Open a Company in Malaysia as a Foreigner: SSM Fee, Resident Director and Company Secretary
You want a Malaysian company (Sdn Bhd), and you may be planning MM2H too. SSM charges RM1,000 for direct registration, and a foreigner can be the sole shareholder. At least one director must have a principal residence in Malaysia, and the company secretary must be a Malaysian resident from a professional body or licensed by SSM.
A small fee and two local-resident rules
The RM1,000 SSM fee is small, but you need a resident director and a resident company secretary. A foreign owner cannot hold every seat. The secretary must come from a professional body or hold an SSM licence, and a registered address in Malaysia is required.
What it looks like from the outside:
- A director who must live in Malaysia.
- A secretary who must be a Malaysian resident and qualified.
- A capital level that decides whether you can hire expatriate staff.
How it feels:
- You worry you will pick a director or secretary who does not qualify.
- You fear paying for a structure you cannot staff.
- You feel unsure whom to trust when providers quote very different totals.
You do not have to find the local seats alone
We know how hard it is to set up in a country where two roles must be filled by residents. You want someone who has read the rule on the official page, tells you honestly when a route does not fit, and stays with you until the file is filed.
What we have done:
- 35+ years in immigration and investment migration
- 25,000+ families guided since 1991
- 3rd Generation in the immigration industry
- 2026 Canadian Choice Award winner
What we believe:
- Honesty first: we tell you when a route does not fit, before you move money.
- Checked rules: every figure on this page is read from an official source and dated.
- Your plan, not a template: the right route depends on your goals, your family and your funds.
We believe a Malaysian company should start from SSM rules, not from a package price.
What you get
| Feature | Benefit | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A published SSM fee | SSM lists RM1,000 for direct registration | You know the official cost before you start |
| Foreign sole shareholder | SSM lets a foreigner hold all the shares | You keep full ownership |
| An online filing route | SSM files through its Corporate Registry System | You do not need to queue at a counter |
| A link to MM2H | MM2H holders who buy a home can also run a company with the right pass | One plan can serve the company and the stay |
| One point of contact | We bring in the secretary, the resident director and the accountant through our partners | You do not chase several firms |
Where it takes you: a registered Malaysian company. A company does not give you a pass to live in Malaysia: that is a separate application.
Is it right for you?
An honest answer before you move funds.
| A good fit if | Consider another route if |
|---|---|
| You want to run or hold a business through a Sdn Bhd | You want a residence pass from the company alone: it gives none |
| You can name a resident director and a qualified resident secretary | You want to be the only officer while living abroad: the director and secretary rules need residents |
| You can give a registered address in Malaysia | You need a guaranteed bank account: banks decide |
| You want one point of contact for the secretary, director and accountant | Your funds cannot be documented |
Not sure Malaysia is the best fit? Compare all South East Asia routes, or use Find my program and we match your goals to the right one.
What you need
You need an approved name, a resident director, a qualified secretary and a Malaysian address. SSM lists the particulars.
What the SSM and MIDA pages list:
- A pre-registration account on SSM's portal, then the Corporate Registry System.
- Director details: at least one director aged 18 or over with a principal residence in Malaysia.
- Shareholder details: a foreigner can be the sole shareholder.
- A company secretary: a natural person who is a Malaysian citizen or permanent resident, from a professional body or licensed by SSM, appointed within 30 days of incorporation.
- A registered address in Malaysia. Changes are notified within 14 days.
- A constitution, which is optional for a company limited by shares.
- The fee: RM1,000 for direct registration.
The routes and rules
SSM sets the filing route, and MIDA sets the capital for expatriate posts.
| Item | Official figure | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Direct registration | RM1,000 | Name reservation and incorporation in one filing |
| Company limited by guarantee | RM3,000 | A different company type |
| Particulars | Within 30 days of an approved name | Filed through the Corporate Registry System |
| Secretary | Within 30 days of incorporation | A Malaysian citizen or resident, qualified |
| Expatriate posts (MIDA) | RM500,000 minimum paid-up capital | For a 100% foreign-owned company |
MM2H and a company. MM2H is a long-stay pass with a fixed deposit and a home purchase, and a company is a separate registration. See Malaysia MM2H.
What it costs, and what waiting costs
The SSM fee is small. Set it against the cost of a wrong start: a structure you cannot staff.
| Item | Official amount |
|---|---|
| Direct registration (SSM) | RM1,000 |
| Company limited by guarantee (SSM) | RM3,000 |
| Minimum paid-up capital for expatriate posts (MIDA) | RM500,000 for a 100% foreign-owned company |
| Secretary, resident director, accountant | Agreed with the local partner |
| Bank account | Agreed with the bank |
Source: SSM incorporation pages and the MIDA expatriate guidelines and FAQ (2026).
Set up with our partners in Malaysia
We arrange the steps through partners in Malaysia, so you deal with one point of contact. We arrange the qualified secretary, the resident director, the SSM filing, the accountant, the bank introduction, property introductions for MM2H and relocation steps. We introduce you, the partner delivers, and each partner holds the local licence for what it does. We give no investment, legal or tax advice. Local partners may pay AIA for introductions.
Also from AIA: Canada, Europe and citizenship
Many founders plan a second move. Take the Canada immigration assessment, or read our Canada immigration programs. If you want a European base, see residence by investment in Europe, and for a passport, see citizenship by investment.
Your path in three steps
Three steps from your first answers to your company.
- Step 1: Tell us your plan. Use Find my program, or write to us with your business, your shareholders and where you live.
- Step 2: We do the heavy lifting. We bring in the qualified secretary and the resident director through our partners in Malaysia, and prepare the SSM filing.
- Step 3: Your company is registered. SSM sends the notices of approval and registration, and you appoint the secretary within 30 days.
Processing time depends on SSM and on how complete your filing is.
Status: what changed and when
Reviewed 22 October 2026. Sources: SSM incorporation pages, MIDA guidelines.
| What | Status |
|---|---|
| Direct registration | RM1,000 (SSM) |
| Director | At least one with a principal residence in Malaysia |
| Secretary | A Malaysian citizen or resident, qualified, appointed within 30 days |
| Expatriate posts | RM500,000 minimum paid-up capital for a 100% foreign-owned company (MIDA FAQ, 2026) |
What could change: the fees, the roles and the capital levels. What we do about it: we re-read the official pages before each update and show the date.
After you have the company
You keep the company in order with a few SSM duties. SSM lists the dates.
- Secretary: appoint within 30 days of incorporation.
- Address: notify a change of registered address within 14 days.
- Particulars: file company particulars within 30 days of an approved name.
Two possible futures
A year from now, you may still be comparing packages while the rules shift. You hold a quote, a number from one adviser that contradicts another, and no date on any of it.
Or your company is registered in Malaysia, your tax number is in place, and you know every deadline. You feel in control, and you chose on facts you could check.
The cost of staying put: routes and rules change, and each change can add cost or close a door.
Your ultimate success:
- Registered: your company exists on the registry's terms
- On time: you met each filing deadline
- Prepared: you know the bank step and its limits
- In control: you decided on your terms, with the facts
Which route fits your family?
Answer eight short questions and the finder ranks all 17 residence programmes against your goals, funds and family. You see your shortlist and the cost for your family first, and a form only if you want it emailed with a fact sheet.
Why clients choose Amir Ismail & Associates
35+ years of hands-on immigration experience and 25,000+ successful cases. 3rd generation in the immigration industry. We bring in qualified local partners in each country, so you deal with one accountable team from first question to filing.
One point of contact
We qualify your case first, then bring in the right local partner. You deal with us throughout.
A strategy built for your family
We match routes to your goals, funds and family, not a template.
Application accuracy
Document and source-of-funds review that prevents costly errors and refusals.
Timely updates
We track rule, fee and regulator changes across every program for you.
End-to-end support
From your first question to your permit in hand, we guide every step.
Proven track record
2026 Canadian Choice Award winner, trusted since 1991.
What our clients say
Real reviews from clients we have guided across borders.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to register a company in Malaysia?
SSM charges RM1,000 for direct registration of a company limited by shares, and RM3,000 for a company limited by guarantee. Secretary, director, accountant and bank costs are on top.
How long does it take?
It depends on SSM and on how complete your filing is. SSM sends a notice of approval and a notice of registration when the filing is accepted.
Can a foreigner own 100% of a Malaysian company?
A foreigner can be the sole shareholder under SSM rules. Some sectors have their own ownership rules, and your partner checks your sector.
Do I need a director who lives in Malaysia?
Yes. At least one director must have a principal or ordinary residence in Malaysia.
Who can be the company secretary?
A natural person who is a Malaysian citizen or permanent resident, from a professional body listed in the Companies Act or licensed by SSM, appointed within 30 days of incorporation.
How much capital do I need to hire expatriates?
The MIDA FAQ (2026) lists RM500,000 minimum paid-up capital for a 100% foreign-owned company applying for expatriate posts.
Does a company give me a pass to live in Malaysia?
No. A company is not a residence pass. See Malaysia MM2H for the long-stay pass.
Can you open a bank account for me?
We introduce you to a bank through our partners in Malaysia. Banks decide, and we cannot promise an account.
Can you help with property for MM2H?
Yes, through introductions. MM2H needs a home purchase, and we introduce you to local property partners. We give no investment advice and quote no returns. Local partners may pay AIA for introductions.
What does AIA charge?
We agree the scope and the price with you after a short call. The SSM and MIDA figures above are the authorities’ own.
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Last reviewed: 22 October 2026 · Last updated: 22 October 2026
