What about the scheme in plain facts?

Authority: MOTAC. You apply to the MOTAC state office nearest you, and the registration certificate is issued by MOTAC and signed by the ministry's Secretary General.

What about who can register?

- Malaysian citizens only. - You must have a family and live in a rural home, using the definition in the guidelines' Annex A (villages, small settlements, FELDA, FELCRA and Orang Asli villages, plantation settlements and new villages). - Registration is by cluster or individual within 10 km of the activity centre in Peninsular Malaysia and 50 km in Sabah and Sarawak. - A cluster needs at least ten operators in Peninsular Malaysia and five in Sabah, Sarawak and Labuan. An individual applies with

What about how to apply?

1. Submit the completed homestay registration form (Annex B) and a village profile (cluster) or individual profile with the cluster's consent (individual) to your MOTAC state office. 2. MOTAC and an appointed panel inspect your home, lodging and activities within 14 working days of receiving a complete application. The result is notified in writing within 3 working days. 3. If you pass, you attend the Basic Homestay Course run by INFRA (Rural Development Ministry) or the MOTAC state office, and

What about after registration?

- Operators report monthly tourist arrivals and income to the state office, collected through the cluster. - MOTAC inspects homes every 3 years. - Registration can be cancelled for reasons including breaking the guidelines, giving false information, or reporting no guests or income for a year. MOTAC sends three registered reminder letters and allows 14 working days for a reply before cancelling.

What about what the guidelines do not say?

They state no registration fee, no validity period for the certificate, and nothing about taxes, business registration for urban short term rentals, or listing on online platforms. The guidelines only say that Malaysian cluster groups are encouraged, not required, to form a cooperative and register with the companies commission.

Can a foreigner register a MOTAC homestay?

Not under these guidelines. Participation is open to Malaysian citizens only.

Can I register my city apartment or an Airbnb unit?

No. The guidelines say premises in housing estates and Airbnb premises are not eligible for the programme.

How many rooms are allowed?

Up to five rooms per homestay operator, and up to ten for a Kampungstay.

How long does it take?

The inspection happens within 14 working days of a complete application, and the result comes within 3 working days after that. The guidelines do not give a total time to certificate.

The guidelines state none. Ask the state office.

What about once you are licensed?

Registration makes you legal. Distribution is a separate job. Fursat's own guest stays are in India, so we do not list homes in Malaysia, but if you also own or manage property in India you can start at /list-your-property, and our free channel manager explains how calendar sync across booking sites works. For the basics of the Indian system, read How to Start a Homestay in India. For a neighbouring regime written the same way, see How to Start a Homestay in Nepal.

Journal/Homestay Guides

5 min read · 7 October 2026

How to Register a Homestay in Malaysia (MOTAC Programme)

Malaysia's homestay scheme is a rural, community programme run by MOTAC. Here is who can join, the room caps, the inspection steps and what it excludes.

Sneha Surana

malaysiahomestay-registrationmotac

How to Register a Homestay in Malaysia (MOTAC Programme)

Keep reading.

Can a foreigner register a MOTAC homestay?

Can I register my city apartment or an Airbnb unit?

How many rooms are allowed?

How long does it take?

Is there a fee?