Can my Sdn Bhd hire foreign employees?
A Sdn Bhd can hire foreign employees subject to the relevant approvals. Expatriate Employment Pass sponsorship and other foreign-worker categories follow different processes. For ESD registration, paid-up capital requirements depend on ownership and activity. Company registration or meeting a capital figure alone does not guarantee a pass or permission to start work.
Sources: ESD company registration FAQESD revised Employment Pass policy (1 June 2026)
Also asked as: hire foreigner sdn bhd; employment pass sponsor requirements; foreign worker quota malaysia; sponsor expat employee.
ESD's published registration table lists RM250,000 for wholly local companies, RM350,000 for joint ventures with at least 30% foreign equity, RM500,000 for wholly foreign-owned companies, and RM1 million for the foreign-owned WRT category. Confirm the applicable regulator and current requirements before applying.
Key facts
- Capital requirements depend on ownership and activity
- Employment Pass and foreign-worker routes differ
- Approval required before work begins
Call +60 10-383 5988 (a licensed secretary replies within one working hour (Mon–Fri 8:30am–5:30pm MYT; outside hours, first thing next working day)) or walk in at J-3A-15, Solaris Mont Kiara.