Filming Permits & Services in Malaysia
Sabah (Borneo) – Known for wildlife, rainforest, and coastal/underwater filming locations. Sabah has its own immigration authority — crew arriving from Peninsular Malaysia or Sarawak require a fresh immigration clearance and region-specific filming permit.
Sarawak (Borneo) – Famous for its rainforests, indigenous cultures, and remote jungle terrain. Like Sabah, Sarawak operates its own immigration system, and productions need a separate permit and immigration clearance to film here.
Film Permits & Visa Malaysia
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Yes. All foreign and local film, TV, and streaming productions intended for public viewing require official filming permits from the relevant Malaysian authorities before shooting.
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Sabah and Sarawak, both on the island of Borneo, operate their own immigration authorities, independent of Peninsular Malaysia and of each other. Filming permits and visas follow this same regional structure.
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Yes. Moving between Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak involves a full immigration check each time, as if crossing into a different country. Crew visas or passes must be arranged separately for each region.
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Filming permits are processed through FINAS (National Film Development Corporation Malaysia), in coordination with other government departments depending on your location and subject matter.
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No. Foreign productions must apply through a Malaysian production company licensed by FINAS. AsiaFixer.TV is a government-licensed production company and handles this on your behalf.
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Processing times vary depending on production type and scope, locations, and crew size and nationality. There are many different factors to consider, but as a rule of thumb, consider the following processing times:
- Peninsular Malaysia: 4-8 weeks
- Sarawak: 8-12 weeks
- Sabah: 10-14 weeks
Applying well in advance of your shoot date is the key to peace of mind.
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Yes, foreign crew typically require a specific filming/work-related visa or pass, separate from a standard tourist visa. AsiaFixer.TV coordinates crew visa applications alongside the filming permit.
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Yes — certain locations (military areas, some national parks, government buildings, indigenous communities) and subject matter may require additional permits or special approval. We assess this during pre-production.
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The initial documents required are:
- Various signed documents on your letterhead. We will provide the templates.
- Signed Production Agreements. We will provide the templates.
- Script / Storyboard in English – A detailed script, storyboard, or synopsis in English, on your company letterhead.
- Profile of your Production Company as PDF
- Crew Passport Scans – Clear, high-quality scans of crew members’ passports (no fingers/hands visible). Passports must be valid for at least 6 months beyond the end of the shoot. Front page, main page incl. all personal details, 3 empty pages. Submit in PDF format.
- Crew Photos – Digital, passport-sized (35mm x 50mm) color photos with a neutral, white background in JPG format. Ensure high resolution, proper lighting, and no shadows. Hats, sunglasses, and sleeveless shirts are not allowed. Low-quality images may lead to rejection. We suggest using an AI passport photo generator for best results.
- Production Schedule – Provide the proposed filming schedule with exact dates and locations, or let us help you find suitable locations and create an optimised shooting schedule.
- Equipment List – List production equipment with serial numbers (if available) and estimated values in USD or EUR. If you’re unsure about the exact gear, provide your best estimate and include more items rather than fewer. Malaysia is an ATA Carnet country, so ensure your ATA Carnet for temporary imports is accurate.
- Production Insurance – a copy of your production insurance or third-party liability policy.
- Health Insurance – Health insurance documentation for each crew member.
- Foreign Talents / Presenters – A profile of the presenter(s) or talent, including an overview of their past productions. Additionally, a confirmation of employment between the production company and the presenter(s) or talent, detailing income and benefits (a sample will be provided) received for work conducted in Malaysia.
- Crew List – a complete list of crew members, stating position, birthdate, nationality, passport details and their countries of departure.
- Travel Schedule and Return Flight Tickets – a tentative travel schedule for the crew including return flight tickets for each crew member. If you haven’t booked flights yet, just state the suggested flight arrival and departure
- Drone documents – a complete list of the drones used, including serial numbers. Drone Pilot Certification. Drone Pilot proof of experience (Log Book)
- Commissioning Broadcaster Letter – a letter from the commissioning broadcaster/company is not mandatory but recommended.
Requirements are constantly changing, please contact us for an updated list.
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Filming without proper authorisation will result in the shoot being shut down by authorities. In addition, you risk fines, equipment confiscation, or even arrest and imprisonment. Proper permitting protects your production from these risks.
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Yes. Malaysia is a multi-ethnic, multi-religious country, and certain topics require extra care or may affect permit approval — including content touching on religion (particularly Islam, the official religion), race relations, royalty and the monarchy. Nudity and sexual content must also be handled sensitively, as Malaysia’s standards around this are stricter than in many Western countries and can directly affect permit approval. Productions covering any of these themes should get in touch with us early in pre-production, so we can advise on how your content may be received and what’s needed for approval.
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Yes. Malaysia applies withholding tax to certain payments made to non-resident individuals working on productions here. On-camera talent — presenters, performers, and similar public entertainers — are subject to a 15% withholding tax under Malaysian tax law (Section 109A). Foreign crew providing services may fall under a separate 10% withholding tax category (Section 109B), particularly relevant for freelance crew engaged directly rather than employed by the production company. Because the applicable rate can depend on each individual’s employment or contract status, we recommend confirming your specific case with LHDN (Malaysia’s tax authority) or a local tax advisor during pre-production, and we’re happy to help coordinate that.
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Yes. The Film in Malaysia Incentive (FIMI), administered by FINAS through the Film in Malaysia Office (FIMO), offers a 30% cash rebate on Qualifying Malaysian Production Expenditure (QMPE) — with a further 5% available for productions that pass FINAS’s cultural test, bringing the total up to 35%. It applies to feature films, TV series, animation, and documentaries, with a minimum qualifying spend starting at RM5 million for feature films (thresholds can vary by production type, so we confirm the exact current figure with FIMO for each project). Applications should be submitted at least six months before the shoot.
Drone Filming in Malaysia
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Yes, and there are actually two separate permits required: a flight permit from CAAM (Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia), which covers the drone operation itself, and an aerial filming permit from the relevant regional authority, which covers filming activity. Both are required, and we arrange both on your behalf.
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No — the flight permit is issued by CAAM at the national level, while the filming permit comes from a separate regional authority depending on where you’re shooting (Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, or Sarawak).
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The filming permit must be arranged separately for each region — Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak — consistent with the country’s regional permit structure. The CAAM flight permit process, however, is handled at the national level.
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Yes, foreign drone pilots can fly and film in Malaysia with special permission. We arrange this as part of your combined flight and filming permit application.
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Yes, but the drone must be certified by SIRIM (the Malaysian certification agency) before it can be used. This certification process can add time and complexity, so many productions find it easier to rent an already-certified drone locally or book a locally certified operator and drone package through us — avoiding the certification step entirely.
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Yes — areas near airports, military installations, government buildings, and certain protected natural sites typically have drone flight restrictions or require special clearance.
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Provide us with all the drone documents early on, but in reality, both permits can only be applied for once general and location permits have been issued. This unfortunate step-by-step application approach by the Government results in long processing times. Expect 3 weeks of processing after your other permits have been approved.
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Yes — drone filming for natural history and remote location work is something we regularly arrange, alongside both required permits and locally licensed operators.
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There is very specific and detailed information required. Typically, we need your shot list, planned flight areas/coordinates/paths, exact time of flying, drone specifications, and operator details to prepare both applications. Requirements are constantly changing; please contact us to discuss the drone filming part of your production.
Production Research for Filming in Malaysia
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Yes, we absolutely will help identify and coordinate with local talent, contributors, and interview subjects relevant to your story.
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Yes, through our local network, we can identify even regional, relevant cultural events, festivals, and activities in Malaysia that align with your production’s themes.
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Yes, prop sourcing is part of our research and pre-production support. We can also find you a dedicated prop master.
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Certainly. Being more deeply involved in a production is a win-win situation for everyone. We would be happy to work as your field producer, in addition to being the location manager and fixer.
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We assist with location research, talent identification, and factual/cultural research to help shape your production before greenlighting.
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Yes, we can identify and coordinate with relevant local experts depending on your production’s subject matter and needs.
Production Logistics for Filming in Malaysia
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Yes, we handle all transport arrangements, from airport transfers to on-location vehicles suited to your shoot terrain.
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Yes, accommodation arrangements are part of our full logistics service, matched to your budget and location needs.
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Yes, catering and craft are arranged as part of our logistics package, including dietary accommodations as needed.
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Yes, on-demand VIP services are available for sponsors, cast, executive producers and crew members who need special arrangements.
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We coordinate all transport, lodging, and support logistics across multiple locations, including remote areas with limited or no infrastructure.
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We coordinate transport, accommodation, and crew scheduling around each region’s separate immigration and permit requirements, making sure your production timeline accounts for clearance at each regional transition.
Crew and Equipment for Filming in Malaysia
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Yes, in fact, most crews do that. In Malaysia, bringing your own equipment is straightforward if it’s covered by an ATA Carnet — an international customs document that lets you temporarily import filming equipment without paying import duties or taxes, as long as the equipment leaves the country again within the carnet’s validity period. We help coordinate the customs process on arrival and departure to keep this smooth.
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Yes, we connect productions with experienced local camera, sound and support crew suited to your specific production needs.
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Yes, we connect productions with trusted equipment rental houses across the region. While most rental houses are based in Kuala Lumpur, there is now also limited equipment available in Sabah and Sarawak.
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Yes, in fact, most of our fixer team are “locals” and fluent in relevant local languages and dialects. For specific languages, we will work with native translators.
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Most of the Malaysian production industry’s manpower is based in and around the capital, Kuala Lumpur:
- Camera department (DP, camera operators, camera assistants)
- Sound (sound recordist, boom operator)
- Lighting & Grip
- Art Department / Production Design
- Wardrobe / Costume
- Hair & Makeup
- Production Management (Line Producer, Production Manager, Production Coordinator)
- Locations department (location manager, location scouts)
- DIT (Digital Imaging Technician) on location
Locally available:
- Transport / Drivers
- Catering
- Security
- Health & Safety Officer
Budget and Accounting for Filming in Malaysia
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Yes, we always provide a full location budget estimate based on your shoot requirements before signing production agreements. We practice transparent costing and will give you complete details on Permitting and Visa, Fixer Support, Crew & Talents, Location Fees, Craft & Catering, Transport, Travel and Accommodation, Equipment Rental, Props and others.
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Yes, we work closely with your Line Producer to help maintain full budget control and tracking throughout the shoot.
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Costs vary based on location, pre-production requirements, crew size, permit complexity, overall logistics and speciality filming needs.
Many protected areas, such as National Parks, charge quite hefty location fees.
Filming in multiple regions in Malaysia (Peninsular Malaysia, Sarawak, Sabah) increase permitting and visa expenses due to Malaysia’s unique immigration requirements.
Let us propose locations that will fit your needs.
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Yes, permit and visa costs are factored into the overall production budget estimate.
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Yes, we can tailor logistics and crew recommendations to fit within a defined budget. We will also advise you where cost-cutting is not advisable.It’s best practice to include a contingency budget ready in case of unforeseen incidents.
Health, Safety and Security while filming in Malaysia
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We don’t produce your production’s official risk assessment ourselves, but we work closely with your team to answer the Malaysia-specific questions it requires — local hazards, terrain, weather patterns, wildlife, remoteness, and evacuation logistics — so your risk assessment is accurate and complete.
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Yes. Depending on the location and nature of the shoot, we can arrange on-site medical staff, and in some cases an on-standby ambulance for higher-risk activities or remote shoots.
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Yes. Safety planning is tailored to each specific location, with particular attention paid to remote areas — jungle, mountain, or island terrain — where response times are longer and conditions can change quickly. This includes route planning, communication backup, and weather contingency planning.
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Helicopter medevac is available across most of Malaysia, and we build evacuation planning into our safety preparation for any remote or hard-to-access shoot location.
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Yes, Malaysia is generally a very safe country for productions, with very low rates of violent crime against visitors or crews. The main practical precaution is around equipment security — as with any country, expensive gear should never be left unattended. For larger productions, we can arrange a small dedicated security team to look after equipment and set logistics.
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Malaysia’s main natural disaster risk is seasonal flooding during the monsoon season, with some locations more prone to flooding than others within each region — Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah, and Sarawak. We advise productions on the best season and region to schedule a shoot, helping avoid weather-related delays, access issues, or safety risks tied to monsoon conditions.