I am foreign-owned - what is different?

If non-Malaysians own more than 50% and you sell products, you need a WRT licence with RM1 million paid-up capital and a physical office, and it must be in place before Employment Passes for foreign staff.

Business Licences in Malaysia: A Practical Guide

Q: What licences does a restaurant need in Malaysia?

Typically a premise licence (food category), a signboard licence, food-handler certificates and typhoid vaccinations, a liquor licence if serving alcohol, optional halal certification from JAKIM, and a WRT licence if majority foreign-owned.

Registering your company with SSM proves it legally exists — but it does not authorise you to operate. Before, or soon after, you open, most businesses need one or more licences.向 SSM 注册公司,证明它在法律上存在 —— 但并不授权你营业。多数生意在开业前或开业后不久,都需要一个或多个执照。

1Licence vs registration执照与注册的分别

These are two different things, and you need both:这是两回事,而且你两者都需要:

SSM registration —SSM 注册 —— proves your company (Sdn Bhd or enterprise) legally exists.证明你的公司(Sdn Bhd 或商号)在法律上存在。
Business licence —商业执照 —— issued by your local council (and other authorities), it gives permission to actually operate at your premises.由地方政府(及其他机构)签发,授予你在场所实际营业的许可。

You need SSM registration first, but it does not replace licensing. Operating with the wrong or missing licence is a compliance risk.你须先完成 SSM 注册,但它不能取代执照。缺照或用错执照经营是合规风险。

2The three types of licence三大类执照

🏬General一般执照

Nearly every business: the business premise licence and signboard licence, from your local council (PBT).几乎每门生意都要:营业场所执照与招牌执照,由地方政府(PBT)签发。

🏭Sector / industry行业执照

Depends on your trade — food, tourism, construction, manufacturing, etc. — from the relevant regulator.视你的行业而定 —— 餐饮、旅游、建筑、制造等 —— 由相关监管机构签发。

🌏Activity-specific特定活动

Triggered by what you do or who owns the business — e.g. the WRT licence for foreign-owned traders.依经营活动或股权触发 —— 例如外资贸易商的 WRT 执照。

3Premise & signboard licence场所与招牌执照

These are the two licences almost every business needs, both from your local council (Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan, PBT).这是几乎每门生意都需要的两张执照,皆由地方政府(Pihak Berkuasa Tempatan,PBT)签发。

In Johor Bahru: which council you deal with depends on where your premises are — for example MBJB (Majlis Bandaraya Johor Bahru) for the city centre, MBIP (Iskandar Puteri), MPPG (Pasir Gudang) or MPKu (Kulai). Each has its own forms, fees and signboard rules. As a Johor Bahru firm based in Taman Tan Sri Yaacob, we know these councils well and deal with them for you.在新山:由哪个地方政府受理,视你的场所位置而定 —— 例如市中心的 MBJB(新山市政厅)、MBIP(依斯干达公主城市政厅)、MPPG(巴西古当市政厅)或 MPKu(古来市议会)。各家的表格、收费与招牌规定不尽相同。作为立足于 Taman Tan Sri Yaacob 的新山本地公司,我们熟悉这些地方政府,并代你与他们打交道。

Business Premise Licence (Lesen Premis)营业场所执照(Lesen Premis)

Required for any premises — shop, office, restaurant, factory, warehouse, salon or clinic. The fee varies by activity and, for some categories, floor area (typically a few hundred to a few thousand ringgit). It is renewed yearly.任何场所都需要 —— 商店、办公室、餐厅、工厂、仓库、沙龙或诊所。费用视活动而定,部分类别按面积计(一般由数百至数千令吉),每年续约。

Before you apply: confirm the correct council (check the property's assessment tax bill — it isn't always the city authority) and that the premises is zoned for commercial use.申请前:确认正确的地方政府(查看该产业的门牌税单 —— 未必是市政府),并确认场所划为商业用途。

Documents: the application form, SSM documents, IC or passport, tenancy agreement or ownership proof, and four premise photos (two exterior, two interior).文件:申请表、SSM 文件、身份证或护照、租约或产权证明,以及四张场所照片(两张外观、两张内部)。

Signboard Licence (Lesen Iklan Papan Tanda)招牌执照(Lesen Iklan Papan Tanda)

Needed for your signage. The wording must be in Bahasa Malaysia and feature prominently; in Kuala Lumpur, Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) must approve it. It is usually submitted together with the premise licence.招牌需要此执照。用字须以马来文为主并醒目呈现;在吉隆坡,须经国家语文局(DBP)批准。通常与场所执照一并提交。

Apply 6–8 weeks before you plan to open. From a complete submission, processing usually takes a few weeks to about two months (some councils may inspect the premises). Many councils now accept online applications (e.g. DBKL's eLesen).建议在计划开业前 6–8 周申请。资料齐全后,一般需数周至约两个月(部分地方政府会实地检查)。许多地方政府现已接受网上申请(如 DBKL 的 eLesen)。

4WRT licence — for foreign-owned companiesWRT 执照 —— 外资公司适用

If non-Malaysians hold more than 50% of the company and it sells products (retail, wholesale, franchise, trading or e-commerce), you need a WRT (Wholesale, Retail, Trade) licence from the Ministry of Domestic Trade (KPDN) — usually before your local licences.若非马来西亚人持有公司超过 50%股份,且从事销售产品(零售、批发、加盟、贸易或电商),则须先向国内贸易部(KPDN)申请 WRT(批发零售贸易)执照 —— 通常在办理地方执照之前。

Key requirements: minimum RM1,000,000 paid-up capital (actually injected and shown in SSM records) and a physical office — KPDN does not accept virtual offices and conducts site inspections. The WRT licence is also required before Employment Passes for foreign staff. Applications go through the KPDN BLESS portal.主要要求:最低实收资本 RM1,000,000(须实际注入并在 SSM 记录中显示),以及实体办公室 —— KPDN 不接受虚拟办公室,并会实地检查。WRT 执照也是外籍员工工作准证(EP)的前提。申请通过 KPDN 的 BLESS 系统办理。

5Sector & activity licences行业与活动执照

Depending on your industry, you may also need a licence from a federal regulator. Common examples:视你的行业,可能还需向联邦监管机构申请执照。常见例子:

Industry行业	Licence执照	Authority主管机构
Manufacturing制造业	Manufacturing Licence (ICA 1975)制造执照(ICA 1975)	MIDA / MITI
Construction建筑	Contractor registration承包商注册	CIDB
Travel / tourism旅游	Tour / travel agency licence旅行社执照	MOTAC
Food & beverage餐饮	Food handling, halal, liquor食品处理、清真、酒类	Council / JAKIM地方政府 / JAKIM
Direct selling / MLM直销	AJL direct-selling licenceAJL 直销执照	KPDN
Property development房产发展	APDL	KPKT
Government contracting政府采购	MOF registration财政部注册	MOF
Financial services金融服务	Licensing under financial laws金融法令下的牌照	Bank Negara

6How to apply申请流程

Register with SSM向 SSM 注册Incorporate your company (or register your enterprise) first.先注册公司(或商号)。
Identify every licence you need列出所需的每张执照Premise, signboard, WRT (if foreign-owned) and any sector licence for your activity.场所、招牌、WRT(若为外资),以及你行业所需的行业执照。
Confirm council & zoning确认地方政府与用途Check the correct council and that the premises is zoned for commercial use — before you commit to it.在承租/购置前,确认正确的地方政府,以及场所划为商业用途。
Submit the applications提交申请Premise & signboard to the council (often online); WRT to KPDN via BLESS; sector licences to the regulator.场所与招牌交地方政府(常可网上办理);WRT 经 BLESS 交 KPDN;行业执照交相关监管机构。
Renew on schedule按时续约Track expiry dates so no licence lapses.盯紧到期日,别让任何执照失效。

7Fees, renewal & penalties费用、续约与罚则

Fees —费用 —— the premise licence usually costs a few hundred to a few thousand ringgit, depending on activity, area and council.场所执照通常由数百至数千令吉,视活动、面积与地方政府而定。
Renewal —续约 —— premise and signboard licences are renewed yearly. A lapsed licence means you are operating without authorisation again.场所与招牌执照每年续约。执照失效,等于再次无照经营。

Penalties: operating without the right licence can bring fines up to RM20,000, plus asset seizure, premise sealing or suspension. An unlicensed signboard alone (compound fines around RM250–5,000) often prompts officers to check your other licences too.罚则:无照经营可被罚款最高 RM20,000,并可能被充公资产、封店或勒令停业。单是招牌无照(罚款约 RM250–5,000)往往就会引来官员一并查你其他执照。

8Frequently asked questions常见问题

Does SSM registration replace a business licence?SSM 注册可以取代商业执照吗?

No. SSM registration proves your company exists; the business licence, from your local council, lets you operate at your premises. You need the SSM registration first, but it does not replace the licence.不能。SSM 注册证明公司存在;地方政府的商业执照才让你在场所营业。须先有 SSM 注册,但它不能取代执照。

Do online or home-based businesses need a licence?网店或家庭式生意需要执照吗?

Online businesses still need SSM registration. A premise licence applies to a physical location; a home-based business may need home-business approval depending on the council — it's best to confirm.网店仍须 SSM 注册。场所执照针对实体地点;家庭式生意视地方政府或需「家庭作业」批准 —— 建议先确认。

What licences does a restaurant need?开餐厅需要哪些执照?

Typically: a premise licence (food category), a signboard licence, food-handler certificates and typhoid vaccinations, a liquor licence if serving alcohol, optional halal certification (JAKIM), and a WRT licence if majority foreign-owned.一般包括:场所执照(食品类)、招牌执照、食品处理员证书与伤寒疫苗、售酒者需酒牌、可选的清真认证(JAKIM),以及若为外资多数股权则需 WRT 执照。

I'm foreign-owned — what's different?我是外资 —— 有何不同?

If non-Malaysians own more than 50% and you sell products, you need a WRT licence (RM1 million paid-up capital and a physical office), and it must be in place before Employment Passes for foreign staff.若非马来西亚人持股超过 50% 且销售产品,须办 WRT 执照(实收资本 RM100 万 + 实体办公室),并须在办理外籍员工工作准证前到位。

How long does it take?需要多久?

Premise and signboard licences usually take a few weeks to about two months from a complete submission. Apply 6–8 weeks before you plan to open.场所与招牌执照资料齐全后一般需数周至约两个月。请在计划开业前 6–8 周申请。

Prefer we handle the licences?想让我们代办执照?

Tell us your business and premises — we'll identify every licence you need and apply for them for you.告诉我们你的生意与场所 —— 我们会厘清你需要的每张执照,并代你申请。

Chat on WhatsAppWhatsApp 咨询 Business Licence service商业执照服务

Note: This guide is general information, current as of 2026, and not legal advice. Licence requirements, fees, thresholds and timelines vary by business, activity and local council, and can change. Please speak with us for advice on your situation.说明:本指南为一般资讯,内容截至 2026 年,并非法律意见。执照要求、费用、门槛与时程会因生意、活动与地方政府而异,并可能变动。请就你的情况与我们联系咨询。