In Malaysia, goods listed in the Customs prohibition of imports and exports orders need a licence, permit or certificate from a named agency before they can be cleared. Examples include some steel, vehicles, electrical and telecommunications equipment, medicines, food, plants, animals, chemicals and strategic goods. Check your product’s HS code against the schedules before shipping, not after arrival.
Permit problems are expensive because they are discovered late. The cargo is already at the port or airport, storage is running, and the permit takes days or weeks. This guide explains how Malaysia’s import and export controls are structured, which agencies issue what, and the routine that keeps permit-controlled cargo moving.
How Malaysia’s Import and Export Controls Work
Controls are set out in Customs prohibition orders, made under the Customs Act 1967, for imports and for exports. They list goods by tariff code in schedules that fall broadly into three types:
| Type of control | What it means |
|---|---|
| Absolute prohibition | The goods cannot be imported or exported at all |
| Licence or permit required | Allowed only with a licence or permit from the named agency |
| Conditional | Allowed if conditions are met, such as a certificate, a label or a test report |
Because the schedules are organised by tariff code, the first step is always a correct HS code.
Common Controlled Goods and Who Issues Approval
| Goods | Typical issuing agency or approval |
|---|---|
| Motor vehicles, some iron and steel products | Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry (MITI): Approved Permits and import licences |
| Electrical equipment and appliances | Energy Commission (Suruhanjaya Tenaga): certificate of approval |
| Telecommunications and radio equipment | Communications regulator and its certification body |
| Medicines, health supplements, cosmetics | Health authorities, including product registration or notification |
| Plants, seeds, soil, fresh produce | Department of Agriculture and MAQIS |
| Live animals, meat, dairy, animal feed | Department of Veterinary Services and MAQIS |
| Strategic and dual-use items (exports) | Strategic Trade Act 2010 permits |
| Arms, ammunition and similar | Royal Malaysia Police |
| Alcohol and tobacco | Customs licensing and excise controls |
This is a guide, not a complete list. Requirements change, and a product can be controlled by more than one agency.
The Permit Routine: Six Steps
- Classify: confirm the 10-digit HS code for every product.
- Check: look the code up in the prohibition schedules and identify the agency and the type of approval.
- Apply early: submit the application with the product specifications, test reports and supplier details the agency requires.
- Match the details: make sure the importer or exporter name, product description and quantities on the permit match the invoice and transport document.
- Declare: the permit reference is included in the customs declaration.
- Track validity: permits have expiry dates and quantity limits. Monitor them for repeat shipments.
Exports Need Permits Too
Export controls are often overlooked. Some goods, such as certain agricultural products, minerals, scrap metals and strategic or dual-use items, need an export licence or permit. Under the Strategic Trade Act 2010, exporters of listed strategic items, and in some cases of unlisted items intended for prohibited end uses, need a permit. Exporters of electronics, chemicals and machinery should screen their products and customers.
Domestic Shipments to Sabah and Sarawak
Shipments between the Peninsula and East Malaysia are domestic and do not need import permits for most general goods. Two groups still need attention:
- Agricultural goods, plants and animals: Sabah and Sarawak control their entry from the Peninsula. See our MAQIS permit guide.
- Controlled items: alcohol, tobacco and medical supplies need the relevant permits and approvals before they move, including by air.
Our guide to what you can and cannot ship by air covers how these rules interact with airline restrictions.
Example: Importing a New Electrical Product
A distributor plans to import a new range of LED lighting fittings. Before placing the order, it confirms the HS code and checks the import controls for that code. The products fall under the electrical equipment requirements, so a certificate of approval is needed before import. The distributor asks the manufacturer for test reports and product specifications, applies for the approval, and only then confirms the purchase order and books shipping. When the cargo arrives, the approval reference goes on the customs declaration and the shipment clears without a hold. Had the order been shipped first, the containers would have sat at the port, accruing storage, while the approval was processed.
Costly Permit Mistakes
| Mistake | Consequence |
|---|---|
| Shipping before the permit is approved | Cargo detained at the port or airport, with storage charges |
| Importer name on the permit differs from the invoice | Clearance rejected until corrected |
| Permit quantity exceeded | Excess goods held or forfeited |
| Expired permit on a repeat shipment | Clearance refused |
| Wrong HS code, so the control is missed | Penalties and possible seizure |
Permits vs Certificates vs Registrations
The terms are often used loosely, but they mean different things, and a product may need more than one:
- Import or export licence / permit: permission for a specific shipment or quantity, often with an expiry date.
- Certificate of approval or conformity: confirms the product meets a technical or safety standard, usually per model.
- Product registration or notification: required before certain products, such as medicines and cosmetics, can be sold in Malaysia.
- Health, phytosanitary or veterinary certificate: issued by the exporting country’s authority for each consignment of plants, animals or food.
Building Permits into Your Lead Time
Treat permit time as part of the supply chain, not paperwork. For a new product, the permit can take longer than the shipping itself. For regular imports, keep a register of every controlled product with its HS code, agency, permit number, expiry date and remaining quantity, and review it before each purchase order. Ask suppliers early for the specifications and test reports agencies need. Last-minute requests are the most common cause of delays.
Permit Support with De Hubs
For controlled goods shipped by air freight, you need an export and import permit before handing the cargo over, and you can appoint De Hubs to apply on your behalf. Our customs brokerage covers documentation, duty calculation and clearance coordination for air and sea shipments. Tell us what you are shipping at the quotation stage and we will flag any permit requirement before booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which goods need an import permit in Malaysia?
Goods listed in the Customs prohibition of imports orders, such as some vehicles, steel products, electrical equipment, food, plants and animals, medicines, chemicals, weapons and some telecommunications equipment, need a licence, permit or certificate from the relevant agency.
How do I check if my product needs a permit?
Find the product’s 10-digit HS code, then check it against the prohibition schedules and the requirements of the relevant agency. Your customs broker or forwarder can check before you ship.
Who issues import and export permits in Malaysia?
It depends on the product: for example MITI for approved permits, the health authorities for medicines, the agriculture, veterinary and quarantine agencies for plants, animals and food, and the energy and communications regulators for certain equipment.
What happens if goods arrive without a required permit?
They can be detained, refused entry, re-exported or forfeited, and the importer may face penalties. Storage charges also build up while the issue is resolved.
Do I need a permit to ship goods from Peninsular Malaysia to Sabah or Sarawak?
Most general goods do not, but controlled items and many agricultural products, plants and animals do need permits or approval, and Sabah and Sarawak have their own rules for some goods.