disqualify your application.
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Paid-up capital & EP approval Immigration authorities assess capitalisation as part of Employment Pass evaluations. A higher paid-up capital generally strengthens the EP application.
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Tax obligations Tax obligations commence from the date of incorporation. The company is immediately subject to corporate income tax, withholding tax on applicable payments, and potentially Sales and Service Tax (SST) depending on business activities.
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Transfer pricing Where the company transacts with related overseas parties, Malaysian transfer pricing rules apply. Contemporaneous documentation must be maintained from the outset — non-compliance carries significant penalties.
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Corporate banking Malaysian banks apply heightened due diligence to foreign-owned companies. A higher paid-up capital and complete documentation — including beneficial ownership declarations — are typically required to open a corporate account.
Our Process
Consultation & Structure Advice
We discuss your business plans, advise on the right entity type, ownership structure, and paid-up capital level. We flag visa implications and tax considerations upfront — before you commit to a structure.
Document Collection & Preparation
We guide you on exactly what’s needed. For overseas-based founders, everything can be handled remotely — no need to be in Malaysia at this stage.
Name Search & SSM Submission
We reserve your company name and file all incorporation documents with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM).
Incorporation & Post-Setup
Upon approval, you receive your Certificate of Incorporation. We then handle tax registration with LHDN, guide you through corporate bank account opening, and brief you on ongoing compliance obligations.
Why POSH for foreign incorporation?
Experienced with Foreign Incorporation in Malaysia
Tax Considered from Day One
All-in-One Hub
Multilingual Team
Your incorporation journey
Company name search and reservation
We conduct a name availability check with SSM and reserve your preferred company name, advising on any restrictions or suitable alternatives.
SSM Filling
Shareholding and paid-up capital structure
We advise on the appropriate equity structure and paid-up capital amount — taking into account visa eligibility, banking requirements, and tax considerations.
Advisory
Preparation and filing of all incorporation documents
We prepare the full suite of documents — including the constitution, director and shareholder consents — and file them with SSM on your behalf.
SSM Filling
Certificate of Incorporation
Upon successful registration, you receive the Certificate of Incorporation — the official document confirming your company's legal existence in Malaysia.
Advisory
First board resolution and statutory records
We prepare the first board resolution and set up your statutory registers in compliance with the Companies Act 2016.
Statutory compliance
Tax file registration with LHDN
We register your company's income tax file with LHDN to ensure your tax obligations are in order from day one.
LHDN registration
Corporate bank account opening guidance
We advise on the most suitable banks for foreign-owned companies and assist with the documentation required to open a Malaysian corporate account.
Bank Account Support
Post-incorporation compliance briefing
We walk you through your ongoing obligations — annual returns, audit requirements, tax deadlines, and secretarial filings — so nothing is missed.
Onboarding
Ongoing secretarial and compliance support
Our team remains available for continued company secretarial, accounting, and tax support as your business grows in Malaysia.
OngoingCompany name search and reservation
We conduct a name availability check with SSM and reserve your preferred company name, advising on any restrictions or suitable alternatives.
SSM FillingShareholding and paid-up capital structure
We advise on the appropriate equity structure and paid-up capital amount — taking into account visa eligibility, banking requirements, and tax considerations.
AdvisoryPreparation and filing of all incorporation documents
We prepare the full suite of documents — including the constitution, director and shareholder consents — and file them with SSM on your behalf.
SSM FillingCertificate of Incorporation
Upon successful registration, you receive the Certificate of Incorporation — the official document confirming your company's legal existence in Malaysia.
AdvisoryFirst board resolution and statutory records
We prepare the first board resolution and set up your statutory registers in compliance with the Companies Act 2016.
Statutory complianceTax file registration with LHDN
We register your company's income tax file with LHDN to ensure your tax obligations are in order from day one.
LHDN registrationCorporate bank account opening guidance
We advise on the most suitable banks for foreign-owned companies and assist with the documentation required to open a Malaysian corporate account.
LHDN registrationPost-incorporation compliance briefing
We walk you through your ongoing obligations — annual returns, audit requirements, tax deadlines, and secretarial filings — so nothing is missed.
OnboardingOngoing secretarial and compliance support
Our team remains available for continued company secretarial, accounting, and tax support as your business grows in Malaysia.
OngoingLooking for other types of custom packages?
Contact us for a tailored quotation that fits your business needs.
Read through POSH Corporate customer reviews
Businesses across Malaysia are choosing POSH Corporate to simplify their corporate journey. See what our clients have to say in their reviews.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. In most sectors, foreigners can hold 100% equity in a Sdn Bhd. Some regulated industries (e.g. education, construction, wholesale/retail) have equity conditions. We advise on this during the consultation.
Yes. Every Malaysian Sdn Bhd must have at least one director who is a Malaysian resident (ordinarily resides in Malaysia). We can advise on options if you don't have a local partner.
The legal minimum is RM1. However, higher paid-up capital may be required depending on your business sector, visa applications, or banking requirements. We advise on the right level for your situation.
Yes. The entire process can be done remotely. Documents can be signed digitally and we handle all SSM filings on your behalf.
Typically 3–5 working days from the point all documents are received and the company name is approved.
Yes. We provide guidance and support for corporate bank account opening. We work with OCBC, Standard Chartered, CIMB, AmBank, and Alliance Bank. Foreign-owned companies may face additional documentation requirements which we help you prepare for.
We can connect you with trusted immigration partners for Employment Pass (EP) and other visa applications. We also advise on how your company structure and paid-up capital level affect visa eligibility.
Annual requirements include filing annual returns with SSM, holding AGMs, preparing audited financial statements, and filing corporate tax returns with LHDN. We handle all of these as part of our ongoing secretarial and tax services.
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