Unfamiliar rules
Malaysia's Companies Act 2016, tax system and sector licences work very differently from China's.
China Desk: setting up in Malaysia for Chinese companies.
Malaysia lets foreign investors own 100% of a company in most sectors. What slows Chinese companies down is usually the resident director, capital thresholds, bank account opening and the compliance that starts after incorporation. We plan all of it with you, in Chinese.
- 100%foreign ownership in most sectors
- 中文WeChat, WhatsApp or video calls
- Onlinename check, signing and filings
The problems Chinese companies meet most often.
It is rarely the business itself. It is the law, the structure and the compliance details.
No resident director
The law requires at least one director whose principal home is in Malaysia, or incorporation cannot proceed.
Strict bank reviews
Foreign-owned companies need a larger document pack, and some banks ask to meet a director in person.
No one following up after registration
Annual returns, financial statements and changes all have deadlines, and missing them leads to fines.
Core services.
Built around company secretarial work, with licensed partners for the rest. Government fees are always shown separately.
ServiceWhat's includedFrom
Company registration
Structure and capital planning, name check, MyCoID incorporation, certified copies of incorporation documents, first board resolutions and share certificates.Companies Act 2016, s.14 and s.15
Quote+ RM1,050 SSM fees
Resident director
A Malaysian resident director through a licensed partner, with a clear agreement on duties and a plan for your own director to take over.s.196(4)
Quoteper 6 or 12 months
Bank account support
The bank's document pack and account-opening resolution, and timing the director's visit with you.
Quotedepends on the bank
Company secretary and annual compliance
Licensed secretary, statutory registers, annual return, financial statement lodgement and deadline reminders.s.68, s.235 and s.236
RM80/monthbilled yearly
Accounting, tax and work passes
Bookkeeping and tax through partner accountants, and Employment Pass and WRT or other licence applications through licensed partners.
Quoteon review
Prices exclude SST. SSM fees are paid at cost and listed separately on every quote.
How we set you up.
Most of the work happens online, so you can move it forward from China.
Consultation in Chinese
On WeChat, WhatsApp or video, we learn about your business, shareholders and plans for Malaysia.
Confirm structure and thresholds
Ownership, resident director, paid-up capital, and whether you need a WRT licence or work passes.
Name check and signing
We check the company name and prepare the documents. Papers signed outside Malaysia may need to be notarised or certified.
Incorporation
We lodge with SSM, usually completed within one to three working days of the documents being ready, and you receive the Section 15 notice.
Bank account and compliance
We arrange the bank account, appoint the company secretary and set up your annual compliance calendar.
Capital, licences and work passes.
SSM accepts a paid-up capital of RM1, but the figure you actually need depends on what the company will do. Two rules catch foreign founders most often.
Wholesale and retail trade. A foreign-owned company that sells goods to customers in Malaysia generally needs a Wholesale and Retail Trade (WRT) licence, and the paid-up capital commonly applied to a 100% foreign-owned company is RM1 million.
Employment Pass. If the company will sponsor you or other foreign staff, the guidelines set a higher minimum paid-up capital for foreign-owned companies, commonly between RM500,000 and RM1 million depending on ownership and sector.
These thresholds change, so we confirm the current figure for your exact business activity before you fix the share capital.
Frequently asked questions
Reviewed by [licensed secretary name], November 2026. General information, not legal advice.
I am in China. Can I register a Malaysian company?
Yes. Registration is done online and documents can be signed electronically or certified abroad. The step most likely to need you in Malaysia is opening the bank account.
Must a Malaysian company have a local director?
At least one director must have their principal place of residence in Malaysia. They do not need to be Malaysian: a permanent resident or a foreigner living here on a valid pass can qualify.
Do I need to keep accounts and file tax after registering?
Yes. Every company lodges an annual return and financial statements with SSM each year, and files income tax with LHDN, even before it starts trading.
How long does registration take?
SSM usually incorporates within one to three working days once documents are complete. Bank accounts, licences and work passes take longer and depend on each authority.
Can I move to Malaysia once I have a company?
Owning a company does not give you the right to live or work in Malaysia. You would apply for an Employment Pass through the company, which has its own capital, salary and business requirements.
Tell us your plans, in Chinese or English.
Describe your business and shareholders, and we will reply with a set-up plan and a quote during business hours. You can also email us your WeChat ID and we will add you.