Quick answer
CIDB grades a contractor by the maximum project value it may tender for, and each grade carries a paid-up capital requirement: G1 RM10,000 (projects up to RM200,000), G2 RM25,000 (up to RM500,000), G3 RM50,000 (up to RM1 million), G4 RM150,000 (up to RM3 million), G5 RM250,000 (up to RM5 million), G6 RM500,000 (up to RM10 million) and G7 RM750,000 with no project-value limit. Upgrading means meeting the target grade's capital, technical personnel and track-record requirements, then submitting the upgrade through the CIDB portal. G7 requires two degree holders — one with at least five years' experience — or a diploma holder and a degree holder, both with at least five years.
Last reviewed： · Reviewed by：ONEKEY BIZ compliance team
01
Overview
A CIDB grade is a ceiling, not a label. A G3 contractor cannot tender for a RM2 million job no matter how capable it is, and a main contractor checking your CIDB certificate before awarding a subcontract is checking that ceiling. When the work you are being offered outgrows your grade, the registration has to move with it.
Three things decide whether an upgrade succeeds. Paid-up capital must actually be in the company and evidenced — this usually means a share allotment and the SSM filings that go with it, not just a bank balance on the day. Technical personnel must hold the qualifications the target grade requires, and be genuinely employed. And the completed-project track record has to support the jump, which is why upgrading two grades at once is harder than upgrading one.
We run the gap analysis first. If the capital needs to be raised or a qualified person needs to be added, it is better to know that before the application is filed than to be rejected and reapply — a rejection costs time you usually do not have when a tender deadline is what triggered the upgrade in the first place.
Who needs this
- Contractors whose project pipeline has outgrown their current grade
- G1–G3 contractors moving into main-contractor work
- Companies that have just increased paid-up capital
- Contractors asked by a client or main contractor to hold a higher grade
02
Documents you need to prepare
Company
- SSM company profile showing current paid-up capital
- Share allotment documents if capital was recently increased
- Existing CIDB registration certificate and grade
Technical personnel
- Degree or diploma certificates of technical staff
- Proof of employment (EPF / payroll records)
- CVs showing years of relevant experience
Track record
- Completed project records — contracts, letters of award, completion certificates
- Current project list
- Paid-up capital must be properly allotted and filed with SSM, not merely deposited.
- Technical personnel must be genuinely employed by the company — CIDB verifies this.
- A larger jump in grade is assessed against a stronger track record.
03
How to get it done with ONEKEY BIZ
- 1Gap analysis Day 1–3
Current registration compared against the target grade's capital, personnel and track-record requirements.
- 2Close the gaps Week 1–3
Capital increase filed with SSM and/or qualified personnel documented.
- 3Compile the file Week 2–4
Completed-project evidence and personnel documents assembled.
- 4Submit upgrade Week 4
Upgrade application submitted through the CIDB portal.
- 5Approval Per CIDB
CIDB queries answered until the upgraded registration is issued.
You do
- Provide project and personnel records
- Fund the capital increase if one is needed
We do
- Run the gap analysis against the target grade
- Handle the share allotment and SSM filing
- Compile and submit the upgrade
- Follow up with CIDB until approval
04
What you receive
Certificate showing the new grade and its project-value ceiling.
SSM records reflecting the increased paid-up capital, where applicable.
Expiry tracked so the upgraded registration is renewed on time.
Real clients we've done this for
Official sources
Frequently asked questions
Can we skip grades?
CIDB assesses the jump against your track record. Moving one grade at a time on the strength of completed projects is the reliable route.
Does paid-up capital have to stay in the company?
The capital must be genuinely allotted and filed. Registration can be reviewed if the requirement is no longer met.
How long does an upgrade take?
Once the capital and personnel requirements are in place, submission and CIDB processing typically take a few weeks; closing the gaps beforehand is what determines the total timeline.