ACCESS LICENCE - NON-COMMERCIAL/ACADEMIC

• You must secure a local collaborating agency and an individual local collaborator. 
• Applications with an existing MoU/MoA with the relevant state government department or agencies will be exempted from the licence fee. 
• You are responsible for obtaining the necessary supporting documents. 
• Since obtaining a letter of support, consent, or permission may involve time and specific procedures from various government departments, agencies, and organisations, you are advised to make prior arrangements to secure the necessary documents as soon as you decide to apply.
• If your research involves the use of drones/UAVs, you must obtain a permit from the State Internal Affairs & Research Office (Pejabat Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri dan Penyelidikan). 
• The research title, objectives, methodology, locations, and local collaborators must remain the same in order to qualify as a group application. 
• Only those conducting research and involved in accessing biological resources are required to apply. 
• Incomplete applications will not be accepted and will be rejected.
• You must submit a new Access Licence application if there are modifications to your research title, objectives, or methodologies. 
• You should only confirm your travel dates once you receive an email notification notifying the approval of your Access Licence application.

1. If necessary, please contact us for advice. 

2. Prepare all supporting documents:

• Research proposal;
• Letter of support from your local collaborating agency;
• Letter of support from the organisation/institution that will sponsor your research;
• Letter of support from your local collaborator.
• Permission letter from the relevant resource manager (for research involving traditional knowledge associated with biological resources owned by native and local communities in Sabah, a consent letter from the Chief Village must be submitted);
• Security clearance letter from Majlis Keselamatan Negara (KK Branch), ESSCOM, and Pejabat Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri dan Penyelidikan (only applies if your research site involves marine water/park on the East Coast of Sabah);
• Other supporting documents as requested by the Licensing Secretariat to complete your licence application.

3. Complete and submit your application (including all supporting documents) through the Sabah Biodiversity Access and Export Licence Application System (SaBAES) (https://sabaes.sabah.gov.my/login). 

4. Incomplete applications will not be accepted and will be rejected.

1. Research proposal;
2. Letter of support from your local collaborating agency;
3. Letter of support from the organisation/institution that will sponsor your research. If self-funded, your local collaborator must clarify this matter in their supporting letter;
4. Letter of support from your local collaborator.  If you apply as a group, your local collaborator must include the names of all your team members following your application.
5. Permission letter from the relevant resource manager (for research involving traditional knowledge associated with biological resources owned by native and local communities in Sabah, a consent letter from the Chief Village must be submitted). The letter must must include the names of all your team members following your application;
6. Security clearance letter from Majlis Keselamatan Negara (KK Branch), ESSCOM, and Pejabat Hal Ehwal Dalam Negeri dan Penyelidikan (only applies if your research site involves marine water/park on the East Coast of Sabah);
7. Other supporting documents as requested by the Licensing Secretariat to complete your licence application.

1. Access Licence is valid for one (1) year.; 

2. You must apply for the relevant pass from the State Immigration of Sabah (for Non-Sabahan). 

3. The licence is not transferable and must be presented for inspection by the Secretary or any authorised person; 

4. If you do not intend to export any of the collected specimens or samples of the biological resources for further analysis, you must identify and specify the location where the materials will be stored and preserved; 

5. You must submit your thesis, or publications to SaBC upon completion of the research; 

6. Application for patent or other intellectual property rights to the relevant authority in or outside Malaysia is subject to first obtaining the prior written consent of the Sabah Biodiversity Council; 

7. As the PI, you and your local collaborator are entirely responsible for the conduct of your research associates/assistants under your supervision. 

8. You and your local collaborator are fully responsible for the conduct of the research. 

9. The research must be conducted within the methodology, permitted areas and number of samples as approved by the Council; 

10. Access to the biological resources shall take into action and be undertaken following the date and T&Cs; 

11. Any offence committed under this Enactment will be compounded under Section 36 (1) of the SBE; 

12. Export of biological resources or associated relevant knowledge is not allowed without the Export Licence.