KPDN Wholesale, Retail & Trade Licence

WRT Licence Malaysia 2026

Mandatory for any company importing, wholesaling, retailing or distributing physical goods in Malaysia. Our KPDN specialist will guide you through the BLESS application, confirm you meet all RM1,000,000 capital requirement, and manage compliance that keeps your approval valid for the full 5-year term.

How it works
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Do You Need WRT Licence?

     ✓ YOU NEED WRT LICENCE      ✗ YOU DON’T NEED WRT
  •      Import goods into Malaysia
  •      Wholesale or retail physical products
  •      Distribute or deal in merchandise
  •      Sell online (Lazada, Shopee, website)
  •      Operate F&B retail or wholesale
  •      Operate EV charging stations
  •      Trade in restricted goods (pharma, alcohol)
  •      Provide services only (consulting, IT, accounting)
  •      Professional advisory work
  •      Training or education services
  •      Software or licensing services
  •      Temporary import for personal use
  •      Digital products/SaaS only
  •      Freelance or contract work

Documents Required for WRT Application

Essential Documents
✓ Certificate of Incorporation from SSM
✓ Memorandum & Articles of Association (M&A)
✓ Directors’ identification (passport/IC copies)
✓ Shareholders list (anyone holding >10%)
✓ Latest audited financial statements
✓ Proof of paid-up capital (bank statement, dated within 3 months)
✓ IRB tax registration certificate
✓ Business plan with product details and market strategy
✓ Office lease agreement or property ownership documents
✓ Recent utility bill matching office address
✓ Import permits (if importing restricted goods)
If Applicable
✓ Food factory registration (if F&B trading)
✓ Halal certification (if retail facing consumers)
✓ Board resolution authorizing the application
✓ Proof of local operating expenditure projection

How Does WRT Application Work?

WE WILL DO

Step 1: Eligibility Diagnostic
Review your company structure, confirm RM1m capital is available, identify any blocking issues

Step 2: Document Coordination
Prepare business plan, financial schedules, and documentation checklist

Step 3: BLESS Registration
Handle all portal registration, data entry, and document uploads

Step 4: KPDN Coordination
Respond to all queries, provide clarifications, manage file progress

Step 5: Post-Approval Compliance
Annual verification, renewal management, condition compliance

YOU WILL PROVIDE

Before We Start
Company registration details, business description, product categories

Document Gathering
SSM cert, M&A, financial statements, proof of capital, directors’ IDs

Approvals
Board resolution, director signatures (digital), authorization for application

Ongoing
Annual business records for compliance verification, updated financials for renewal

Compliance
Maintain RM1m capital, keep business records, file timely renewals

WRT Application Process — Timeline

Phase What Happens Timeline
1. Eligibility Check Review company structure, capital, business plan, identify gaps 2–3 days
2. Document Preparation Gather docs, arrange auditor certificate, prepare financial schedules 5–7 days
3. BLESS Registration Register portal account, enter company data, upload all documents 3–5 days
4. KPDN Initial Review KPDN desk officer checks completeness and sufficiency of application 2–4 weeks
5. Query & Clarification KPDN sends queries (if any) — we respond within 5 days 2–6 weeks
6. Committee Review File goes to KPDN committee for final approval decision 2–4 weeks
7. Approval & Download Decision letter issued, WRT licence available on BLESS portal 1–3 days
TOTAL From first contact to approved licence in hand 8–12 weeks

Why Applications Get Rejected

Rejection Reason Why It Happens
Insufficient Capital Bank statement shows RM500k–RM900k instead of RM1m
Vague Business Plan Application lists “general trading” with no details on products or markets
M&A Mismatch Company’s M&A says “IT services” but BLESS application says “goods trading”
Missing Import Permits Application lists pharma/chemicals/alcohol but no ministry approval letters
Address Mismatch Utility bill shows different address than SSM or BLESS application
Outdated Financials Financial statements are 2+ years old or unaudited for established company
Restricted Shareholder Foreign shareholder is from sanctioned country or politically exposed

After Approval: Conditions You Must Maintain

Condition What You Must Do If You Don’t Comply
Paid-Up Capital Keep RM1,000,000 in company bank account throughout 5-year licence period. KPDN may verify via annual bank statement Licence can be suspended or cancelled
Active Trading Maintain active trading in declared product categories. Keep sales invoices, purchase orders, and import records KPDN may cancel licence for non-trading
Business Records Maintain proper business records, accounts, and contracts for audit. Retain for 7 years per Companies Act Compliance failure, audit queries, renewal delays
Annual Verification Respond to KPDN annual compliance questions. Provide proof of trading, capital, and business substance Non-compliance or licence non-renewal
Notify Changes Report to KPDN within 30 days if: directors change, shareholding >10% changes, office address changes, business scope changes Licence suspension, penalties, renewal refusal
Product Changes If adding restricted goods, obtain required ministry permits BEFORE trading. Submit amendment to KPDN Trading unauthorised products = offence

Special Cases: F&B & Restricted Goods

Special Case What’s Different Timeline Impact
Food & Beverage Trading If importing/wholesaling food or beverages, must also obtain: (1) Health Ministry approval, (2) Food factory registration, (3) Halal cert (if consumer-facing), (4) Product labelling compliance under Food Act 1983 +4–6 weeks for health ministry clearance
Pharmaceutical/Chemicals/Restricted Goods Must obtain import permit from relevant ministry BEFORE WRT application. Present permit with BLESS submission +2–4 weeks for ministry permits
Online Trading Selling on Lazada, Shopee, or own website still requires WRT licence. Must have physical Malaysian office address. Licence applies even if 100% of sales are online Same 8–12 weeks (no additional time)

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I apply for WRT before I have RM1 million paid-up capital?
No. KPDN requires proof of RM1,000,000 paid-up capital at time of application, evidenced by bank statement. This is a hard requirement.
Can I start spending on business equipment before applying for WRT?
No. Apply before your first capital expenditure. Once the first ringgit is spent, that project loses eligibility.
What is the WRT application timeline?
Typically 8–12 weeks from first contact to approved licence. Timeline includes eligibility check (2-3 days), document prep (5-7 days), BLESS registration (3-5 days), KPDN review (2-4 weeks), queries (2-6 weeks), committee review (2-4 weeks).
What if my WRT application is rejected?
KPDN provides a rejection letter stating reasons. You address the issues and resubmit via BLESS. Resubmission typically takes 4–6 weeks.
Can I trade before WRT licence approval?
No. Operating without a valid WRT licence is an offence under the Price Control Act 1974. You must wait for official approval before any trading activity.
How long is a WRT licence valid?
5 years from the date of approval. Renewal application must be submitted before expiry to maintain continuous trading rights.
Can I change product categories after WRT approval?
Yes, via amendment application through BLESS. If adding restricted goods, obtain ministry permits first. Amendment takes 2–4 weeks.
Is WRT issued at Federal or State level?
Federal. KPDN issues WRT licence valid throughout Malaysia. However, some states require separate approvals for certain product categories.
Can I transfer or sell my WRT licence to another company?
No. WRT licence is tied to your specific SSM-registered company. It cannot be transferred, sold, or leased. Corporate restructures require a new WRT application.
Do I need WRT to sell online on Lazada or Shopee?
Yes. Online marketplace trading is goods trading. WRT licence is required regardless of sales channel. You must also have a physical Malaysian office address.

Get In Touch

Tell us about your business and we will tell you honestly whether a WRT licence is the right move.

Neutral Consulting
Call +6017 984 8205 or email [email protected]

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