Business Registration Number (BRN) in Malaysia

Expanding into Malaysia starts with one essential step: obtaining your Business Registration Number (BRN). Issued by the Companies Commission of Malaysia (Suruhanjaya Syarikat Malaysia, SSM), the BRN is the official proof that your company exists under Malaysian law. Without it, you cannot open a corporate bank account, register for tax with LHDN, hire employees, or apply for vital licences needed to operate.

This guide breaks down everything foreign investors need to know about the Business Registration Number. We’ll cover how it’s assigned, what it’s used for, and how you can stay compliant after incorporation.

What is a Business Registration Number (BRN) in Malaysia?

A Business Registration Number (BRN), sometimes referred to as a company registration or incorporation number, is a 12-digit code assigned to every business legally registered in Malaysia. It’s the first official marker of your company’s legal existence and a mandatory prerequisite before you can apply for a general business licence or any sector-specific permits.

The BRN is generated automatically upon successful company incorporation. You’ll find this number printed on your Certificate of Incorporation (for Sdn. Bhd. companies) or Business Registration Certificate (for sole proprietorships and partnerships). 

Once issued, it becomes your company’s permanent legal identifier, required on all official and public-facing documents, from statutory filings and contracts to invoices, letterheads, and websites. It remains valid for the lifetime of your business, even when there are changes to shareholders, directors, or core business activities.

Types of Business Registration Numbers 

While every entity registered in Malaysia is issued a Business Registration Number (BRN), the format and terminology can vary slightly depending on the business structure. Here’s how they differ:

Types of Business Registration Numbers	Issued by	Format	Applicable to
Company Registration Number	SSM	12 digits (e.g., 201701000004)	Private limited companies (Sdn Bhd), public limited companies (Berhad)
Foreign Company Registration Number	SSM	Similar to local company registration numbers	Foreign companies establishing a presence in Malaysia
LLP Registration Number	SSM	12 digits (e.g. 202404123456)	Limited liability partnerships
Business Registration Number	SSM	12 digits (e.g., 202403123456)	Sole proprietorships and partnerships
Labuan Company Registration Number	Labuan FSA	Varies; unique to the Labuan FSA COR@L system	Offshore companies, holding structures, and trusts registered in Labuan
Cooperative Registration Number	SKM	Varies (includes state code and sequential numbers)	Cooperative societies

The Digits and Prefixes of the New Business Registration Number Format

Since 11 October 2019, all new business entities registered with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) are assigned a standardised 12-digit registration number. This new format was introduced to streamline record-keeping across all entity types and to help banks, government agencies, and tax authorities verify companies more easily.

Each registration number follows the same structure (YYYY-CC-XXXXXX), broken down into three main parts below:

Segment	Meaning	Example
YYYY	Year the company was registered	2024
CC	Entity type code	01: Local company 02: Foreign company 03: Business 04: Local LLP 05: Foreign LLP 06: LLP for professional practice
XXXXXX	Sequential number assigned by SSM	000123

For example: A BRN like 202401000123 tells you the company was registered in 2024, is a local company (code 01), and was the 123rd company registered that year.

Why do you need a Business Registration Number?

The Business Registration Number (BRN) is what connects your company to Malaysia’s legal and administrative systems. Without it, the fundamentals of starting and running a business simply cannot take place. Here’s where it comes into play:

• Opening a corporate bank account: Financial institutions require your BRN before approving any company account. You cannot receive or make payments, pay suppliers, or run payroll without it.
• Registering for taxes: The Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) requires your BRN to issue a Tax Identification Number (TIN), which is mandatory for corporate income tax filing.
• Applying for licences and permits: Every regulator, whether federal or municipal, will ask for your BRN before processing licence or permit applications.
• Hiring employees: Employers must provide their BRN to register with KWSP (EPF) and PERKESO (SOCSO). This is mandatory before hiring staff and processing their contributions.
• Submitting annual filings: Annual returns, shareholder changes, audited financial statements, and other corporate filings must include your BRN to be accepted by SSM.

It also serves as proof of legitimacy in commercial transactions. Landlords, insurers, suppliers, and clients routinely request it before they commit to contracts, approve tenders, or disburse payments. 

In essence, the BRN is what makes your business operational in the eyes of institutions, regulators, and partners. Until that registration takes place, your core business activities will have to stay on hold.

Who Issues the Business Registration Number in Malaysia?

The authority that issues your Business Registration Number (BRN) depends on the type of entity you set up. Here’s how it works for different business structures:

• Private Limited Company (Sdn. Bhd.): The Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) assigns the BRN once the company is incorporated under the Companies Act 2016.
• Foreign Company (Branch Office): Also issued by SSM after the branch is formally approved to operate in Malaysia.
• Limited Liability Partnership (LLP): Granted by the Registrar of LLPs, a division under SSM, with registration under the Limited Liability Partnerships Act 2012.
• Sole Proprietorship or Partnership: Issued by SSM under the Registration of Businesses Act 1956 after the business name and application are accepted.
• Labuan Company or Trust: Issued by the Labuan Financial Services Authority (Labuan FSA) under the Labuan Companies Act 1990.
• Cooperative Society: Issued by the Malaysia Cooperative Societies Commission (SKM) under the Cooperative Societies Act 1993.

How to Obtain a Business Registration Number in Malaysia

Essentially, you don’t ‘apply’ separately for a business registration number because it is directly tied to completing your company incorporation. As soon as the SSM approves your application, the BRN is added to your company’s legal profile and printed on the Certificate of Incorporation.

For most foreign businesses, this involves setting up a private limited company (Sdn. Bhd.), the most popular and flexible structure for foreign ownership in Malaysia. But if your business involves asset holding or cross-border revenue streams, a Labuan company may be worth exploring. You’ll follow a different regulatory track with the Labuan FSA, but the assigned BRN will serve the same purpose.

Before you begin, it’s worth reviewing the key requirements and post-incorporation obligations that come with starting a business in Malaysia. Our Guide to Registering a Company offers a detailed breakdown to help you plan with confidence. 

Step-by-Step Business Registration Process

The process of obtaining a Business Registration Number (BRN) begins with the incorporation of your company. Because foreign-owned businesses often face more complex requirements, from minimum capital thresholds to work permit eligibility, many investors choose to work with compliance experts like Emerhub to manage the process end-to-end.

The first step is reserving your company name through SSM’s MyCoID portal. We’ll conduct a preliminary check before submission to minimise the risk of rejection. Once approved, the name is reserved for 30 days, during which the incorporation must be completed.

Next, we’ll prepare and submit all incorporation documents. This includes shareholder details, company constitution, registered address, business activities, and director information. At this stage, you’ll need to appoint a resident director and classify your activities under the correct MBIS codes to secure your sector-specific licensing after incorporation.

We’ll then coordinate with a licensed company secretary to ensure your documents comply with all regulatory requirements and submit them together with the Statement of Compliance, as per the Companies Act 2016. This is also where you’ll need to pay the prescribed incorporation fee as part of the application process.

It generally takes 5–10 days for SSM to review and process the registration. Upon approval, you’ll receive the Certificate of Incorporation with your Business Registration Number automatically issued.

How to Find and Verify Your Business Registration Number After Incorporation

Once your company is incorporated, there are several ways to locate or confirm your Business Registration Number (BRN). The most straightforward way is to check your Certificate of Incorporation. It will display your BRN alongside key company details such as the date of incorporation and registered address.

You can also retrieve your company’s Profile Report from SSM’s database for a full list of your registered information. This will contain not just your BRN, but also detailed information on shareholders, directors, paid-up capital, and business activities. This report is often required when opening bank accounts, applying for licences, or engaging potential investors.

If you’ve misplaced your certificate or need to verify a company’s details, including your own, you can easily do so online through SSM’s e-Search portal:

1. Visit the SSM e-Search portal.
2. Enter the company name or registration number in the search bar.
3. Select the correct entity from the search results.
4. View essential company details such as its BRN, incorporation date, status, and entity type.
5. Download or purchase a Business Profile Report for detailed information, including shareholding structure, paid-up capital, and business activities.

Tip: You can also use our Company Search Tool for your due diligence. For instance, checking whether a supplier or partner is legally registered before signing contracts or making payments.

Set Up Your Business in Malaysia with Emerhub Experts

With your Business Registration Number issued, your company is officially recognized under Malaysian law. However, several crucial steps follow before you can officially begin operations. These include opening a corporate bank account, securing the necessary business and sector-specific licences, registering for tax, and enrolling your employees with statutory bodies.

Keeping your BRN active and your company in good standing with the SSM also requires ongoing compliance. You’ll need to file annual returns with SSM, update corporate records whenever there are changes to directors, shareholders, or business activities, and renew or amend licences you expand into new sectors.

This is where our on-ground team makes a real difference. We support foreign businesses well beyond incorporation, offering tailored support including:

1. Business registration and incorporation support
2. End-to-end licensing and coordination with local authorities
3. Relocation support for foreign directors and key hires
4. Post-incorporation compliance and company secretarial services

If you’re planning to establish your business in Malaysia, Emerhub experts can secure your BRN and handle your compliance setup. Fill out the form below and we’ll put you in touch!