Jurisdiction guide

Company formation in Malaysia

Structures, requirements, documents and registration steps, sourced from Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) guidance.

Sources checked 25 September 2026Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM)

Direct answer

To incorporate a company in Malaysia, SSM requires name approval and the incorporation particulars through MyCoID — either direct incorporation or name reservation first. Directors must meet SSM's eligibility rules, including ordinary residence in Malaysia; a company secretary must be appointed within the stated period; and annual submissions follow.

Quick facts

From Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) guidance. Each value links to the guide that cites it; open items are marked rather than estimated.

Official filing route
MyCoID: direct incorporation, or name reservation first Source guide
Company name step
Apply for incorporation within 30 days of name approval, unless the Registrar allows longer Source guide
Directors and officers
Directors must be natural persons, at least 18 and ordinarily resident in Malaysia Source guide
Local agent or secretary
First company secretary must be appointed within the stated period Source guide
Registered office
Registered office in Malaysia required Source guide
Tax registration
Not yet verified
Visa and residency
Not yet verified
Corporate banking
Not yet verified
Ongoing compliance
Annual submissions, including an annual return Source guide
Government fees
Not yet verified
Processing time
Not yet verified

Overview

SSM publishes official company incorporation requirements and process information, including company types, name approval, directors, company secretary, registered office and annual submissions.

This guide summarises what Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) publishes and links to the official pages. Each statement below links to the in-depth guide that cites it.

Who can register

Available business structures

  • SSM lists company limited by shares, company limited by guarantee and unlimited company as company types under the Companies Act 2016.

    Company Types in Malaysia

Requirements

  • SSM states that a company must maintain a registered office in Malaysia and describes the address details that should be provided.

    Registered Office in Malaysia

  • SSM requires the first company secretary to be appointed within the stated period after incorporation and sets eligibility conditions for the secretary.

    Company Secretary Appointment in Malaysia

Documents

Separate the documents the authority asks for from those a service provider or bank asks for. Why it matters.

Registration process

  1. Choose the legal structure

    The structure decides which laws, filings and ownership rules apply.

  2. Confirm the activity and any licences

    Classify the activity the way the authority does, then check for extra approvals.

  3. Choose and check the company name

    Check naming rules and availability through the official channel before branding.

  4. Prepare directors, owners and officers

    Confirm who can act as director, owner, secretary or agent under local rules.

  5. Confirm the address requirement

    Check the registered office or business location rule for your structure.

  6. Register through the official route

    File through the authority's channel and keep the evidence of submission.

  7. Prepare for corporate banking

    Banks apply their own requirements, separate from the registry's.

  8. Plan post-registration obligations

    Tax registration, annual filings and renewals follow incorporation.

Get a personalised setup path

Government authorities

Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) is the primary authority for the guidance on this page. Other authorities can be involved for licensing, tax and immigration, depending on the activity.

Licensing

Verification required

Official guidance on licensing requirements for Malaysia has not yet been confirmed in the INCORPSYS source registry. Check with the competent authority, or ask us to confirm it for your case. See also: Licence and Approval Mapping, Business Activity Mapping.

Verify with SSM

Banking

Banks set and apply their own account-opening requirements, separately from the registry. Prepare for corporate banking · Banking support.

Tax considerations

Verification required

Official guidance on tax registration and rates for Malaysia has not yet been confirmed in the INCORPSYS source registry. Check with the competent authority, or ask us to confirm it for your case. See also: Tax Authority Handoff.

Verify with SSM

Visa and residency

Company formation and immigration are separate processes decided by different authorities.

Verification required

Official guidance on visa and residency routes for Malaysia has not yet been confirmed in the INCORPSYS source registry. Check with the competent authority, or ask us to confirm it for your case. See also: Visa and Residency vs Company Incorporation.

Verify with SSM

Compliance after registration

Costs

Fees vary — verify with the authorityFees vary by authority, activity, structure and selected services. Verify current charges with Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) before payment. INCORPSYS shows the official source for every government fee. INCORPSYS service fee: contact for service fee.

Timeline

Processing times are set by Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) and depend on the route, the activity and the completeness of the application. We do not estimate timelines the authority has not published. How to verify registration timelines.

Compare with other jurisdictions

See how Malaysia compares on filing route, officers, registered office, tax, visas and compliance.

Common mistakes

  • Missing the filing window after name approval — SSM expects the application within 30 days unless the Registrar allows longer.
  • Appointing a director who is not ordinarily resident in Malaysia.
  • Forgetting the deadline for appointing the first company secretary.

Frequently asked questions

Who can be a director of a Malaysian company?

SSM states that a director must be a natural person, at least 18, ordinarily resident in Malaysia, and meet the other published eligibility conditions.

What company types can I register?

SSM lists company limited by shares, company limited by guarantee and unlimited company as company types under the Companies Act 2016.

Can I reserve a name and incorporate at the same time?

SSM permits an online direct-incorporation method that combines name reservation and incorporation, alongside a separate name-reservation route.

Official sources

Sources last checked: 25 September 2026. Official pages change; re-check the authority immediately before filing or payment. See our source policy.

Official sourceSources checked 25 September 2026

Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM)

Incorporation of Company under the Companies Act 2016

SSM publishes official company incorporation requirements and process information, including company types, name approval, directors, company secretary, registered office and annual submissions.

Official pages change. Re-check the authority immediately before filing, payment or relying on a rule.

All Malaysia guides

In-depth guides

Topic checklists

Next step

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Authorities make the final decisions. We never guarantee incorporation, licensing, banking or visa outcomes.