Regulating Entry Applications via the One-Stop-Centre 

In efforts to balance public health, livelihoods and economic sustainability, the Government through the Ministry of International Trade & Industry (MITI) has decided to establish of a One-Stop-Centre (OSC) to evaluate and approve applications by foreign investors, expatriates and foreign technical experts to enter Malaysia - subject to compliance with strict Standard Operating Procedures and other necessary conditions. 

The One Stop Centre (OSC) has been set up effective 2nd October 2020 to ease the movement of Business Travellers by expediting the approval of their entry to do business in Malaysia. The OSC is represented by the MITI and its agency - Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA) as well as the Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Immigration Department of Malaysia (IMI). This is to ensure the legitimacy and health status of business travellers before they enter into Malaysia. 

This Centre assumes a critical role in ensuring that Malaysia remains steady on the path of economic recovery and growth, by enabling business travellers’ movement to do their business/work in Malaysia.

The establishment of OSC for Business Travellers consists of the following components:

• OSC Committee to evaluate and consider applications for Business Travellers entry within three (3) working days;
• Business Travellers Centre (BTC) to facilitate the incoming business traveller’s entry to Malaysia at the Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA); and
• a dedicated website containing information and advisory services to facilitate the entry of Business Travellers.

The OSC Committee evaluates and approves two (2) types of business travellers, namely Long Term Business Travellers where their stay in the country is more than 14 days and Short Term Business Travellers for a stay of 14 days or less. The meeting is held daily on five (5) working days every week, while a decision for each applicant is made within three (3) working days upon receiving complete information. Currently, the committee evaluates only the application for Long Term Business Travellers, as the development of the Immigration’s MYEntry System for the application of Entry Permission for Short Term Business Travellers is in progress.

Under the OSC Committee, there will be two (2) types of decision letters of Entry Permission issued digitally by Immigration as follows:-

• Long Term Business Travellers (current)
• Short Term Business Travellers 
• Both categories of Business Travellers shall obtain a visa from the respective Malaysian Embassy/High Commission or Consulate-General abroad prior to entry to Malaysia (if applicable). 

MIDA is currently finalising the establishment of a BTC at KLIA which provides the services of Duty Officers/Liaison Officers and the COVID-19 test laboratory; and a dedicated website containing information and advisory services to facilitate the entry of business travellers into Malaysia. An announcement will be issued soon upon the completion of BTC.

As of 17 December 2020, the OSC has received a total of 3,459 applications of which 3,292 have been approved.