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MY · Entrepreneur Visa

Malaysia
Entrepreneur Visa

The Malaysia Entrepreneur Visa allows foreign tech founders to establish and operate a business in Malaysia, with access to the ASEAN market.

Pathfinder
Entrepreneur Visa
Bank balanceRM 50.000
Apply viaMDEC
Validity1–5 Years
ForTech founders

Last updated: 11/2026

Overview

Why an MY Entrepreneur Visa?

The founder visa is officially the Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) and, according to MDEC, is open only to technical founders of tech and digital businesses. It requires no minimum capital, but RM 50,000 in personal bank balance.

The programme is run by MDEC (Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation). There is a track for new founders (one-year pass) and one for established founders (five-year pass). Strasia Group helps with the application, company formation and accounting.

What MTEP gives you

Run by the digital agency MDEC
No minimum capital, RM 50,000 balance
Sdn Bhd in the first year, not before applying
Family on the established track

Process

01

Business Plan & Consultation

Development of business plan and eligibility check.

02

Company Registration in MY

Registration of the Sdn Bhd with SSM; new founders can also do this within the first year after applying.

03

Visa Application

Submission of Entrepreneur Visa application.

04

Approval

Processing and visa issuance.

Malaysia, Singapore or Hong Kong – or no move at all?

You only need a founder visa if you want to live and work there. Official information as of October 2026.

Malaysia: MTEP

For technical founders who want to live in Malaysia. No minimum paid-up capital, but a RM 50,000 bank balance; pass for one or five years.

Singapore: EntrePass

A Pte. Ltd. in which you hold at least 30%, plus one of five criteria, such as a funding round of S$100,000 or more or your own IP.

EntrePass criteria →

Hong Kong: founder visa

The assessment focuses on the business plan and the benefit to Hong Kong; there is no fixed minimum capital.

HK founder visa →

No move: just the company

No visa needed: a Hong Kong Limited, Singapore Pte. Ltd. or US LLC, run from home. Your personal tax follows your residence.

Hong Kong Fit Check →SG tax calculator →US LLC →

Compare all four founder routes side by side →

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need MDEC support?
MTEP is MDEC’s own programme, so the application goes through MDEC. The track for new founders also needs a recognised Malaysia Digital Hub as sponsor; the established track needs a Malaysian sponsor.
What minimum capital is required?
MDEC sets no minimum paid-up capital for MTEP. It asks for a personal bank balance of at least RM 50,000 held for three months in a demand-deposit account; the established track also needs proof of track record and funding.
What taxes will I pay in Malaysia?
Malaysia levies income tax on income from Malaysian sources. The rate is progressive at 0–30%. Foreign income that a Malaysian-resident individual brings into the country is exempt from income tax under LHDN guidelines, except partnership income; the exemption is time-limited and tied to conditions, which we check with you before you move. What still applies in your home country depends on your residence there.
Can my family come along?
On the established track (Resident Pass) dependants can come along. On the track for new founders (one-year Professional Visit Pass) MDEC’s documents do not provide for it; we clarify this before you apply.
What is the path to Permanent Residency?
MTEP does not come with a set path to permanent residency. Whether and when an application is possible is decided by the immigration authority case by case.
Which industries are particularly suitable for the entrepreneur visa?
MTEP is aimed at technical founders of tech and digital businesses; according to MDEC, only tech founders and co-founders are eligible. Pure trading or service companies without technology usually fit a different route.
Is the Malaysia entrepreneur visa run by MDEC?
The Malaysia Tech Entrepreneur Programme (MTEP) is administered by MDEC, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation. Applications are assessed on your business plan and track record.
How long is the MTEP pass valid?
New founders receive a one-year Professional Visit Pass, renewable once for a year if the first-year milestones are met. Established founders receive a five-year Resident Pass, renewable once for five years.
Do I need to register a company before applying?
No. According to MDEC no Malaysian company is needed to apply; new founders are expected to incorporate a Sdn Bhd within one year. We coordinate the incorporation with the pass application.
Does the pass cover e-commerce and digital marketing businesses?
Only if the business is built on its own technology, because MDEC admits only tech founders. An online shop or a marketing agency without its own product usually fits a different route. What matters is a credible plan and, for the established track, proof of experience or funding.
Malaysia, Singapore or Hong Kong: which founder visa fits?
Malaysia (MTEP) suits technical founders with their own product who want to live in Malaysia. Singapore’s EntrePass requires a Pte. Ltd. in which you hold at least 30% and, for example, funding or your own IP. Hong Kong’s founder visa mainly assesses the business plan. If you do not want to move, you need no visa, only the company.

Check your case in a first call

Free initial consultation, 60 minutes, no obligation.

Pathfinder StartWhatsApp

Requirements

Tech or digital business
RM 50,000 bank balance (3 months)
Sponsor: digital hub or guarantor
Business plan required

MTEP vs. Employment Pass vs. DE Rantau

Target Group

MTEPTech Entrepreneurs
Employment PassEmployees
DE RantauDigital Nomads

Financial proof

MTEPRM 50,000 balance
Employment PassSalary-based
DE Rantaufrom USD 36,000 income/year (tech)

Validity

MTEP1-5 years
Employment PassUp to 10 years of employment (Category I/II)
DE Rantau3 to 12 months, max. 48 months

Dependents

MTEPEstablished track
Employment PassYes
DE RantauSpouse, children

Own Company

MTEPYes
Employment PassNo
DE RantauYes (Freelancer)

Official fees from

MTEPRM 3,060 for new founders (MDEC)
Employment Passdepends on employer
DE RantauRM 1,000

MTEP fees: RM 540 application, RM 2,160 processing and RM 360 pass fee per MDEC’s MTEP FAQ, read on 22 Oct 2026. Employment Pass: Expatriate Services Division, valid from 1 June 2026. We check the DE Rantau details before every application; subject to change.

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