FAQ General Accordion

A company with shareholder’s fund of RM2.5 million and above OR full-time manpower of 75 people or more can apply for a Manufacturing Licence.

Based on MIDA’s Client Charter, the Manufacturing Licence will be approved within seven days (fast track) or four weeks (normal track) from the date of complete information received.

All applications received will be issued an acknowledgement letter which will state the names of the Officer / Deputy Director / Director of the relevant Industry Division. Applicants are advised to contact the respective officers on the application status.

The status of online applications can also be tracked via the InvestMalaysia portal .

The applicant may obtain a ‘Confirmation Letter for Exemption from Manufacturing License’ by submitting their application via http://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my/ and should submit a copy of the following documents:-

• Memorandum and Articles of Association/ Corporate profile from Companies Commission of Malaysia (CCM)
• Business Licence from the Local Authorities (if applicable)
• Manufacturing Process Flow Chart

Applicants may submit their applications via the InvestMalaysia Portal  http://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my/

All applications for the Manufacturing License and ICA10 are no longer accepted in hardcopy as they can be made online via the InvestMalaysia Portal http://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my/

There are two major tax incentives for the manufacturing and services sectors:

• Pioneer Status (PS) – Income tax exemption of 70% – 100% of statutory income for 5 to 10 years. Unabsorbed capital allowances and accumulated losses incurred during the pioneer period can be carried forward and deducted from the post pioneer status of the company.
• Investment Tax Allowance (ITA) – An allowance of 60% – 100% on qualifying capital expenditure (factory, plant, machinery or other equipment used for the approved project) incurred within 5 to 10 years from the date the first qualifying capital expenditure is incurred.

A company approved with a Pioneer Status certificate can enjoy income tax exemption between 70% – 100% of statutory income for 5 to 10 years, whereas, for Investment Tax Allowance, a company can get allowances between 60% – 100% on qualifying capital expenditure incurred within a period of 5 to 10 years.

For projects with a longer gestation period and high capital expenditure, it would be more beneficial to opt for Investment Tax Allowance. Companies should study the options before applying either for Pioneer Status or Investment Tax Allowance.

Applicants may submit their applications via http://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my/.

Submission of applications are no longer accepted in hardcopy, except for the following incentive applications:

• Special Tax Incentive under PENJANA
• Incentive for Manufacturers of Pharmaceutical Products Including Vaccines
• Investment Tax Allowance of 50% for In-house Research and Development
• Investment Tax Allowance of 50% of Reinvestment for In-House Research & Development

The forms can be downloaded here .

A company exempted from Manufacturing Licence is eligible to apply for Pioneer Status/Investment Tax Allowance if the products/activities are promoted and the project has fulfilled other related criteria.

You may check from the list of promoted activities & products available (here ) or find out more at the Forms and Guidelines section of this website. You can also refer to the relevant publications here .

The incentives will be processed and the decision will be made within six weeks from the date of complete information received.

All applications received will be issued acknowledgement letters which will state the names of the Officer/Deputy Director/Director of the relevant Industry Division. Applicants are advised to contact the respective officers on the application status.

Online applications can also be tracked via theInvestMalaysia portal .

A key post is a post that can be held indefinitely by a foreigner based on the foreign ownership of the company. It is also dependent on the amount of paid-up capital of the company and type of product/industries involved. The approval is subjected to a minimum amount of paid-up capital of the company.

A term post is a post approved for up to 3-5 years for executive posts that require professional qualifications and practical experience, and 2 years for non-executive posts that require technical skills and experience. This is subject to the unavailability of Malaysians to fill up the post.

For companies to be eligible to apply for these posts, Malaysians must be trained to eventually take over the posts.

Effective 1st January 2021, any company that intends to employ expatriates are required to advertise their job vacancies for a minimum of 30 days in the MYFutureJobs portal prior to submitting an application for expatriate posts to MIDA. The company will be required to conduct an interview process to source for local talents. The company must also comply with the Social Security Organisation (SOCSO) guidelines.

For any inquiries on MYFutureJobs portal, please contact SOCSO’s Customer Services Centre at 1-300-22-8000 / 03- 8091 5300 or email [email protected]

Yes, exemptions from advertising of job vacancies are given to the following categories:

1. Important positions (C-Suite & Key Posts)
2. Expatriate/s with a monthly income of RM15,000 and above
3. Representative Office/ Regional Office (RE/RO)
• This refers to the Representative Office/Regional Office of overseas organisations/companies in the manufacturing and services sectors that are established in Malaysia to carry out activities for the company/organisation headquarters. These RE/ROs are not involved in any commercial activities. For the operational representative/regional office, employers are not required to register under the Companies Act 1965.
• An approval/confirmation letter from MIDA is required for the company to employ expatriates under this category.
4. Investors/Shareholders/Owners
• This refers to investors who are individuals that invest funds in Malaysia to achieve return on investments and are directly involved in the company’s operations.
• Meanwhile, shareholders refers to individuals that hold at least a 30% equity in the company and are appointed as the company’s Director and/or hold position of interest in the company.
5. Corporate Transfers/ Placements / Trade Agreements
• This refers to expatriates who are assigned by the parent company to work in a branch company in Malaysia or a group of companies for the purpose of training or knowledge/experience sharing between companies, and to meet the company’s manpower requirement.

 

Specialised skilled positions are not automatically excluded from advertising the vacancies in MYFutureJobs portal . Specialised skilled positions include specific and/or unique skills as well as strategic competencies to carry out tasks stipulated by the company.

The company may apply for the exemption of advertising in MYFutureJobs portal from SOCSO by completing the PDKK Form (Specialised Skilled Expatriates) via ( http://bit.ly/PDKKPERKESO). Detailed justifications on why that position requires a special exemption are required to be indicated in the form.

The company will be exempted from advertising in the MYFutureJobs portal if the position is granted exemption by SOCSO via email: [email protected]. The company may then proceed to apply for expatriate post to the Approving Agencies.

If the position is found not to fall under specialised skilled, the company will be requested to advertise the vacancy for the position in the MYFutureJobs portal for a minimum period of 30 days and conduct an interview process to source for local talents. Companies need to submit the Expatriate Employment Committee (JPPD) Certificate from SOCSO when applying for the expatriate position to the Approving Agency.

All applications for expatriate posts from new and existing companies (including those not involving expansion or diversification) in the manufacturing and selected services* sectors should be made via online through the InvestMalaysia portal (https://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my).

The application for expatriate posts will be processed and a decision made within thirty (30) days from the date of complete information received.

SWP is an all-in-one solution that allows Approving Agencies and Regulatory Bodies, including MIDA, to issue Support Letters for Employment Pass applications. It simplifies the process for companies to apply for Support Letters from the respective agencies when hiring expatriates.

SWP, also known as the Xpats Gateway System, leverages the existing ESD Online System to facilitate the application process. It integrates and streamlines the system to support companies in obtaining both the Support Letter from MIDA and Employment Pass approval from Immigration Department Malaysia. SWP ensures enhanced coordination with all Approving Agencies and Regulatory Bodies involved; and Immigration Department Malaysia under one platform.

SWP will be officially launched on 15 June 2023.

SWP only processes Employment Pass for expatriates.

Approved companies in the Manufacturing Sector, Selected Services Sector, and Representative Office/Regional Office (RE/RO) with Status under MIDA in Peninsular Malaysia can now use the Xpats Gateway System. This system, accessible through the ESD Online System at https://esd.imi.gov.my, enables them to apply for expatriate posts and Employment Passes efficiently.

For companies based in Sabah and Sarawak, as well as those applying for RE/RO Status approval, the application process for expatriate post support letters can be continued through MIDA InvestMalaysia portal at https://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my/

DigiCert must obtain other approvals via MIDA InvestMalaysia portal, such as Manufacturing license / Incentive / Status Approval / Grant / Exemption Letter from Manufacturing License. One of these documents is mandatory in the checklist on the Single Window Platform to obtain the MIDA Support Letter,serving as evidence that the company operates in a sector under MIDA’s purview (item 15).

SWP enables companies to obtain the Support Letter from MIDA, Employment Pass approval from the Immigration Department of Malaysia through the ESD Online system and Employment Pass endorsement, all in a single platform.

1. Manufacturing sector:

• All Sub-Sectors

2. Selected services sectors:

• Operational Headquarters (OHQ)
• Regional Distribution Centre (RDC)
• International Procurement Centre (IPC)
• Principle Hub (PH)
• Global Operation Hub
• Representative Office / Regional Office (RE/RO)
• R&D company
• Hotel & Tourism Projects
• Technical & Vocational Training Institutions & Other Services
• Medical Device Testing Laboratory

3. Other services (with MIDA incentives):

• Oil & Gas Services
• Clean Technology & Environment Management)
• International Procurement Centre (IPC)
• Integrated Logistics Services (ILS)
• Integrated Market Support (IMS)
• Central Utility Facilities (CUF)
• Cold Chain Facilities (CCF)
• Premium Outlets

MIDA Support Letter processing times: 3 working days for Fast Track and 10 working days for Normal Track.

Through SWP, incomplete applications will not be considered for MIDA Support Letter.

Applications submitted to SWP are for expatriate positions, including the incumbents.

MIDA will evaluate and approve for the expatriate post; and evaluate and recommend the incumbent for Employment Pass approval. However, MIDA does not validate the incumbent on security matters i.e. their status (blacklisted/suspect list), outstanding taxation matters, passport details etc.

MIDA Support Letter will be digitally sent to company and the company will have a maximum duration of six (6) months to initiate for Employment Pass application via the
ESD Online System at https://esd.imi.gov.my.

No, there are no restrictions on the number of expatriate posts that a company can apply based on the company’s requirement.

The validity of a MIDA Support Letter is six (6) months upon issuance date.

Companies are required to re-apply for MIDA Support Letter via SWP for a new letter.

Companies are required to upload the following documents:

a)Approval of Manufacturing
License(ML)/Incentive/Grant/Status/Letter of Exemption from ML

b) Advertisement with MyFutureJobs. However, it is exempted if:

1. Important positions (C-Suite & Key Posts) and expatriate(s) with monthly income of RM15,000 and above;
2. Representative Office/ Regional Office (RERO);
3. Investors/Shareholders/Owners;
4. Corporate Transfers/ Placements / Trade Agreements

c) JTK approval under Section 60K, Employment Act 1955

d) The latest Organisation Chart that clearly indicates the existing expatriate(s) and the expatriate post/s being applied for.

e) Copy of Passport: All Pages (Full Booklet with Front & Back Pages)

f) Resume of the Expatriate

g) Certificates of Academic Qualifications (Certified True Copy)

h) Training schedule to localised the term post

i) Copy of Employment Contract that clearly indicates the expatriate’s salary and terms

j) Letter to justify the requirements of the position(s) with company letterhead.

k) Copy of Previous MIDA Expatriate Approval Letter(s) (if any)

Companies can proceed to initiate the Employment Pass application with the following steps:

• Log in to the ESD Online System at esd.imi.gov.my
• Click on the “List of Supporting Letter Application”tab.
• Complete the application for final approval by the Immigration Department of Malaysia.

No. Companies will be required to re-apply for the new MIDA Support Letter.

Companies can submit the application to SWP via Xpats Gateway System under new category.

The MIDA expatriate post Approval Letter approved before the implementation of the SWP remains valid for the Key Post. Companies can upload in SWP to obtain the Employment Pass.

Companies can choose New category for additional applications and Renew category for extension applications.

Yes, the rejected notification will be digitally sent to the company.

There is no waiting period to reapply for a new Support Letter.

Yes, companies can reuse the valid MIDA Support Letter to re-apply through the ESD Online System

For any clarification, please do not hesitate to contact MIDA through;

• InvestMalaysia portal; or
• The Industry Talent Management & Expatriate Division, MIDA, via email at [email protected] or at +603-2267 3633.

The contact information is available on SWP at Xpats Gateway System, accessible via the ESD Online System at
https://esd.imi.gov.my (Contact Us);

• [email protected] or +603-7839 7171

For more FAQs on Single Window Platform please click here.

Applications for import duty and/or sales tax exemption need to be submitted online at the InvestMalaysia Portal (https://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my).

Applications for import duty and/or sales tax exemption which involve the following need to be submitted online via https://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my:

• Import duty and/or sales tax exemption on machinery/equipment for selected activities in the Agriculture Sector
• Import duty and/or sales tax exemption on raw materials/component for Manufacturing Sectors
• Import duty and/or sales tax exemption on machinery, equipment and material for companies in selected services sectors as follows;
  1. Research & development (R&D) 
  2. Private higher education institution 
  3. Private higher training institution (science, technical or vocational) 
  4. Tourism project (without accommodation)

Application for MIDA Confirmation Letter or Surat Pengesahan MIDA (SPM) to claim import duty and/or sales tax exemption from the Royal Malaysian Customs Department on machinery/equipment/spare parts/prime movers/container trailers/specialised tools/components/materials/specialised consumables goods for the following:

• Manufacturers in Principal Customs Area (PCA)
• Companies Engaged in Hotel Business
• Haulage Operators
• Aerospace Maintenance, Repair & Overhaul (MRO) companies

The decision shall be conveyed within 4 weeks from the date of complete information received.

A company applying for the exemption should submit a copy of the following documents:

• Manufacturing Licence issued under the Industrial Coordination Act 1975 or Confirmation Letter for a company exempted from Manufacturing Licence under the Industrial Coordination Act 1975
• Tax incentive approval under the Promotion of Investment Act, 1986 (PIA) or Income Tax Act, 1967 (if applicable)
• Registration certificate or the letter of acknowledgement if the application for the registration certificate is pending for approval from the Department of Occupational Safety and Health (DOSH) (if applicable)
• Company profile (latest printout) generated from Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) e-Info Services)
• Flow chart of manufacturing process
• The layout plan for the machinery and equipment in the approved manufacturer’s premise and to indicate where the machinery and equipment will be located

Please refer to the guidelines and procedures for import duty and/or sales tax exemption application here.

Effective from 1 January 2011, all applications for duty exemption by manufacturing companies in the Free Industrial Zones (FIZ)/Licenced Manufacturing Warehouse (LMW) for sale of their finished goods to Principal Customs Area (PCA) should be submitted directly to the Royal Malaysian Customs Department/nearest Customs station.

Companies undertaking the following selected services or activities may apply for status and/or incentives and/or expatriate:

• Research and Development Activities;
• Principal Hub;
• Integrated Logistics Services (ILS);
• International Integrated Logistics Services (IILS);
• Representative Office/ Regional Office (RE/RO);
• Technical/Vocational/Science Training Institutes;
• Hotels/Tourism Projects;
• Mines Wellness City (MWC);
• Green Technology;
• Private Healthcare Facility;
• Cold Chain Facilities; and
• Other Services Activities Promoted under the Promotion of Investments Act, 1986 and Income Tax Act, 1967

Companies undertaking the following selected services or activities may apply for additional products and/or expatriate:

• Operational Headquarters (OHQ)/ International Procurement Centres (IPC) / Regional Distribution Centres (RDC);

For more detailed information, please refer to the ‘Malaysia: Investment in the Services Sector’ guidebook here .

All applications (excluding Application for Replacement of Expatriate Posts for RE/RO and Annual Compliance Assessment Form for PH) should be made online through the InvestMalaysia Portal ( https://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my).

Applications for the Replacement of Expatriate Posts for RE/RO and Annual Compliance Assessment Form for PH should be submitted manually in three (3) sets using the relevant form and submit to:

Chief Executive Officer

Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA)

MIDA Sentral

No. 5, Jalan Stesen Sentral 5

Kuala Lumpur Sentral

50470 Kuala Lumpur

The applications will be processed, and a decision will be conveyed to the applicants within six weeks from the date of complete information received.

The application for Pioneer Certificate should be submitted to MIDA within 24 months from the date of the incentive approval letter. Upon submission of the application, the applicant company should fulfil one of the following requirements:

• To achieve a minimum 30% of its installed production capacity within three (3) consecutive months (applicable for mass production-based companies) or
• To have the first sales invoice of the approved product (applicable for customized order-based companies)

The application should be made online via https://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my

The Production Date of the Pioneer Certificate will be determined based on the followings:

• For mass production-based company
  Based on the first date of the month that the company has reached the minimum 30% of its installed production capacity within three (3) consecutive months.
• For customised order-based company
  Based on the date of the company’s first sales invoice.

The Pioneer Certificate application will be processed within 30 days upon the acceptance of a complete application from the company.

Companies may apply for an extension to obtain the Pioneer Certificate to MIDA within 24 months from the date of the incentive approval letter by providing strong justifications and valid reasons. The extension application will be evaluated based on the merits of each case.

MIDA will initiate a process of incentive withdrawal. For further enquiries, please contact the Investment Compliance Division (here).

The application should be submitted to MIDA within 24 months from the date of the incentive approval letter via https://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my.

The application will be processed within 30 days upon the acceptance of complete application from the company.

The application should be submitted to MIDA within the effective incentive period. The company should obtain the approval for the Verification of Compliance to Investment Tax Allowance before making a tax claim with the Inland Revenue Board (IRB). The application should be made online via https://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my.

The application will be processed within 30 days upon the acceptance of a complete application from the company.

Companies that require to make any amendments/changes on their Manufacturing License (such as change of company’s name, amendment of factory address, change of factory location, duplication and consolidation of Manufacturing License etc) may submit their post-licensing applications via https://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my.

Companies that require to update Manufacturing License conditions / to waive some of the conditions (such as equity and export conditions), may submit their applications via https://investmalaysia.mida.gov.my.

The application will be processed within 30 days upon the acceptance of a complete application from a company.

1^st December 2023.

Invest Malaysia Facilitation Centre (IMFC) establishment is an enhancement to the existing advisory service center at MIDA, with the primary objective of expediting the process of various approvals.

Main function of the IMFC is to provide advisory services and guidance to the business community and investors.

IMFC is represented by

• Ministry of Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Transport
• Inland Revenue Board
• Malaysian Immigration Department
• Malaysian Royal Customs Department
• Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (Telekom Malaysia)
• Department of Labour Peninsular Malaysia
• Tenaga Nasional Berhad
• Social Security Organisation (SOCSO)

IMFC office is located at Level 16, MIDA Sentral, KL Sentral. IMFC members can be contacted through the list of IMFC Representatives at MIDA.

The role of IMFC is to facilitate and expedite the affairs of the business community and investors’ journey in the manufacturing and selected services sectors.

The Malaysia–Singapore Third Country Business Development Fund (MSBDF) is an innovative initiative designed to fuel collaboration between businesses and associations from Malaysia and Singapore. Its mission is to facilitate Joint Trade Missions and Joint Feasibility Studies in third countries and Joint Pilots between Malaysia and Singapore, paving the way for exploring and seizing business and investment opportunities in third countries.

The primary aim of the MSBDF is to strengthen the bonds of cooperation between Malaysia and Singapore’s private sectors. It supports joint ventures and collaborative initiatives, harnessing the combined strengths of both countries to explore and establish a presence in third-country markets.

The Cross Border Investment Division (CBI) at MIDA is responsible for the evaluation of the MSBDF, ensuring each application aligns with the fund’s goals and criteria.

Companies keen on applying should complete the BDF – 2024 application form, available for download [here] (insert link). Applications must be submitted via email to [email protected] and [email protected]. It’s important to note that we do not accept hardcopy submissions to streamline the process and maintain efficiency.

The evaluation process for the MSBDF application is comprehensive, taking up to eight (8) weeks from the receipt of complete information. This ensures a thorough and fair consideration for each submission.

For updates and inquiries about your application’s status, please reach out directly to the CBI Division at MIDA. They will provide you with the latest information and guidance.